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Breast Milk

speakerlav
0 Recommendations

My daughter who is 3 1/2 years old was recently diagnosed with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. She just experienced her first relapse after being off the prednisone for 7 weeks. So, we are back on the prednisone and she is responding well. I recently gave birth to my son and have been pumping breast milk for him. It occurred to me..... why don't I give her some of my breast milk? It is full of antibodies and high forms of omega-3's. Any thoughts on how this could help her health?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Nephrotic syndrome Prednisone Allergies Thrush

15 replies

Dux

Someone is thinking outside of the box. =) This sounds like a good idea to me. How can it hurt? I also did some research here:

http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/11/1/Immunology-of-Breastmi lk

Google this on your own. There is site after site after site on this subject that speaks to the wonderful immunity factors in breast milk...but I doubt that it has ever been consciously used for this purpose. I think this is pure genius.

I would however, recommend a daily log or journal, and monitor how she responds to this study you are about to enter using the albustix to verify the results. Write down the amounts, and times given and anything else you can think of. Try to make this as scientific as you can so that you can verify the results and share them with others. Please let us know what happens.

Best of luck to you.

speakerlav

Thanks for the link. Its really interesting what you find about the benefits of breast milk. Makes me wonder if I would have breast feed her longer if she would be having these issues now. There are just some interesting connections b/w breast milk and the immune system.

I will start documenting this. Hadn't thought about that. I couldn't find any info on this and nephrotic syndrome. I can't be the only one??

I actually started her a few days ago. Whatever was left over throughout the night I saved and gave to her in the morning. She's probably been getting about 5oz a day. She was already neg. w/ her protein when I started her. I think the test will be once she is off if she will relapse again. She got sick when I was in the hospital with my son and that's what caused her relapse.
The only difference I've noticed is her coloring. She looks healthy and not pale like she normally does. I figured it will at least protect throughout the cold/flue season. Who knows I may be a milk machine forever if it helps her!

Dux

You will find if you read my post that I am the big daily log guy. It is pretty much all I talk about. =) I think of all the case studies I did on my own with our daughter and food allergies as science, so don't rule of diet and food allergies yourself.

So I look at your example, or case study as well. You need to know if breast milk is working, or is there something else going? You cannot know unless you document it. Funny because if these does work, you might find the concept of the "wet nurse" making a big come back. =)

Kiwimama

Go for it! Even if it doesn't stop a relapse, she will gain benefits regardless. I would do the same if I was still breastfeeding.

totally unrelated, but there was a news story where I live where a new mum was actually pumping breast milk to give to her dad who has cancer as she'd read some reasearch that backed it up.

speakerlav

I did see that about the Dad w/cancer. Very interesting for sure....

GAILRD

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS GOING TO HAVE HER FIRST BABY IN AFEW MONTHS....SHE IS VERY GIVING AND LOVING AND TY IS LIKE A CHILD OF HERS . I AM GOING TO SHARE THESE POSTINGS WITH HER. SHE PLANS ON NURSING AND I KNOW SHE WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE TO TY WHATEVER SHE CAN. VERY INTERESTING. YOU'VE CAPTURED MY INTEREST FOR SURE. THIS IS A REAL POSSIBILITY FOR US.

liqdsnk2

What a great idea! I look forward to reading how it goes!

speakerlav

Unfortunately, I've had to stop. My son has thrush and has passed it onto me. Didn't want to risk anything with my daughter, But I do plan to resume in a couple of weeks. What is amazing to me is that her ped. said "well I wouldn't do that, you don't know whats in your breast milk." I couldn't believe that! Of course I do! I know way more than what's in cow's milk! It's amazing how little our culture knows about breast milk.

liqdsnk2

I was wondering if you restarted? That's crazy your ped said that! I had a friend tell me the other day to take my son off of cows milk and give him raw goat milk. I'm not sure how I feel about it but might try. Let us know how it's going!

KESMOM

I too think it sounds like a good idea. I don't think it could hurt anything at all. Keep us posted. Makes me wish I could try it with my son. I'm all for trying anything that has the potential to help, but has no negative side effects!

Kiwimama

I have done a lot of reading up on raw milk benefits - however, I really hesitated in doing it while my son was immunosuppressed since there are higher bacteria levels in raw milk that I couldn't be sure that his body would be able to deal with. My own breastmilk I'd have no problems with obviously (if I were still BFing), but from an animal where I didn't know it's health, food sources etc, I wouldn't be so comfortable with.

speakerlav

Well, I actually started her again this week. SHe has been getting about 3-4 oz. in the morning w/ her other milk. Any more and the tastes bothers her. She is still weaning off the pred. so we have 3 more weeks. I think the true test will be if/when she gets sick this winter how her body reacts. Her skin and hair look healthier, though. I have heard that goat milk is wayyyyy better for you than cow's but I would do more investigation on it.

avb9920

Hi...

My son was just two weeks old when are then 20-month old went into the hospital due to excess water (we were originally told it was Minimal Change Disease...it ended up being FSGS).

Anyway, I began breast-feeding my daughter again while I was also nursing my son, and nursed the both of them for some time...maybe 6 months. I believe whole-heartedly in breastfeeding, but I honestly didn't think it would do much more than boost her immunity...especially after she left the hospital and was on immunosupressants. So, I believe it helps, but as a sort of natural baby multi-vitamin.

speakerlav

I think you're probably right. The least it will do is boost her immune system. I don't think it will cure anything otherwise no breast feed babies would not be experiencing nephrotic syndrome.

jcmom

Dr. William Sears and his wife, Martha, are huge proponents of mother's milk. You could post your question on his web page www.askdrsears.com. Hopefully, it would get picked up. I'd love to know what they say if you get a reply.

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