Jeanne Fisher writes:

>When you see a fully breastfed baby with multiple ear infections,
>what are some of the factors that go along with it?

As the mother of three totally breastfed infants, each of whom had repeated
ear infections, one of whom had PE tubes, etc. etc. (you people whose kids
didn't have ear infections can quit bragging now, please!! :D )....
HEREDITY is one important factor.  My husband had lousy ears, too.  His
environment was crappy - mother smoked and ABM-fed him - but ya know, he and
his environmentally-improved kids had about the same problems with their ears.

I'd also look at allergies...  it's possible those infections might be the
only overt symptom of an allergy.  (and of course there's a heredity link
there, too)

I remember my feelings of betrayal as a new mom....  first, Grantly
Dick-Read lied when he said childbirth didn't hurt, then I thought LLL,
Karen Pryor et al lied when they said breastfed babies didn't get sick as
much!  I got over it... :-)

Mary Renard
mom to Stephen (almost 18), Michael (almost 15), Elaine (10-1/2) -- none of
whom have had ear infections in several years, thank you very much

=====================================================
Mary Riley Renard, RN, BSN, IBCLC
CERP/Recertification Coordinator
Int'l Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
P O Box 2348
Falls Church  VA  22042-0348  USA
Tele 703-560-7330
Fax 703-560-7332
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