Breast Milk For Ear Infection:
Youll need:
- 2-3 drops of breast milk
How to do:
- Take 2-3 drops of breast milk and warm it a little. Since the quantity is very less even a spoon can be used to warm it, but care must be taken so that the milk does not become too warm.
- Pour the warmed breast milk in the ear.
- Ensure that the milk is not poured directly into the ear canal but at the entrance of the ear.
- Leave it in for about 20 minutes.
- Clean the ear and ensure there are no residues or liquid remaining in the ear canal.
- If there is any of it left over because of carelessness while cleaning the ear post-treatment it could cause further infection.
Tips and Precautions:
- Breast milk is available online, but it is always recommended to check the donor status and if possible avoid buying breast milk online.
- Breast milk does not have any side-effects however; lactose intolerant patients must not use breast milk for ear infections.
- Do not leave any liquid in the ear canal after the treatment as it attracts further bacterial growth.
If there is any further complications caused by using breast milk, which generally should not happen, consult the doctor immediately.
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Vaccines Breastfeeding Tied To Decline In Ear Infections
By Lisa Rapaport, Reuters Health
4 Min Read
– Breastfeeding and new vaccines are bringing down the risk of ear infections in infants, a U.S. study suggests.
About 46 percent of infants get at least one ear infection by their first birthday, and this remains the leading reason for infant sick visits and antibiotic prescriptions. But thats down from at least 60 percent as recently as the 1990s, researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.
Babies in the study were much less likely to get ear infections if they were breastfed and if they received vaccines to protect against flu and against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can cause infections of the ears, sinuses, lungs, and blood.
Parents should make sure their children receive bacterial and flu vaccines as recommended, breastfeed them as recommended, avoid cigarette smoke exposure and exposure to someone with common cold, said lead study author Dr. Tasnee Chonmaitree of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
These measures will help lower the odds of ear infections, even if they cant always be avoided as a complication of the common cold.
The common cold often leads to bacterial and viral ear infections, therefore ear infections are still common, although the incidence is down, Chonmaitree added by email.
Chonmaitree and colleagues followed 367 healthy babies during their first year of life, monitoring them for at least six months or until they developed an ear infection.
What Are Human Milk Banks
Human milk banks are a service established for the purpose of collecting milk from donors and processing, screening, storing, and distributing donated milk to meet the specific needs of individuals for whom human milk is prescribed by licensed health care providers. When possible, human milk banks also serve healthy infants who have been adopted or are not able to get their own mothers milk.
Milk banks accept donations directly at their deposit sitesexternal icon or they can arrange for safe, overnight transportation of human milk at no cost to the donor. Learn more about donating to a milk bank by visiting the Human Milk Banking Association of North America .external icon
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Human Milk Oligosaccharides In Breast Milk
Breast milk contains a category of carbs called human milk oligosaccharides .
This is a pretty recent discovery! To date, researchers have found over 200 different HMOs.
HMOs may shed light on the immune benefits of breast milk.
For example, in comparison to mature breast milk, HMO content is almost twice as high in colostrum.
Babys dont digest HMOs. Instead they function as prebiotics.
HMOs promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria .
This helps protect baby from harmful bacterialbut how?
Carbs provide more than energy: they help establish the gut microbiome.
Breast milk has 400+ different proteins.
These proteins fit in two categories: i) casein and ii) whey.
Protein itself is a nutrient, but also helps absorb other nutrients.
Proteins also have antimicrobial and immune-supporting functions.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and each has a unique combination.
Therefore, the amino acid profile of whey and casein proteins are distinct.
From colostrum to mature milk, the ratio and amounts of whey/casein protein changes.
Between the two, whey protein is predominant. It makes up 50-80% of protein content in breast milk.
Suffice to say that the protein composition of breast milk is dynamic!
Nucleotides are also found in breast milk. They are the building blocks of our DNA.
Nucleotides are conditionally essential nutrients during the early stages of life.
In infants, they help the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract.
Does Breastmilk Taste Good
Breast milk tastes like milk, but probably a different kind than the store-bought one youre used to. The most popular description is heavily sweetened almond milk. The flavor is affected by what each mom eats and the time of day. Heres what some moms, whove tasted it, also say it tastes like: cucumbers.
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Who Is At Higher Risk For Ear Infections
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Babies born prematurely.
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Younger children because they have shorter eustachian tubes.
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Children who attend daycare because they tend to have more colds.
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Children with allergies or exposed to cigarette smoke. Smoke can irritate the eustachian tube, making ear infections more likely.
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Children who were not breastfed. Breastmilk has antibodies that help fight infections.
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Children who are bottlefed and who swallow milk while lying down. Milk can enter the eustachian tube, which increases the risk for an ear infection.
