New Study: Vaccinated Children Have 2 to 5 Times More Diseases and Disorders Than Unvaccinated Children

Preventable Vaccine-induced Diseases

A German study released in September 2011 of about 8000 UNVACCINATED children, newborn to 19 years, show vaccinated children have at least 2 to 5 times more diseases and disorders than unvaccinated children.

The results are presented in the bar chart below; the complete data and study results are here. The data is compared to the national German KIGGS health study of the children in the general population. Most of the respondents to the survey were from the U.S. (Click on the chart to see it better)

The data was collected from parents with vaccine-free children via an internet questionnaire by vaccineinjury.info and Andreas Bachmair, a German classical homeopathic practitioner. The independent study is self-funded and is not sponsored by a large “credible” non-profit or government health organization with political and financial conflicts of interest; hence Bachmair relies on Google ads and donations for revenue. Each one of the 8000 cases are actual cases with medical documentation. Three other studies had similar results according to Bachmair and are reported below.

No study of health outcomes of vaccinated people versus unvaccinated has ever been conducted in the U.S. by CDC or any other agency in the 50 years or more of an accelerating schedule of vaccinations (now over 50 doses of 14 vaccines given before kindergarten, 26 doses in the first year). Most data collected by CDC is contained in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database. The VAERS is generally thought to contain only 3 to 5 percent of reportable incidents. This is simply because only some immediate reactions are reported by doctors; but many are not admitted to be reactions to the vaccine. Most importantly, the VAERS numbers are only immediate reactions, which I would place with a few hours to a few weeks. Long-term vaccine-induced diseases and disorders are not recognized by parents or doctors when these conditions develop perhaps a few months to five years or more and would never be realized to come from multiple vaccinations. In other words, many children and adults have diseases and disorders that are vaccine induced and they never suspect they are from the vaccines, as this study indicates.

The comparisons of the health of vaccine-free children with the health statistics of the general population are the same as comparing unvaccinated with vaccinated. This is simply because the general population of U.S. children are nearly 100 percent vaccinated.

Only four of the unvaccinated 8000 responded with severeautism (0.05%) and these were said to be high mercury cases. On the other hand, I had noticed the results show about a 1% rate for autism in the unvaccinated over 3 years old–about the same as vaccinated children. So I asked Bachmair why the data does not show significantly less. He told me he had invited many autism groups and internet autism lists to participate and thus skewed the results accordingly. If the true rate is 0.5%, I calculated that only 40 extra respondents (above the true average number) responded yes to autism, it would skew the results by a factor of 2. If the true rate is 0.25%, only 60 additional respondents (above the true average number) of the 8000 responded yes to autism, it would skew the results by a factor of 4. So it would not take many respondents from these lists to skew the results significantly.

The only other bias in this study may include the fact that parents of unvaccinated children are obviously concerned about the health risks of vaccines, and are more likely to make other healthier choices such as feeding their children a much better diet and using more natural remedies and using fewer pharmaceuticals.

Now half the U.S. children suffer from chronic diseases and disorders and 21% are developmentally disabled. Yet the public health system always uses the sacred mantra “vaccine-preventable diseases” when referring to their top public health achievement of mass vaccinations. I think we should be talking more in terms of preventable vaccine-induced diseases.

The survey is still ongoing and you may take the survey here if you have unvaccinated children.

If you think this article and study is important, please use the Facebook button below and share it.–Augie

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Other studies were cited by Andreas Bachmair

Salzburger Study

Results: of 1004 unvaccinated children, had

Asthma, 0% (8-12% in the normal population)

A-topic dermatitis 1.2% (10-20% in the normal population)

Allergies 3% (25% in the normal population)

ADHD 0.79% (5-10%) in children

Longterm Study in Guinea-Bissau (1 Kristensen I, Aaby P, Jensen H.:“Routine vaccinations and child survival: follow up study in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa”, BMJ 2000; 321: 1435–41)

The children of 15,000 mothers were observed from 1990 to 1996 for 5 years.

Result: the death rate in vaccinated children against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough is twice as high as the unvaccinated children (10.5% versus 4.7%).

New Zealand Survey (1992) (http://www.ias.org.nz)

The study involved 254 children. In which 133 children were vaccinated and 121 remained unvaccinated.

Result:

Symptom	vaccinated	unvaccinated
Asthma	20 (15%)	4 (3%)
Eczema or allergic rashes	43 (32%)	16 (13%)
Chronic otitis	26 (20%)	8 (7%)
Recurrent tonsillitis	11 (8%)	3 (2%)
Shortness of breath and sudden infant death syndrome	9 (7%)	2 (2%)
Hyperactivity	10 (8%)	1 (1%)

 

Download and read the IAS1992study now.

