Drop in antibodies after 6 months?

This link was in my BabyCenter email for this week.

http://tinyurl.com/35y5w

I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."

I was glad to see the plug for bf'ing but I have never heard of the
antibodies in breastmilk decreasing after 6 months. I thought one of
the prime reasons for extended bf'ing is the antibodies. Anyone know
what they're talking about, or if it isn't true?
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 3 (today!), and Jaden, 6 months
Quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

"Cheryl S." wrote in message

This link was in my BabyCenter email for this week.

http://tinyurl.com/35y5w

I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on
preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."

I was glad to see the plug for bf'ing but I have never heard of the
antibodies in breastmilk decreasing after 6 months. I thought one of
the prime reasons for extended bf'ing is the antibodies. Anyone know
what they're talking about, or if it isn't true?

We talked about this briefly at my LLL meeting last night. According to
what the Leader said, the drop in antibodies corresponds with the
introduction of other substances into the baby's digestive system (i.e.
solid foods). I believe the info came from the Womanly Art book (of
which I know you are a *huge* fan! j/k ;-).

Speaking of the Womanly Art book, I learned something else new when
reading the section on introduction of solids. It said that if you start
solids after the 6 month mark, you don't have to start with purees, but
that babies are usually ready for more "biting" types of activities like
mushed up banana (or even banana chunks). That was news to me. I thought
purees were the gospel for first foods!

--
Em
mama to L-baby, 6 months old this Sunday

"Cheryl S." wrote in message
I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on
preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."
snip

I just checked the Womanly Art again and it says, "when solid foods
replace human milk in a baby's diet, it decreases the protective
antibodies the baby receives." It states this as one of the reasons to
wait to introduce solids after 6 months (one of the others is
allergies).

So, I'm thinking that "seem to decrease" is someone who is just not
looking at the context in which the decrease occurs. (Or, who wants to
make breastfeeding seem un or less important. I'm suspicious of the
motives for that quote!!)

--
Em
mama to L-baby, 6 months old this Sunday!

"Cheryl S."

I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on
preventing ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe
that mothers transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their
babies through breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to
decrease after the six-month mark."

Anecdotally - Hunter got his first ear infection right at 6 months. No
solids yet. Probably coincidence ;-)

Em wrote:

It said that if you
start solids after the 6 month mark, you don't have to start with
purees, but that babies are usually ready for more "biting" types of
activities like mushed up banana (or even banana chunks). That was
news to me. I thought purees were the gospel for first foods!

That was definitely true for Hunter (started at 10mos). Luke had the jarred
food at the sitter and finger food (cut/mashed/clumpy) at home (started at
6mos). Neither of mine gagged though and I think that is individual :-)

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

"Cheryl S." wrote in message
... and I snipped:

Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 3 (today!), and Jaden, 6 months

Happy Birthday to Julie!!!

-Patty, mom to Corinne (6y!) and Nathan (3.5y)
and stepmom to Victoria (13.5y)

"Em" wrote in message
newsDD6c.40704$1p.588899@attbi_s54...
"Cheryl S." wrote in message
I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on
preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."
snip

I just checked the Womanly Art again and it says, "when solid foods
replace human milk in a baby's diet, it decreases the protective
antibodies the baby receives." It states this as one of the reasons to
wait to introduce solids after 6 months (one of the others is
allergies).

Well, if you're replacing human milk with solids, of course the baby will
receive less protective antibodies. After all, the solids don't have
antibodies. It doesn't say that the milk itself has less antibodies. I'm
eagerly watching this thread for the answer.

"toypup" wrote in message
"Em" wrote in message
"Cheryl S." wrote in message
I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on
preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies
through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."
snip

I just checked the Womanly Art again and it says, "when solid foods
replace human milk in a baby's diet, it decreases the protective
antibodies the baby receives." It states this as one of the reasons
to
wait to introduce solids after 6 months (one of the others is
allergies).

Well, if you're replacing human milk with solids, of course the baby
will
receive less protective antibodies. After all, the solids don't have
antibodies. It doesn't say that the milk itself has less antibodies.
I'm
eagerly watching this thread for the answer.

I know, that's why I said that I think that the person quoted is basing
his info on a misinterpretation of what actually happens! That's my
theory, but I could be totally off-base. The quote in the OP's post
doesn't say whether they tested the milk itself, or whether it is just
that babies start having less antibodies at the 6 months mark. Call me
skeptical, but I just suspect that the quote is not based on fact!

--
Em
mama to L-baby, almost 6 months old!

OK. I actually botheaedr to read the other responses this time first!
:-)

I have two things to say. This first is based on the other responses.
That is that the protective effects of the antibodies appear to
decrease because of the presence of solid foods in the baby's
digestive system, probably intefering with absorbtion.

The second is studies I have read which directly contradict this.
The basic result is that the concentration of immunoglobulins in
second year milk is much higher than first year milk. This says
that that the immune effects of breastmilk continue well into the
second year.

That said, then regardless of what Rubin actually meant, I think his
statement was irresponsible. It leaves the (incorrect) impression
that breastfeeding is less important after 6 months. IM(NS)HO, just
the opposite is true. Breastfeeding is more important because it
counters some of the stresses inherent is introducing foreign foods.

Grrrr (him, not you),
Larry

Cheryl S. writes:
: This link was in my BabyCenter email for this week.

: http://tinyurl.com/35y5w

: I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on preventing
: ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
: transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
: breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
: six-month mark."

: I was glad to see the plug for bf'ing but I have never heard of the
: antibodies in breastmilk decreasing after 6 months. I thought one of
: the prime reasons for extended bf'ing is the antibodies. Anyone know
: what they're talking about, or if it isn't true?
: --
: Cheryl S.
: Mom to Julie, 3 (today!), and Jaden, 6 months
: Quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
: I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

It isn't true.

http://www.promom.org/bf_info/toddler.htm

Mary G.

"Cheryl S." wrote in message
...
This link was in my BabyCenter email for this week.

http://tinyurl.com/35y5w

I was very surprised to read this in it, under the section on preventing
ear infections: "Practitioners such as Ruben believe that mothers
transfer certain immune-building antibodies to their babies through
breast milk. However, those antibodies seem to decrease after the
six-month mark."

I was glad to see the plug for bf'ing but I have never heard of the
antibodies in breastmilk decreasing after 6 months. I thought one of
the prime reasons for extended bf'ing is the antibodies. Anyone know
what they're talking about, or if it isn't true?
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 3 (today!), and Jaden, 6 months
Quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.



This is totally just a theory but the antibodies in breastmilk are
antibodies that the mother produces to bugs she is exposed to. Perhaps at
six months when baby starts to get solids, move around and be held by more
people he begins to be exposed to bugs that Mum isn't. So he's getting bugs
that Mum hasn't had a chance to make antibodies to. So it wouldn't so much
be less anti-bodies but less appropriate anti-bodies. Obviously if the baby
was in daycare earlier with my theory the same would apply earlier. What do
you think?

Judy