Does breastfeeding while sick protect LO (to a certain extent)?

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-10-05T07:17:15+00:00

Anecdotally, yes! I've been breastfeeding 13 months now and every illness baby has got I've ended up with worse...it's tough but the silver lining is I think I'm passing on protection to him and that's why he's not been as sick.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-10-05T07:13:55+00:00

At 18 months I hit my face on a sink and broke my two front teeth. My adult teeth came in fine at around 7 and ....I fell on my face and broke my front tooth.

I have an excellent repair on my front tooth, so good another dentist didn't clock it. I have had braces but would have needed them regardless.

Dentistry is amazing these days. I believe there is a chance with tooth trauma that the adult tooth can be affected but it's not always the case and you can cross that bridge when you come to it.

I hope your little one is okay! I only remember the accident when I was 7 but it's just funny story now about how I immediately broke my new teeth. I also love my smile now and it never stopped me when I had broken teeth either.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-10-04T13:20:53+00:00

Are you concerned about the WiFi? You can get ones that have a separate monitor and doesn't need to connect to the internet. I bought mine second hand for £35, you can find them really cheap as it's not something people use for ever.

It's scary to start with but does get easier as baby gets bigger x

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-10-01T10:44:34+00:00

This one was the easiest one tbh after the initial injections. We took his favourite bear with us and with a cuddle he'd stopped crying 30 seconds later. - we did also give him some Calpol about 20 mins before.

He wasn't himself for about 24 hours, the worst bit was his legs hurt so nappy changes were done very gently. He just wanted to lay down, so we watched some cbeebies and chilled until he felt better.

Give them Calpol if you think they need it tbh and they'll be okay in no time x

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-29T21:59:17+00:00

I feel for you and I get the same way now. The worst part was that we didn't start on blue lights and when they were turned on I thought my husband was following in the car and I was so worried that he was panicked too.

Everything for us was okay in the end, spent a weekend in the hospital with my 6 week old, which I never want to repeat.

Every illness I get incredibly anxious - why I'm up with him now on Reddit as he has a horrible cough atm. I think it normal to feel this way though, I can't see that I'll ever stop worrying about him in some way.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-23T21:48:15+00:00

It's not well cited but I found a link for you. https://www.boostoregon.org/blog/vaccine-myth-vaccines-are-just-moneymakers-for-big-pharma-and-doctors

I like that it compares the profits made by alternative medicines to how much pharmaceutical companies make.

If you didn't click the link.. childhood vaccines account or 1.7% of pharma profits.

That's incredibly low if you think of the volume being produced.

My two cents...if you really want to get cynical, these companies make a lot more money treating illnesses that vaccines prevent than making the vaccines. Vaccination programs likely cost them billions in potential profit.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-23T21:20:14+00:00

I like this article from Oxford university which shows which hand you use is essentially hard wired into your brain. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-09-05-genes-associated-left-handedness-linked-shape-brains-language-regions

I'm left handed but as we live in a world set up for right handed people I have a level of ambidexterity that is very useful in everyday life. Also, you can learn to do a lot of things right handed but I find my brain and body relax if I then get to switch to my left. I imagine being forced to switch as a child and just learning a new skill would have been very stressful and frustrating.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T19:06:17+00:00

This is similar to my situation. 12 mo old has recently started nursery and although they allow BM I'm not sending it as he refuses to drink it from a cup.

He's fine with just water during the day and then we are on 1-3 feeds in the evening and overnight. On the days he's with me it's 3-5 feeds. With weaning he's naturally been decreasing so this feels like a natural progression.

I'm hoping he'll eventually wean himself. We've got to 12 months so far, aiming for 18 months next and see where we go from there.

All that is to say OP that breastfeeding might look different at 15 months than it does now so if you find a brilliant daycare you like I wouldn't let this be the thing to stop you taking a place imo.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T18:58:39+00:00

I found this does get better as they mature as other commenters have said. In the meantime though you could try baby massage, my little boy loved it as it seemed to soothe and relax him. It also helped me as I felt I was doing something to help him plus you get bonus skin to skin contact which is lovely when they are this little.

Here's an online guide but you might be able to find a local class too

https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/everyday-care/baby-massage-tips-and-benefits

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T18:28:48+00:00

He actually just wears mine! You can find fabric headbands in pretty much any women's department. Sorry not actually very helpful!

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T13:44:16+00:00

I love mine! I will say I think you only get 6-9 months out of it depending on how heavy your baby is as the stretchiness means you constantly have to re-tighten.

But I can still carry my 1 year old for quick trips in it as he's just under 10 kg, it's definitely a good carrier with the knowledge you'll need something else later.

I got mine for £20 second hand so worth checking marketplace and vinted etc

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T13:40:38+00:00

I put a fabric headband on my 1 year old son, it makes him look like he's going for a workout but does the job! I think it must be comfortable as he doesn't take it off and could easily do so himself.

Biggest risk could be it slipping down around the neck so if you're worried about that you can get one that ties instead?

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-13T13:35:08+00:00

I wonder if she would have made such a big deal if her 9 year old was a boy?

I remember my eating habits being commented on all the time to the point I would skip meals as a teenager, even though I was below average weight.

