Iron,

Current research shows that Anemia is uncommon in breastfeed babies.

Why?

- a full term healthy baby will have iron stores to last at least 6 months

-The iron in breastmilk is better assimulated than iron from other sources (see diagram 1 in appendix)

- Breastfed babies don't lose iron through their bowels; cow's milk can irritate the intestinal lining (resulting in a tiny amount of bleeding and the loss of iron).

Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one of these studies, done by Pisacane in 1995, the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia.

Iron supplements or iron fortified foods may actually harm the baby?

The iron in breastmilk is bound to proteins which make it available to the baby only, thus preventing potentially harmful bacteria (like E.coli, Salmonella, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Escherichia, Staphylococcus) from using it. These two specialized proteins in breastmilk (lactoferrin and transferrin) pick up and bind iron from baby's intestinal tract. By binding this iron, they

1. stop harmful bacteria from multiplying by depriving them of the iron they need to live and grow, and
2. ensure that baby (not the bacteria) gets the available iron.

The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby's iron absorption. As long as your baby is exclusively breastfed (and receiving no iron supplements or iron-fortified foods), the specialized proteins in breastmilk ensure that baby gets the available iron (instead of "bad" bacteria and such). Iron supplements and iron in other foods is available on a first come, first served basis, and there is a regular "free-for-all" in the baby's gut over it. The "bad" bacteria thrive on the free iron in the gut. In addition, iron supplements can overwhelm the iron-binding abilities of the proteins in breastmilk, thus making some of the iron from breastmilk (which was previously available to baby only) available to bacteria, also. The result: baby tends to get a lower percentage of the available iron.

Supplemental iron (particularly when administered in solution or as a separate supplement rather than incorporated into a meal) can interfere with zinc absorption. In addition, iron supplements and iron-fortified foods can sometimes cause digestive upsets in babies.

A recent study (Dewey 2002) found that routine iron supplementation of breastfed babies with normal hemoglobin levels may present risks to the infant, including slower growth (length and head circumference) and increased risk of diarrhea.

Real Nappy Week (24-30 April)

is intended to raise awareness of the benefits of using cloth nappies on babies and infants. Every year 575 million 'disposable' nappies make their way to New Zealand’s landfills - that's approx 2000kg per child.
These nappies may take up to 500 years to biodegrade. The purpose of Real Nappy Week is to ensure people are aware that cloth nappies can reduce household waste. Cloth nappies can be reused 100’s, even 1000’s of times. It takes one cup of crude oil to make the plastic for each 'disposable' nappy.

found here

The main reason that most parents choose washables is the overwhelming cost savings. Even with the cost of laundering, most parents will save between $500 - $1000 in just the first year of their baby's life. If you are having two children then you can save up to $6000! That is the equivalent of all new kitchen appliances, five months of full-time childcare or mum working part-time for 8 months.
Parents are also concerned about baby's delicate skin. Using washables means baby's skin can be chemical free.
And we all know that 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' helps the environment. Washables do all three and make a major impact in the amount of rubbish you put out each week.
found on the nappy network site

okay how about us (how much has it cost us)

i made lucy's fitted cloth nappies (and wipes) for $100
i estimate it cost us $2 on ecostore lundry powder a week
and $2 on electricity

so $4 x (90weeks) plus $100

so all up its cost $460 total

i used/reused a total of 20 nappies and have only ever used 1 disposable
--------------------------------------------------

okay we could have done this option

disposables (to be honest i don't know how much they cost)
but at 40 cents each
going through 5 nappies a day (i have heard of people changing thier bubs only 4 times a day)
so thats 35 nappies at 40cents

equals $14 a week
plus half a rubbish bag space is .60c
plus cost of wipes maybe $1.50 a week

so $14 X 90weeks = $1260 plus
.60c X 90 = $ 54
$1.50 X90 = $ 135
---------------------
= $1449 (cost so far with lucy aged 20mths)




okay let make this clearer if we were conventional (in potty training and such) this is the costs in total from birth to toliet training at 2.5 years are

$1775 spent on disposables (4445 nappies used )
$ 76 spent on rubbish bags (63 rubbish bags full)
$ 190 spent on wipes
----------
$2041 for disposable (not including enviromental costs)

$ 608 for cloth

what to do with the $1433 of extra money 3 (yes 3 return airfares to Melbournes or a trip to Tahiti

7, At what stages in a childs life do they require extra nutrients?

In the study notes provided it say’s that at the age of birth to 3 months the infant requires nothing extra / but mothers milk, and at the age of 5-6 months the need for extra nutrition arises.

In researching Infant nutrition further I have found a large volume of research that show that infants should be exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months , (the word exclusive meaning no additional water or solid foods.)

