Would you give your older kids Covid antibody breast milk?

[Anonymous]

I did for my 3yo- smoothies and popsicles

I didn't think it was weird

[Anonymous]

I know there's a big movement toward breastmilk for all but I've yet to see any valid studies that prove that it is beneficial for older humans. In short, the benefit is really limited to infants - much in the same way that it is with nearly 100% of other mammals who do not have their pups suckle after they learn to eat on their own. We mammals just don't do it much - er, at all. Older children - particularly your 7 year old - will get zero out of it and then you'll just have to tell him that you were feeding him breastmilk in the 3rd grade. I mean, weigh the options here.

Stop reading the alternative science, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know there's a big movement toward breastmilk for all but I've yet to see any valid studies that prove that it is beneficial for older humans. In short, the benefit is really limited to infants - much in the same way that it is with nearly 100% of other mammals who do not have their pups suckle after they learn to eat on their own. We mammals just don't do it much - er, at all. Older children - particularly your 7 year old - will get zero out of it and then you'll just have to tell him that you were feeding him breastmilk in the 3rd grade. I mean, weigh the options here.

Stop reading the alternative science, folks.

Im not being a lactivist here but for purely discussion purposes: Why would the benefit be limited to infants? Whats the cutoff? We, humans, ingest cows milk which provides nutrients. Some people dont drink it but its used in a LOT of products. Medications, breads, almost ALL baked goods, etc. Camel milk, goat milk, etc. are substitutes. Camels milk has been ingested for 6k years. You can make all of those things with breastmilk as well although the fat/carb ratio is different but I substitute soy/almond milk so it cant be that far of a stretch.

I could understand the hate (and for a lot of people repulsion) over breastmilk after some arbitrary age but most of these people drink cows milk, which biologically is for baby cows. Baby cows wean at 10months but youd have to compare where cows are at 10months developmentally and growth-wise to ascertain what the similar age would be for human children. Camels wean at 4 months and goats wean at 6-8 weeks. Kittens 6-8 weeks, puppies 3-4 weeks. Modern human nonindustrial societies averaged 30 months for breastfeeding- thats 2.5 years old.

Im not for/against the OP's thought process but this discussion of breastmilk being awful to give sounds weird as you dunk oreos into milk no?

[Anonymous]

No. That’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

There’s no harm, so why not?

The only downside is that you would need to pump A LOT of extra milk. I hated pumping with a passion so that would be a nonstarter for me.

[Anonymous]

I asked our pediatrician about it and she said it’s doubtful that my toddler would gain any benefit. No question tho - if it would give him protection from covid I’d give him breastmilk in a cup, on his oatmeal, and in smoothies daily.

[Anonymous]

The four year old maybe, but I assume there is some required scaling up for a seven year old to get the marginal protection? Like a baby drinking 3oz at a meal, a toddler drinking 5, it seems logical a seven year old would need quite a lot not just a splash in a smoothie...but if your oversupply is that generous why not?

[Anonymous]

I've read that 2 tablespoons of breastmilk provides the same.amount of antibodies that a breastfed infant is receiving. Can't find the source but I know I read it somewhere, it was a book I borrowed from my midwife. We discussed it during one of my appointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've read that 2 tablespoons of breastmilk provides the same.amount of antibodies that a breastfed infant is receiving. Can't find the source but I know I read it somewhere, it was a book I borrowed from my midwife. We discussed it during one of my appointments.

Doesn’t sound remotely plausible.

[Anonymous]

If science proved that it worked, sure.

[Anonymous]

You should have posted a link with your post OP!

I read that some of the researchers themselves are giving their breast milk to their older kids as well. The protection only lasts a brief period though - they think maybe a couple of days.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/study-shows-covid-19-vaccinated-mothers-pass-antibodies-to-newborns/

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/infants-can-benefit-if-breastfeeding-mothers-are-given-a-covid-19-vaccine

https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/for-breastfeeding-moms-covid-19-vaccinations-may-also-protect-babies/

[Anonymous]

^ Also, to answer the question, if I had oversupply and was pumping anyway, yes I would. Put it in a smoothie.

I’m still nursing my toddler but not pumping so I haven’t bothered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did for my 3yo- smoothies and popsicles

I didn't think it was weird

Don’t you have to do it continuously?

[Anonymous]

No.

First, the gut of a 4 or 7yo is much different than the gut of a newborn. They don’t have the same bacteria, nor are they able to absorb antibodies in the same way. Breast milk would be nutritious, but only in the same sense as any other dairy source.

Second, you’re getting to ages when truth and informed consent becomes important, and sneakiness will be increasingly noted and viewed as a betrayal. Plus there’s the aspect of the 2nd grade lunch table discussing this at length, and no good can come of that.

Signed, big proponent of extended BF

[Anonymous]

Good idea, OP. Now i'm going to sell my COVID antibodies breast milk on Facebook or eBay.