Thanks to all who have shared on Lactnet in recent days!!   The quality of 
the posts; the information shared and the passion behind it has left my head 
spinning!!   
Below are a sample of*only a few* of the finer;
In a message dated 10.1.03 7:47:56 PM, 
Rachel writes:
> <<But a
> condition that is observed in a third of healthy, term newborn babies should
> not be regarded as incipient pathology in all of them.<<
> Beautifully said!
 As usual Rachel, reading your eloquent posts is like eating candy (too bad 
it doesn't stop me from eating candy :)! )

Katharine writes
<<Putting these two observations together and oblivious of the danger in
extrapolating from in vitro to in vivo photochemistry, the investigators
then tested whether exposure to sunlight would oxidize or degrade bilirubin
in vivo in a jaundiced infant.  They found that sunlight exposure did indeed
lower the serum bilirubin concentration of icteric newborns and, further,
that the same effect could be achieved using blue fluorescent lights in lieu
of sunlight.>>
Thank-you so much Katharine. This clearly points to the fact that despite the 
need for further research sunlight can be therapeutic for jaundice.
Anectodally, my now 15 yo son had a serum bilirubin of 17 on day 4 and when 
placed in a sunny window (per midwife rec) came out resembling a harlequin- one 
side yellow-other side pink-much more dramatic visually than anything I have 
seen in my 20+ years treating with phototx!  Unfortunately, he didn't have any 
followup levels drawn to correlate with the visual appearance. I have since 
that time recommended sunlight for what presents as "not enough breastmilk 
jaundice" once milk is in and levels seem low enough but was told (admonished) by 
a pedi a year or so ago that the sunlight didn't lower blood levels only 
bleached the skin to make it appear that the levels were lower. This assertion 
caused me to panic about my son's treatment .....so thanks also for offering me a 
little piece of mind!!!

Valerie writes;
>>Landrigan states, "Nursing infants feed from the top of the food chain."
This concept annoys me.  I learned that human milk was white blood, a live
substance.  Is it accurate to equate the breastfeeding relationship to eating 
off
the top of the food chain?  It would seem to me that breastmilk is the next 
step
in mammalian protection from the umbilical cord which provided red blood.
Human babies nursing at their mother's breasts are not one species eating
another species.  Human infants are feeding from human mothers, an extension 
of
prenatal existence.  If contamination has occured, it rightfully should be 
focused
prenatally.<<
WOW, how good is that?!

Wish I could include more as I hate to see some of these amazing insights 
seemingly lost to the archives-thanks again!!

Lynn Shea Rn,Bsn,Ibclc
Franklin,Massachusetts
 

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