Breastfeeding

[willow2]

Hi Guys,


This is just a question of interest. I am studying nutrition at the moment and looking at infant nutrition. Breastfeeding is known to have protective factors for a number of reasons and it is known to prevent against respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. This is proven for younger kids but I am curious if this continues on to older people. I know I was breastfed fully til 9 months and I have never had a sv since I was around 8 (knock on wood!!). Does anyont else know how long they were breastfed for.....?


Hope all is well, K xx

[pretty polly]

Hmmm..interesting question. Not sure how long I was breastfed for,
unfortunately my mum is no longer with us to ask, but I don't
remember having an sv - ever! Oh obviously I have been s* at
times, but nothing all night long that I have got from someone that
was ill or that I have passed onto anyone else! (knock on wood too!)

I breastfed my daughter until she was 4 months old (that is
supposedly the critical period where they build up all their
immunities) and she is quite a healthy child - but then I can only
compare her to my friends children (who weren't breastfed and are
always ill!!!!)

[Toyah]

i was breastfed but I don't know how long for. when you say sv do you mean like a bug that you've caught - if so then I think that I've only had 1 sv when i was about 7 but have had food poisening 3 times

[peachykeen]

I was breastfed for 6 weeks, and my mom quit because I got a
horrible sv! But other than that one I've had two sv's - one when I
was 8, one when I was 14.

I have two children, the first I nursed for 6 weeks. She's 24 months
now and has never had a sv (touch wood) - yet. I feel like we're
doomed to get one this winter though. My second daughter is 9
months now and we're still breastfeeding. She's not had a sv either.
Our pediatrician told me that if I pump my milk and give my older
child a cup a day that it will have the same immune system effects as
it does on the baby. I've been doing it to hopefully get through this
cold and flu season with a minimum of illnesses. I plan to nurse the
baby as long as she wants to, but a year minimum.

I've even heard of some women putting their own breastmilk in food
that they're preparing for their family - like in mac and cheese - for
the immune system boost for all of the family. That creeps me out a
little bit, and I wouldn't do that, but I guess it makes sense. I mean,
people drink cows milk every day, but we're not cows. Human milk
was made for people, so I don't really know why it creeps me out.
Lol!

[mjewell]

Just a different take on this - I was not breastfed and I have never had an SV - I'm 27. I don't have kids so I wouldn't be able to offer anything there.

[gubba]

I breastfed my son for 1 year exactly and he will be 4 in January and he has had 2 SV's this year that I have known of and he V*s periodically anyway, so who knows. I wish that I could answer this question for you all, but I think that the immunities that you are given are only good for as long as it takes you to build on your on immune system. I do know that breastfeeding makes kids immune to whatever the mother is immune to while they are breasfed.

[hannah33]

I was breastfed for about two years, partially because I was very sick as a child. As for preventing respiratory problems-I've had asthma since....ever, it became official when I was given puffers around 6 or 7. I am incredibly prone to lung and respiratory infections and I am put on "pneumonia watch" every time I get a cold. If I began to tell you about my stomach problems I'd be here all night- I know this probably doesn't help a whole lot, but it's the truth. The doctors said I could have been a lot sicker if I hadn't been breastfed, so I am greatful that I was. Btw there's a group called La Leche League (www.lalecheleague.org) that my mom used to be an active part of when my sister and I were little. There's probably a chapter in your area, google it.
Cheers,
Hannah

[mistyeyes]

Like mjewell, I was not breastfed. I have only had a sv twice in my life, both times before I reached the age of 17. I am now 34.

[suze]

I wasn't breastfed, and not sure if I've ever had a real sv - just the normal v* when I was a kid - none of this all dayv* and d*. If I did, I can't remember. My sister is 41, and a fellow emet. She wasn't breastfed either and has only v*d about 3 timesin her life.


I have two kids,the first I fed for 10 weeks. He had his firstbad sv at 18m, and after that I guess he would v* about twice a year. He's 9 now and this has stretched to about once every 2 years - normal childhood stuff I guess. Now, my daughter who isnearly 5 is a different story. I breastfed her untilshe was 4 1/2 (yes, that late!). She's had3 sv's (caught off my son!), but that's it, no other v* except the sort she gets when she coughs (sensitive gag reflex).


My daughter has definitely v*d far less in her first five years compared to my son, who knows if it's the breastfeeding. I'd like to think so...I certainly wish I'd stuck at it with my son.


An interesting point....during my daughter's sv's, I continued to breastfeed her...and never once caught it. I think this shows that even with very close contact with a sick child...mothers often get through unscathed!

[*mandi*]

My mom told me I was allergic to breastmilk...so I couldnt have it. And I remember being sick all the tiem as a kid. Hmm..

[suze]

Allergic to breastmilk?????

[madisonsmom]

Breastfeeding doesnt give a lifelong immunity to sv's. While you are breastfeeding if the mother gets sick with a virus the antibodies from that particular viruspasses through the breastmilk and the baby will more than like not get it and if the baby does than it will not be that bad.

[crystalmom]

I was never breastfed, due to being a premmie and being in an incubator, and i am not really a sick person. I do get the occasional cold, and yes, sv, but not all the time.


I did not breastfeed my son, b/c I was told I couldn't b/c of taking the Paxil, and he never had his first cold until he was 10 months old. He has had one sv, two ear infections, and a few colds. My nephew was breastfed for the first four months, and is constantly sick with something. The amount of antibiotics and ointments, ect that that poor kid has been on [img]smileys/smilies_10.gif[/img] He is 10 months old.


I know they say that breastfeeding is best, and I DO plan on giving it a shot if/when I have another...however, from what I have seen out and about, is that that is not the norm anymore! Maybe not even the best thing either....[img]smileys/smilies_24.gif[/img]


Crystal


Crystal

[mommyof3]

I was never breastfed (wasn't the thing to do when I was born). My mom regrets it. I had just 2 or 3 maybe sv's growing up. I've had them as an adult, though, a couple before I had kids and 3 or 4 since I've had them. I breasfed all 3 of my kids for around 9 months give or take each. They each seem to get a sv once a year or every other year. BUT,the older two have each only had one ear infection and my youngest has never had one.


I don't know if this helps or not with your research but I'm having one of those nights and posts like these keep me busy Thank you

[tanadd2002]

Just to let y'all know, there is something called Transfer Factor. In breast milk their is a chemical called collostrum, that is the chemical that takes whatever antibodies the mother has and gives them to their child through breast milk. That is what keeps babies from getting infections and gives them good immune support. In Transfer Factor that is the only ingredient, it is from cow colostrum and eggs. The best part about it is that they took out the chemical that allows people who are lactose intolerant to be able to take it as well. I have felt so great since I started taking it. I had GERD and psoriasis and it completed healed me of both and I have also avoided all the colds and flu's since I started as well. I can't speak highly enough about it. The only company that makes it is called4Life, and their website is www.4life.com. Since it worked so well on me I decided I would be a distributor and help out as many people as I could by telling them about this product. Feel free to browse their site and email me if you have any questions about it or you would like to order and try it yourself. [email protected]