I just want to share my amazement and obsession with breast milk…..again.
How can it make our lives better?
It nourishes our babies, it feeds the bacteria and flora in their intestines so that they can be healthy, it gives them immune system support, comfort, and customized nutrition. I’ve nursed my babies through sleeplessness, pain, discomfort, sickness, vaccines and plane rides. The boob was the ultimate fixer of all things in my house. Of course we can find lots of other ways to fix and comfort our children, but there’s more……
When my oldest was about 4 years old, she had a very strange wart-like bump on the side of her hip. It got really big, then started spreading. When I finally took her to the pediatrician, there were dozens of tiny wart bumps on her hip, bottom, and the side of her upper leg. Of course I looked it up on Google first. I wasn’t worried that it was something dangerous, but I was hoping for some insight for how to get rid of it. The doctor said the same thing I had read. You just have to wait and let it run its course. There were new bumps every day for weeks. They looked yucky and were a little itchy, but otherwise harmless.
And then what?
I did finally read a fringe article that suggested putting breast milk on them. So, since I was still nursing my second child, I had some to experiment with. I squirted some onto a cotton pad and wiped it onto the bumps. The next day they seemed like they might be a little better, but I definitely couldn’t be sure. I did it again. The next day they were noticeably better, and within a few more days there were hardly any bumps left. I told the pediatrician about it when she asked at her next checkup. I hesitantly admitted to her what I did, and she actually said that she wasn’t surprised!
That’s my best breast milk story. In addition, I’ve heard:
- it can cure pinkeye and ear infections
- it can soothe sore throats and insect bites
- it can heal diaper rash, other skin irritations, and acne
- it can prevent or fight infections in cuts and scrapes
- it creates hydrogen peroxide when mixed with baby saliva
- it changes it’s formula to first feed and help colonize baby’s gut flora
- it adjusts it’s formula to meet baby’s most current growth and health needs
- and more……
Amazing! Scientists are studying breast milk in labs. Unfortunately it’s not getting as much attention as tomatoes or erectile dysfunction according to Katie Hinde, a leading lactation researcher. I guess it’s not a super lucrative endeavor to study breast milk. Watch her TED talk HERE. They are discovering new amazing attributes of and uses for human breast milk all the time.
Author Info
No Comments