Giving Breastmilk to Sick Older Child page

[Dr. Bork Bork]

The other day my mom gave Grace saltines when she knows she is sensitive to gluten. I told her when Grace got sick in 2-3 days that she was going to be fully responsible for her. I was livid. She didn't believe me that Grace would get sick, that I was overreacting, and that I don't give Grace any opportunities to g"grow out" of her gluten prob. I don't even want to give her little system a chance to flip out right now with a newborn in the house and rsv/bronch/strep running wild through our community. Well guess who was up all night with projectile bogos and miserableness! She slept in Ma's bed. I hope the woman learned her lesson. What breaks my heart more is that I'm going to spend the next several days chasing a super loving/affectionate big sister away from her baby thanks to those boogers!

Anyway, my question is do you think there would be any benefit to giving Grace (4.5 years old) some of her sister's expressed breastmilk to help cut down duration of the reaction? We have plenty in the fridge!

[j3nn]

Parents: so often think they know better than us foolish children. Ugh.

Breast milk certainly couldn't hurt! It's highly nourishing to children. Poor kid. Hope she feels better!

I'd add it to a fruit smoothie.

[AuroraB]

It's worth a try, if she'll drink it. I keep a bottle of colostrum capsules in the house at all times, just in case someones starts to sniffle. I have to break them open for my youngest since he can't swollow pills yet.

I would think breastmilk, with all those wonderful enzymes, would be a great option. Maybe your mom should come and take care of her so she can see what she's done. Oh wait..., she'd probably want to make her some cookies too, you know... to make her feel better.

[Stephanie]

My BFF gave gave her BM to my son when he was in liver failure...best thing we ever did. I would totally do it!

[nicolebeth]

Anyway, my question is do you think there would be any benefit to giving Grace (4.5 years old) some of her sister's expressed breastmilk to help cut down duration of the reaction? We have plenty in the fridge!

It's a great idea. DS1 (now 7.5) would love some, if I had any pumped (DS2 is nursing). (He remembers it fondly as he nursed until he was five.) We've also recently found out that he's gluten-intolerant (if not celiac). So, perhaps that is also why breastfeeding was so important to him for so long (both soothing and nutrient-replacing). Anyway, there are still nutrients, antibodies, etc. even for the older child. Apparently, even for an adult as well. Your daughter may even drink it as is, though a smoothie is a good idea.

Good luck! It's hard when parents do things that they think is right (but we know are wrong!)

[Unicorn]

If possible, I would give her the freshly expressed, not refridgerated. The concentration of antiviral/antibacterial enzymes decreases with time and refridgeration. Hope everyone is feeling better soon!

[Crabbcakes]

Dr BB, I feel so for you!! My dad won't accept that two of mine have serious food issues. We don't visit him any more. My FIL tries very hard, but one Christmas so long ago, when mine was a wee thing, Grandpa absentmindedly gave mine a Christmas cookie (he was informed and had no particular problem with the restriction) as the whole SAD-eating grandkid gang was there, and Grandma had baked cookies that everybody was chomping on, and she was too young to yet monitor herself, and she ate it up. We spent the next day at the emergency pediatrician. Grandpa was so incredibly sorry, that to this day 12 years later, he gets really anxious offering her anything at all, even though this kid is long since able to monitor herself.

But to the milk - yes, please do. Let us know how Grace is doing in a day or so?

To your mom - Boo! for today.

To you - big hugs!!!

[Dr. Bork Bork]

Maybe your mom should come and take care of her so she can see what she's done. Oh wait..., she'd probably want to make her some cookies too, you know... to make her feel better.

She's been here a while helping me recover from and take care of new baby. Yes, she makes cookies, but she gets the GF mixes (thank heavens). She wants Grace to grow out of her sensitivity, and doesn't understand where it comes from since no one in her family has the problem. Honestly, I think Grace gets it from Daddy since he is constantly doing that sick snot snorting and hucking loogie noise, and it seems to calm down when he cuts back on bread, but that's besides the point.

If possible, I would give her the freshly expressed, not refridgerated. The concentration of antiviral/antibacterial enzymes decreases with time and refridgeration. Hope everyone is feeling better soon!

Dunno if I could get super fresh stuff to her. I pump in the middle of the night after dream feeding Annee.

[yippy]

I just had baby in December ans the lactation consultant in the hospital told me that pumping to make milkshakes for my 4 and 2 year old would boost their immunity during flu season. Not sure if it's true, and my supply is too low to try it, but it's worth trying, if you can spare the milk!

[Ayla2010]

Def worth it
Yippy, your supply will increase if you feed/pump more. Plus you could take fenugreek or drink a nursing tea to help And yes it is true.