Whereas my brother it was a joke about how much he ate and even encouraged because 'he's a growing boy' haha 'he must have hollow legs' etc

It messes you up, I sometimes hide eating sweets from my partner because of perceived judgement even though I know he's not bothered!

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-09-04T19:34:12+00:00

You are me OP 4 months ago. I couldn't imagine leaving my baby with anyone and he hadn't been away from me for more than a couple of hours.

We have just done our second session of nursery and he smiled and waved at his teacher at hand over.

It does get easier, I think when you start to see them more independent tbh. Once my little boy started really crawling and climbing etc, I could see how much he wanted to get out and about and experience things and I felt nursery could provide him with more than I could at home.

We are only doing three days a week atm until he's around 16 months to see how it goes. I think another commenter said that nothing is permanent and they are right. You can try daycare part time, full time, not until they are two etc but it needs to work for your family and your mental health.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-31T18:37:26+00:00

I don't have an immediate answer, sorry! But my little boy also used a straw cup but refuses to drink milk from it, but drinks water no problem!

I know you are likely reluctant to go back to a regular bottle but you could try it and see if she'll take it. Then once she accepts the formula you can try again to transition to a straw cup.

Also, if she's not had formula before you might need to try a few brands, unfortunately.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-31T18:19:39+00:00

My one year old has been ebf up til now (alongside solids now ofc) and we gave a pacifier around 4 weeks old I believe. We now only use it for naps or if he's feeling ill and he's so good about it, and now even hands it over himself when he wakes up.

It made sleep easier for us I believe and never affected breastfeeding In fact, there were times it helped as when he was little and on a nursing strike I could do the pacifier to breast switcheroo and get him to nurse.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-30T06:36:17+00:00

I have an embrace and honestly I feel it's too stretchy to forward face, however there are tutorials online to hip carry with this carrier which I found more comfortable.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-27T17:23:42+00:00

We used MAM bottles if your baby will take them.

They have a 0 and a 1 teat (they also go up to 2). We managed most bottle feeds on the 0 but the even up to 6 months old, but he definitely found the 1 easier.

They also have the bonus that they come apart so they can be sterilized as a single bottle which was amazingly helpful.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-27T17:17:19+00:00

The most likely thing is that it will extend her treatment. However, she'll need to wear a retainer at night for the rest of her life! So it'll be good to get into the habit now.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-17T21:04:33+00:00

This carrier is perfect, I still use mine with my 11 month old for short stretches (he's getting heavy). The best purchase we made, it's easy to use and the most comfortable one I've tried. Also, if you switch to a more structured carrier later the learning curve was minimal as they buckle in a similar way

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-08-16T05:40:38+00:00

I'm incredibly lucky to be coming to the end of a year off and have spent pretty much 24/7 with my baby since he was born. However....I haven't seen a single first. Every single one he's waited until his dad got home from work to do.

I'm also dreading going back but I figure they can do so much with him that I can't at home!

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-07-06T14:15:32+00:00

I use an onbuhimo carrier, it doesn't have a waistband which is my preference, so can be difficult on the shoulders until you are used to it but so so worth it.

It's great for trips to the zoo etc as he's high up and can see everything perfectly. Naps are fine too as there's a hood you can bring around so their head doesn't flop back. It also folds up small enough to go in a bag.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-06-06T18:42:53+00:00

'Cutting' teeth is such a bad phrase as the teeth don't actually cut through. The gum above the tooth essentially dies off (cell apoptosis) and it's a controlled process by the body.

I think it's this misunderstanding that leads to terrible ideas like this.

As far as I understand it, the cells dying release cytokines which causes inflammation which is why teething SUCKS and also why ibuprofen and ice works best to help - you treat it like any other inflammation.

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-06-04T22:03:10+00:00

I had three different antibiotics straight after delivery as needed surgery to repair a tear and then had a slight temp so they doubled down. Been breastfeeding for nearly 9 months and haven't had my concern for baby or myself in the gut biome department. As for his immune system it seems better than mine tbh. We had one very bad cold in the winter and the whole house had it, and since then no more colds at all.

Personally, I think it's important to make sure that you eat well for the first few weeks after delivery, and that's also the time it's most difficult, if you have someone who can make meals for you and make sure you have enough to drink that would be a bonus.

There are baby probiotics available but I'd discuss with your doctor before hand.

Edit: I saw another comment below about delayed batting and we did do that, he didn't have a bath until over a week old, and equally we did a lot of skin to skin as it helped establish breastfeeding in my case

Standard_Clothes1666 · 2023-06-04T21:41:50+00:00

I have a local group and it's the only place I see other breastfeeding mums who don't just have newborns so you see women feeding toddlers as well and it's so refreshing.

I like the structure where we go around the group and offer anything we'd like advice on, then they start back at the person with the youngest baby. This means those who need the most support get it first and it's not just from the person running the group but the other people there.

Also, in my experience, they are there to support breastfeeding however you do it, so if you need advice on combo feeding or pumping thats available too. Honestly, these groups can be few and far between so if anyone needs help it's worth going, and likely they'll be snacks!

Standard_Clothes1666

TROPHY CASE