"My question is about Enbrel... mom shouldn't get any vaccines while
on the drug, but what about the baby?"

Enbrel (etanercept) binds with Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa) -- an
important cytikine in the immune/defense system -- inflammation we know is
part of the immune/defense process, and TNF seems to be key in the unwanted
inflammation of arthritis. (It's also key in killing cancer cells...) Mom
can't have vaccines because she is quite immunocompromised on this drug and
could become quite ill rather than building adequate defense.

Breastmilk is relatively low in TNFa already, choosing rather to be high in
soluble TNF receptors (sTNFr). These bind with TNF in mom's milk, and that
which baby might try to produce herself, in order to reduce inflammatory
reactions in baby. BM is very anti-inflammatory (actually, that mom should
be drinking it -- from someone else I guess -- no kidding) as a newborn is
exposed to an incredible amount of new bacteria, fungi, bacteriophages, and
all kinds of foreign proteins that can cause huge inflammatory defense
reactions in the infant and overwhelm her system. So what I am saying is
that IF the drug goes into the milk (no one ever bothers to test these
things even tho it'd be so easy), it would not change the immune profile of
the baby much at all. Baby has her own other immature immune system
components, plus the other immunities derived from mom's milk, and the
antibodies obtained during birth (especially term, non-C-section birth) to
help her deal with vaccines.


"What about mom's close contact with baby getting vaccines?"

I'm less versed here but I would certainly worry about a live polio (infact
I would NOT give a live polio to her baby, as there is an alternative). She
should also worry about changing the diapers of other freshly vaccinated
babies.

  "As another question she spoke
of "Chicken Shots" ... a substance that part comes from the comb of a
chicken that is directly injected into joints ... Would there be any
problem with that and breastfeeding?"

I personally can't imagine any problem. It's kind of like taking
chondroitin sulfate or something. It's organic, non-drug-like stuff (altho
there could certainly be concern of allergic reaction if baby is so prone).

"I did discuss with mom ... elimination of bovine
protein, early shade veges (tomatoe, potatoe, green pepper, eggplant),
considering alfalfa, and ginger supplementation."

All really super advice! There's a lot written about gluten/grains and
rheumatoid as well -- definitely worth looking into if she's interested in
science-supported nutritional approaches. A very "high" daily dose of omega
3's (fish oil capsules don't shine as well in the studies as the real fish
& walnuts & flax do) is shown to provide some reduction in the rheumatoid
process as well. Soy is an excellent cancer-preventive food for her (as
she's more prone to cancer using this drug), along with plenty of other
very dark colored fruits and vegetables. (The soy-arthritis-reduction
studies are about osteoarthritis -- a different kind, but who knows??)

Linda Folden Palmer, DC
Breastfed Infant Nutrition/Allergy/Immune Consultations
Research Associate Therapheresis (Cancer Research Lab)

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