This is the recommendation now accepted by;

World Health Organization (see app 1)

Unicef (see app 2)

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of family Physicians

American Dietetic Association

Australian National health and medical research council

Royal Australian college of general practitioners

The Canadian Paediatric Society

La lache league (international breastfeeding support and information)

Why is it important to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months

The greatest immunities occur when a infant is exclusively breastfeed, Studies have shown that a child that nurses for at least 15 weeks has a significantly reduced probability or respiratory illness during childhood. (see App;3 Wilson ’98) (see App;4 Kramer 2003)

The risk of food allergies also decreases with prolonged exclusive breastfeeding,

Why?

A infants gut is what you call “open” meaning the spaces between the cells of the small intestine readily allow intact macromolecules (including whole proteins and pathogens to pass directly into the blood stream,

This is very useful for the breastmilks benefifial antibodies to pass more directly into the bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose the infant to allergies ) to also pass right through.

and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also.

Why it may be beneficial to delay solids longer than 6 months.

Some doctors recommend delaying solid for up to 12 months if there is a family history of food allergies to give the gut time to close and mature .

(having an family member ie; mother brother but also a grandparent or infants uncle / aunt counts as a family history)

Many doctors recommend especially if there is a family history to also avoid the allergy pron food for as long as possible, high risk allergy pron food include

Wheat

Dairy (cows milk products)

Soy

Eggs

Fish

An example of this would be if an infant had a mother that was Dairy intolerant and an uncle who had a Wheat sensitivity both of these substance are best avoided for at least 12 months or longer.

The obesity link

Introducing additional foods other than breastmilk has been show increase the likelihood of childhood obesity. (see app 3 Wilson ’98) (app 5 von Kries 1999),

(app 6 Kalies ₂₀₀₅)

Milk supply

Introducing solid before 6 months can hamper the mothers milk supply , as I have already explored the benefits of breastfeeding continue far into babyhood (the WHO recommends breastfeeding till at least 2 years of age)

Because the solid food actually replace the milk in the infants diet, they do not add to the total intake,

Because infants intake of additional foods and water, they take less breast milk and the mother produces less milk and so on , this can often lead to premature weaning (before the child is actually ready to wean from milk, often the parent has to add infant formula into the baby’s /toddlers diet instead) breastmilk is the much better absorbed/ assimilated, immune boosting, nutrient rich, and gut coating option.

okay some of you might be wonder why such a drought of blogspurbs, um excuse go like this

1, i'm a mum to a toddler
2, i'm way behind in my study 5 assignments due in 4 months plus a exam
3, i started a business making /printing/selling childrens clothes
4, my stack of mending jobs from random locals has esculated rapidly
5, i got really into the 50's house wife culture and have bottled, peaches, necterines, cherries, plums, apples, pears, tomato sause, pasta sause, spagetti, oven dried tomatos, strawberry jam, marmalade,
6, our pet rabbit (riley) chewed through the internet cable
7, i like to sleep (rather than blog late at night)

well there it is...
so where do i see this blog going in the following year??..

i am working on a collection of essays on the benefits of Full term nursing' which includes a look at cultural breastfeeding and weaning practices.

i plan to blog more about what i'm studing ie nutrition and herbalism

more Lucy stuff

maybe some vinyl reviews (from my collection)

yay i've got a bike and it's supa cool, but i can't fit a helmet over my hair ,

but i found this

2 June, 2004- Cyclist Patrick Morgan has won a rare exemption from having to wear a helmet by claiming it gives him migraine headaches. In fact, the Wellington man says his head hurts just thinking about the regulation, which requires most cyclists to wear helmets or face $55 fines. He first sought an exemption under a "reasonable grounds" category but was turned down. But armed with a doctor's certificate, he reapplied on medical grounds and won.

LTSA spokesman Andy Knackstedt said his agency did not fear a rush for exemptions. He did not know how many exemptions the authority had granted in recent times, but produced figures showing that 58 were issued in the five years to 2000, compared with 11 declined applications.

Applications were mainly on medical grounds, such as having too large a head to carry a helmet, or a hypersensitive scalp. But nine applications were on religious grounds, on which Green MP Nandor Tanczos relied to gain an exemption because a bicycle helmet would not fit over his dreadlocks. Sikh Society Auckland president Daljit Singh said members of his faith were similarly exempt because of their turbans.

The rules requiring cyclists to wear helmets allow exemptions on three grounds: medical, religious or "other reasonable grounds". Among reasons for seeking exemptions were:

Headaches and/or claustrophobia - 13; Large head - 9; Hypersensitive scalps, eczema, heat, sunburn - 9; Religious - 9; Personal desire not to wear one - 6; Respiratory problems and asthma from strap - 2; Believe wearing a helmet to be a breach of human rights - 1; Causes glasses to mist while riding and cannot see - 1.

[from NZ Herald]

so there is hope