Kathy says,

> have been wondering why this is such a common problem.  While doing
> research for a recent presentation, I found an article suggesting that
> mothers of these babies often have environmental allergies, and have been
> found to have low levels of IgA in their milk.  The theory then is that the
> baby would not receive adequate "coating" of the gut lining to protect it
> from foreign proteins.

I wonder -- sudden thought here, that may or may not bear out -- if the fact
that so many mothers are now getting antibiotics in labor AND so many babies
are being given formula in the hospital -- anywhere from a 1/2 ounce to several
bottles -- is causing enough damage to the brush border of the baby's gut
that these things are increasing the baby's sensitivity to protein antigens in
the mother's diet?

I agree that I'm seeing more and more of this as well.

Other thoughts?  I like Kathy's thought about the IgA not sufficient to coat
the gut, but I wonder about damage that is done by antibiotics and formula?

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Wheaton, Illinois
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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