why do breastfed babies still get sick all the time?
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Anonymous
| My 10 month old son has been breastfed from day one. He still catches every cold, virus that goes around? What's the deal here? What are the benefits of breast milk if it does not keep a baby from catching viruses and colds? |
Anonymous
| Am sorry to hear that. I was told (also by family members who are doctors) that in general kids who breastfeed have less medical issues than those who don't (including gastrointestinal problems, ear infections, etc). Maybe you are just an outlier. |
Anonymous
| It's not you. They all do. My FF baby got sick less than my BF baby, even though he had an older brother in preschool. The research is based on large populations and I have a feeling it's more pertinent to developing countries. |
Anonymous
| I am the OP. Of course, I have read how wonderful breast milk is and I DID notice less constipation with my BF'ed baby, but as far as catching colds, etc, he still gets them. I know this is anecdotal, but I just keep wondering why BM is not keeping my baby from getting sick?? |
Anonymous
|
My BF kid got/gets sick a heck of a lot less than many, but I think it's just because he's lucky and has a healthier constitution. I don't think it has tons to do with BF. I do think that milk is better on their tummies than formula, so glad to get him off to a good start there. Unfortunately, it's not magical, exactly!
fwiw, *I* get every damn disease that passes through daycare while my son miiiight get a runny nose. He's just lucky, like your kid (and me) are unlucky. |
Anonymous
| Because it's not a miracle illness preventer, in the same way that taking a lot of vitamin C or zinc or enchinacea are not miracle illness preventers. They can help boost immune response, but they're not 100% preventative. |
Anonymous
| you are only passing on the immunities that you have built up in your system. since there are so many more things we are exposed to, maybe you haven't built up the immunity yourself to that particular strain of virus. |
Anonymous
I think this is likely it. DD is in daycare, so she is exposed to and catches the cold virus before she brings it home to us. I think that by nursing her I'm giving her extra antibodies once I've been exposed to the germs myself, but she's already sick by the time I get them from her. If I happen to get sick first, I actually nurse the heck out of her. This is where I've seen the difference. If DH or I get sick, she often does not come down with the same thing, and I attribute that to BFing and getting the antibodies before she gets sick. |
Anonymous
| Also, the concept is not really comparative between FF and BF. The theory is that your baby will be less sick than SHE might have been had she not been breastfed, not that she will be less sick than other babies |
Anonymous
| Wait a minute...Breast milk doesn't make the kids invincible?!?! |
Anonymous
lol! love it. |
Anonymous
| Breast milk isn't magic, it's just what babies are designed to drink. That said, I felt the same way as you when my son had plenty of ear infections and food allergies even though he was BF for 12 months. LLL and others overplay the BM as Miracle Cure for Everything, but don't feel bad about giving your baby the best nutrition he could get for 10 months+. |
Anonymous
Oh, shut up. |
Anonymous
|
Because it is crazy propaganda. Both my kids were breastfed for a year, and both have asthma, food allergies, had so many ear infections they had to get tubes before the age of 1, RSV, etc.
It is complete and utter HOGWASH that it makes children healthier. |
Anonymous
But they still might be better off than if they had been formular fed - at least according to the studies. |