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Children of First Nations and Inuit descent.
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Children with cleft palates.
Let Baby Enjoy The Benefits Of Breastmilk
Human milk is more than food. Its a complex living substance, like blood, with a long list of active germ-fighting and health-promoting ingredients. These benefits of breastmilk help protect babies against all kinds of infections, common and not-so-common.
A drop of breast milk contains around one million white blood cells. These cells, called macrophages , gobble up germs. Breastmilk is also power-packed with immunoglobulin A , which coats the lining of babies immature intestines, preventing germs from leaking through. Secretory IgA also works to prevent food allergies. By coating the intestinal lining like a protective paint, the benefits of breastmilk prevent molecules of foreign foods from getting into the bloodstream to set up an allergic reaction.
Colostrum, the milk mothers produce in the first few days after birth, is especially rich in IgA, just at the time when the newborn is first exposed to the outside world and needs protection from germs and foreign substances entering his body. Colostrum also contains higher amounts of white blood cells and infection-fighting substances than mature milk.
Immunities Made-To-Order
Breastfed Babies are Healthier
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What Are The Main Nutrients In Breast Milk
Breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need to growth to their full potential.
Fats are a very important component of breast milk.
Fat not only supplies energy, but also aids in the central nervous systems development.
Breast milk fat content ranges from 3.5-4.5%.
Over 200+ types of fatty acids are in breast milk; a great example of its complexity!
Why so many different types of fat?
Each fat has a unique function for normal health and development.
Here are some examples:
Short chain fats provide quick energy. They also help in developing the gastrointestinal tract.
Some medium chain fats support immune function.
For example, they help suppress pathogens like Group B streptococcus .
Other fats called sphingolipids aid neuronal development in the brain.
This is why it is difficult to simplify fats as good or bad like with fad diets.
Remember, fats are diverse and play a huge part in normal growth and development.
Breast milk has diverse fat types that serve specific functions beyond nourishing your child!
The carb profile of breast milk is diverse.
The predominant carb in breast milk is lactose.
Its concentration remains pretty stable around 3-weeks postpartum onward.
The high lactose content provides energy, especially for the developing brain.
Lactose also helps maintain milk consistency, and absorption of minerals like calcium
Is It Ok To Put Breast Milk In Babys Eye
Filled with antibodies, vitamins, and minerals breastmilk can work wonders on your young infants body. Try placing a drop or two of breast milk directly into the inner portion of your babys eyes while they are closed once they open their eyes, the milk will fall into the eyes and work to clear up any infection.
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What Can Human Milk Treat
With all of these beneficial properties, breast milk can be used to treat a variety of different ailments for baby and for the rest of the family. These are some of the ways that breast milk can be used.
Where Can Mothers Find More Information About Preparation And Storage Of Breast Milk
CDC has guidelines for proper storage and preparation of breast milk to maintain the safety and quality of expressed breast milk for the health of the baby.
For more information about specific storage and preparation of breast milk questions, such as where to store breast milk at work, and what to do when the power goes out, visit CDCs Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk Frequently Asked Questions.
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When Should A Mother Avoid Breastfeeding
Breast milk provides the best nutrition for most infants, including premature and sick newborns. However, there are rare exceptions when breast milk or breastfeeding is not recommended. Learn more about contraindications to breastfeeding.
Only a few medications are contraindicated while breastfeeding. Although many medications do pass into breast milk, most have little or no effect on milk supply or on an infants well-being. However, health care providers should always weigh the risks and benefits when prescribing medications to breastfeeding mothers.
Thursday’s Tip: Breastmilk As Medicine
If you have hung out with a group of breastfeeding mothers for any length of time, or searched around the internet, you will have heard someone suggest using breastmilk as a cure for rashes or eye infections or any number of other childhood maladies. Is this just crazy talk or is there science to back up using breastmilk as medicine?
The most common suggested medicinal use of breastmilk is to treat childrens eye infections. This is not a new idea as an 18th century quote, referring to human breast milk said: It is an emollient and cool, and cureth Red Eye immediately. Studies show that most conditions that cause gunky eyes in babies will resolve on their own without any treatment. For bacteria caused pink eye, evidence shows that mothers milk is unlikely to be effective against the bacteria that cause this infection. And certainly, in a newborn, genuine pink eyes need to be evaluated by a physician because there is the potential for long term irreversible eye damage.
So what did the studies say?
Verd, in 2007, published an account of his clinics switch from treating infants with blocked tear ducts with antibiotic eye drops to mothers milk drops. The study is retrospective and descriptive rather than quantitative, but it suggests that routinely using mothers milk is probably safe. Blocked tear ducts, we know, get better without any therapy at all. But if you want to do something, instilling mothers milk seems safe.
