>>> I have concerns about appearing "paranoid" about breastmilk and
breastfeeding.  There is a not so subtle message...<<<
I agree that the message may be negative and HIV paranoia is rampet. However,
we have to send another message if not set an example-- An individual's
responsibility for their personal health.
Believe me I understand the resistance-- I just don't agree with it.
Have you ever seen how quickly chickenpox spreads through day care? A common
cold? Both airborn. TB? Droplet spread. How about massive outbreaks of
bacterial infections in nurseries?
Would you let a dentist work in your mouth without gloves? Would you let a
doctor or nurse examine a wound if they weren't wearing gloves? Don't moms
feel the same way about an LC's naked finger in her baby's mouth? Or an LC's
hand on her bloody nipples?  Why do we recommend new equipment for mothers?
Why don't we share pump equipment or if we do don't we autoclave it before we
let someone else use it?
Two babies were accidently switched following a circ. one was inadvertantly
nursed before the error was discovered. The mother who nursed the wrong baby
was wonderful. She insisted that she be given an HIV test to put the other
mom's mind at ease, even though the subject hadn't been brought up. (By the
way, this incident resulted in a policy that LC's verify name bands before
putting the babies to breast)
As I stated before hepatitis is easy to catch and it can be deadly if it
turns to the cronic form. Hepatitis A can be caught anywhere. Many carriers
of chronic Hep C don't even know they have the disease.
Risk of HIV transmission from breastmilk is low, but there is a theoritical
risk. You take a risk when you cross a street, but don't you reduce the risk
by looking both ways first? And if there's a child with you, don't you hold
hands?
I don't want to have to learn the hard way and I don't want to have to bury
any of you either.
OK OK I'll get off the soap box and let someone else take a turn.