Good Morning,
I do Mental Health with the Red Cross and Coordinate Critical Incident
Stress management for my hospital and the Southeast part of the state of
Oklahoma. Your patient sounds like she maybe dealing with stress induced
immune problems. This is very common in people who have or are dealing with
major stress in theirs lives, i.e. new baby, moving. I saw a lot of this in
the firefighters after the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995. She may need to
increase her vitamin C and B complex vitamins. I would be glad to fax or
mail you a pamphlet on nutrition, that we give out during a critical
incident debriefing.
Hope this helps
Crystal Stearns RNC, MS, IBCLC
Mercy Memorial Health Center
Ardmore, OK 73401
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lori C. Salisbury [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 4:31 PM
> Subject: Mom with impaired immunity
>
> Lactnetters,
> I got a call yesterday from a mom breastfeeding her baby who is almost 6
> months old. She states these past few months she has had several bouts of
> sickness (colds, flu) lasting 2 - 3 weeks each. States she is usually a
> very healthy person. States her husband is encouraging her to stop
> nursing
> because he thinks the breastfeeding is "taking her immunities". I
> explored
> other possible reasons for her being more sick, and she agreed that she
> has
> been under several "life changes" recently. In the past year she has
> moved,
> changed jobs, and had a baby, who is now in daycare while she works.
> My general suggestions were for her to continue breastfeeding, and that
> the
> more likely cause for her increase in illness is more likely due to her
> stress factors/life changes, plus being exposed to the germs her daughter
> is
> getting in daycare. She said that her daughter has had a couple colds and
> a
> couple ear infections - states neither were bad. I emphasized that her
> daughter likely would have had more illnesses and been sicker with the
> ones
> she had if she wasn't breastfed.
> I know that breastfeeding doesn't "take immunities" from the mother, but
> that the breast manufactures them specifically for baby, but does anyone
> know of any more specific research or information about mom's immunities,
> etc. while breastfeeding? I told this mom I would ask you and she is
> anxious for any more information about this. So far she is hanging in
> there
> and breastfeeding nearly exclusively (small amounts of formula needed
> while
> she works despite pumping 3 times during her work day), but any more
> information would be appreciated. Please email me since I'm not up to
> date
> on my posts. ([log in to unmask])
> Thanks,
> Lori Salisbury, RN, IBCLC
> hospital based LC in Spokane WA
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