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Breastfeed For At Least Six Months
Long recognized as an immunity booster, breast milk can even protect children who are particularly susceptible to ear infections , according to a study at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. This protection probably lasts well after a child has stopped breastfeeding as well, according to experts.
RELATED:;Ear Infection Treatment: The Scoop on Antibiotics, Ear Tubes and Everything in Between
Ways To Prevent Ear Infections
Here are things you can do to reduce your childs risk for ear infections.
1.Vaccinate your child;
Make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations. Studies show vaccinated children have fewer ear infections. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of middle ear infections. The flu vaccine can also help prevent ear infections.
2.Wash your hands
Children and adults who wash their hands with soap and clean, running water can help prevent the spread of germs that can cause colds and ear infections.;Hand-washing is important especially after using the bathroom, when preparing food, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
3.Breastfeed;
Breastfeed your baby. Breast milk contains antibodies that can help protect your baby against various illnesses, including ear infections. The American Academy of Pediatrics;recommends breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first six months and can be continued for as long as both mother and baby desire it.
4.Avoid bottles in bed
Avoid bottle feeding your baby when he or she is lying down. Milk may pool in their throat and enter the Eustachian tubes, creating a medium for bacterial growth.
5.Avoid smoke exposure;
Remember not to allow smoking in or near your home or in your car. Make sure that your childrens daycare and school are tobacco-free zones.
6.Decrease pacifier use;
7.Switch your child to a smaller daycare center;
When to seek medical care
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Breast Milk For Other Infections
An additional claim is that breast milk can be squirted into the ear canal to treat ear infections. Breast milk is unable to cross past the eardrum to get to the bacteria in the middle ear.
Also, some mothers claim that breast milk helps with their childs eczema. There is no scientific evidence supporting the use of breast milk as a topical treatment for eczema. However, when compared to treatment with hydrocortisone 1% treatment, breast milk was as effective for topical treatment.
Mothers also use breast milk in the nostril for rhinitis in infants.; Mothers who have used breast milk in this manner found that it brought a positive effect. However, scientifically, there is no evidence supporting this claim.
Any support for using breast milk as a treatment is purely anecdotal at this time and has little to no scientific support. However, we often tell our GHT families to use the methods that work for them.; We warn against anything that could cause harm to your child. Please discuss remedies you arent sure about with your pediatric healthcare provider first.
Treat An Ear Infection
Those amazing antibodies in your breast milk can fight off ear infections, which occur most often in children ages 6 months to 18 months. Dr. Joseph Mercola recommends putting about 3 to 4 drops at the entrance of the ear canal every few hours. The infection should clear up within 24 to 48 hours.;Some moms follow the breast milk with bottled garlic mullein oil.
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How Breast Milk May Help Babies Fight Off A Deadly Infection
As Mother’s Day approaches, Canadians will be celebrating the people who brought us into this world and nurtured us as we developed. Most of the adulation will be due to social graces, such as care, kindness, and those life lessons that always come in handy. But there are other reasons — specifically molecular — making Mom a baby’s best ally.
Last month, a group of American researchers revealed one of the most important practices in a child’s early life, breastfeeding, may have the ability to prevent a nasty and potentially deadly infection. It’s known as Streptococcus agalactiae, however, many people recognize it by its more popular name, Group B Strep or, GBS. The group’s results reveal how this unique source of nutrition for infants comes with an antimicrobial punch that saves lives.
GBS has been recognized as a significant threat for infants. The bacterium usually resides on and inside anywhere from one-sixth to one-third of women. It’s usually harmless to the mother. But during birth, the bacteria can enter the baby’s respiratory tract. When this happens, troubles may occur.
Figuring out how to deal with GBS colonization in mothers has been a rather difficult process. Screening for the bacterium has moderate value while the use of antibiotics in early pregnancy does offer some hope. But neither of these can offer the baby any help should GBS be missed or survive treatment. This is where the study comes into light.
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How Is Growth Assessed For Breastfed Infants
In the United States, the World Health Organization Growth Standard Charts;are recommended for use with both breastfed and formula-fed infants and children, from birth to 2 years of age, to monitor growth. The WHO growth charts reflect growth patterns among children who were predominantly breastfed for at least 4 months and were still breastfeeding at 12 months. The WHO growth charts establish the growth of the breastfed infant as the norm for growth and are the standards for how children should grow when provided optimal conditions. Clinicians should be aware that healthy breastfed infants typically gain weight faster than formula-fed infants in the first few months of life but then gain weight more slowly for the remainder of infancy, even after complementary foods are introduced.
For children older than 2 years CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that health care providers use the CDC Growth Reference Charts.
Visit the Growth Chart Training website;for a set of self-directed, interactive training courses.
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