"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) *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html