I am learning about the blood and types of antibodies at the
moment. I find it very interesting that my textbook inserts this deceptive and
leading information:
"Delivery eliminates the maternal supply of IgG.
Although the mother provides IgA antibodies in breast milk, the infant
gradually loses its passive immunity. The amount of maternal IgG in the
infant's bloodstream declines rapidly over the first two months after birth.
During this period, the infant becomes vulnerable to infection by bacteria or
viruses that were previously overcome by maternal antibodies. The infant's immune system begins to respond to infections,
environmental antigens, and vaccinations. As a
result, the infant
begins producing its own IgG.”
This combination of truth and
twisted dogma makes me ANGRY!
Not only does the mother’s breastmilk provide IgA, it also provides the
other 4 types of antibodies: IgG, IgE,
IgD, and IgM. Formula provides NONE of these antibodies. Every antigen
(allergen) that the mother comes into contact with the baby will get. Assuming
that the baby is with the mother most of the time, the baby will receive
antibodies to any allergen in its environment. (And my little
side conjecture is that should a child be lucky enough to receive breastmilk
from more than one woman, such as when two partnered women have a child
together, the baby will receive antibodies from everywhere that two women go –
double the antigen exposure, therefore double the naturally acquired immunity
for the baby!)
Not to
mention how many molecules and proteins in the mother’s milk help reduce
pathogenic bacteria in the baby’s gut, and contains good bacteria.
Interestingly
Iron fortified formulas are on the market. Why is this? Don’t the makers of
formula know that many pathogenic bacteria thrive on iron? And coincidentally,
breastmilk contains proteins called lactoferrin that bind iron, removing it
from the babies‘ body, reducing the spread of organisms that can cause an
infant serious illness. One example of this is Staphylococcus Aureus.
The fact that
my textbook skips over the information about these helpful functions of
breastmilk, and even includes vaccinations as part of the “reason” that infants
begin building there immune system is ludicrous. Vaccinations are NOT part of
an infant’s development. They are moneymakers that are NOT in a child’s best
interest.
