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Vital for Preemies to Get Good Bacteria

In preterm newborns who are exclusively bottle-fed, treatment with the probiotic organism Lactobacillus reuteri improves gut function.

Probiotics are micro-organisms that help maintain the natural balance of healthy organisms, the "good" bacteria, in the digestive tract. Some doctors suggest that their use for preterm infants should be "routine."

Infants receiving L. reuteri, like infants fed breast milk, have significant decreases in the number of episodes of spitting up and in the average daily crying time. Digestion is also significantly faster among preterm newborns receiving L. reuteri.


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Posted On Jul 03, 2008
I was so happy when I saw that there was a milk bank being developed in Indiana(finally!) for moms to donate milk for moms who cannot breastfeed especially for premies who need it. But then I read that they were pasteurizing the milk! Which will of course destroy the probiotics--it is still better than formula but... Anyway I think we need to bring back the old career of wet nursing--I would have been able to when I had babies ( I always had enough milk for 3 babies!) Moms who have enough milk could feed preemie babies? Of course they would want to be checked for communicable disease first.

 
Debrah
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
Debrah  
Replied

Magnolia
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Magnolia  
 
Posted On Jul 06, 2008
Oh Debrah, I couldn't agree with you more! Wet nursing would be far superior, with carefully screened wet nurses. I cannot think of a single reason not to do things that way. What a beautiful gift to provide a little one trying to develop and grow into a robust and healthy child! Thanks for your post!

 
 
 
Posted On Jul 03, 2008
now if we could just get people to quit feeding them sugar, caffeine and other assorted poisions.

 
technologist
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 5/2008
technologist  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 03, 2008
That is a start, but there is so much more missing in formulas - ESPECIALLY FOR PREMIES.  Here's a page with a recipe for milkbasedinfantformula.  It is at RealMilk.com so.  That means NO pasteurized milk please.  Use whole (including the fat) raw milk. 

Raw milk has more than just one beneficial probiotic.  It is a powerhouse.  Children used to be raised on raw milk when mom's milk couldn't do, and there were less allergies.  Hmmmm. . . . gives one pause to ponder.

As for the good start, yes, if they are going to be fed toxic formula and not real breastmilk or the raw milk formula, adding some beneficial bacteria will help. 

Not intending to hijack the thread, but, what will help even more is to put the hospital (if you have to deliver there) on notice that no toxic elements will be directly injected into the newborn's veins to prevent sexually transmitted disease, or any other disease.  Allergies, asthma, autism and many of our other chronic diseases attacking the children of this century are caused by the forced vaccination program more than the horrible formula they are given.  The poor premature infant is at even higher risk.

 
Zambini
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 5/2007
Zambini  
 
 
 
Posted On Jul 03, 2008
How do the infants receive the L. reuteri? Hopefully it's not in soy formula or pasteurized milk.

 
MrBeam
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 3/2008
MrBeam  
 
 
 
 
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