By Mr. Augie, Contributing Writer

Source:

http://journal.livingfood.us/2011/10/09/new-study-vaccinated-children-have-2-to-5-times-more-diseases-and-disorders-than-unvaccinated-children/

A 2009 study, for example, found that colicky babies had gastrointestinal inflammation and traces of a bacterium in their guts that may have prompted it. Babies without colic had no inflammation and a greater diversity of beneficial bacteria.

So could higher levels of gut-friendly bacteria make a difference?

In a 2007 study, Italian researchers looked into this by examining 83 colicky babies who were breast-fed. Over 28 days, some of the infants were given simethicone, a medication that reduces gas; the others were given a supplement containing L. reuteri, one of the beneficial bacteria known as probiotics and often found in yogurt. At the end of the study, the babies who received the probiotic cried an average of 51 minutes a day, compared with about two and a half hours in the other group. A 2010 study had similar results.

“Gut microbiota changes induced by the probiotic could be involved in the observed clinical improvement,” the researchers wrote. Still, experts say they would like to see more studies.

The good news is that Colic Care^® contains beneficial bacteria and can help to make your baby’s gastrointestinal tract as healthy as possible!

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to “Ask Dr. Tara“!

Doctor: Explore Naturopathic Treatment Options – Health News Story – KHBS NW Arkansas.

If you have any questions about what she discussed, or anything else for that matter, please don’t hesitate to “Ask Dr. Tara!“

#1 Breastfeed for at least 6 months The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year of life. This is because the properties of breast milk cannot be duplicated exactly in formula, and contains important immune benefits that will both protect your baby and help to keep allergies at bay.

#2 Eat a healthy diet Limit processed foods and eat plenty of veggies, fruit, lean protein, and good fats. Focus on getting a good protein source (nuts/lentils/fish/chicken/fermented soy) and a veggie every time you eat. Researchers are constantly finding other chemicals in processed foods and containers that have caused concern. By eating whole, real food, you can avoid many of these concerns.

#3 Avoid alcohol/caffeine/drugs Same rules apply as they did when you were pregnant, however, the rules tend to be a little looser while breastfeeding. Your breast milk is affected while you are under the influence of a substance, but there is not a need to “pump and dump” unless you are uncomfortable. For example, if you have a few drinks, simply wait at least an hour per drink before resuming breastfeeding. Keep in mind that this is a loose guideline and abstaining from alcohol is best.

#4 Don’t give up! Breastfeeding can be challenging – especially for mom’s who return to work soon after delivery. Even if you are only able to pump a little every day, you can still combine that breast milk with formula feeding and give you baby the benefits of the breast milk. You can also do a morning and evening nursing session while with your baby.

#5 Consider your diet if your baby is having gas, tummy troubles, diaper rash, or eczema. The most common problem is dairy. I always recommend 3 weeks of removing all dairy products as a beginning trial. There are other sensitivities, but starting a restrictive diet is something that needs to be monitored by a health care professional to make sure you are getting the right combination of ingredients. Supplements can be helpful – especially Colic Care – both for mom and baby to help increase the good bacterial in the GI tract.

Remember that breastfeeding is worth it! Please visit La Leche League at: http://www.llli.org/ for helpful information and local chapters. Finding support from other mom’s can be a lifesaver.

As always, if you have questions, please visit The Colic Care Blog or just simply just “Ask Dr. Tara!“

Image from acobox.com

Recently, some surprising studies surfaced regarding the use of multi-vitamins that showed a slight increase in mortality among post-menopausal women who used multi-vitamins.  Another recent study showed a higher risk of prostate cancer in men who used vitamin E. How can this be? Here are a few pointers I have given my patients who have questioned these studies.

#1 All vitamins are not alike.

It is very important to remember how unregulated the vitamin industry is. You must choose companies that are seeking additional certifications, like those provided by NSF International (an accredited, third-party certification body that tests and certifies products to verify they meet public health and safety standards) to certify companies as following the “Good Manufacturing Processes” proposed by the FDA. If not, you cannot be confident that the label accurately describes the actual content of the vitamin you are taking. In addition, there are synthetic additives and vitamin derivatives that can be harmful, especially if you are taking them daily.

#2 Just because it is a “natural” supplement doesn’t mean you can take unlimited amounts and numerous supplements.

I tend to see this in my patients who come into my office and are surprised that I always drastically reduce the amount of supplements they take. People tend to read something on the Internet regarding a certain supplement and automatically add it to their arsenal of daily pills, thinking that it must be good for them as well. It is not uncommon for patients to have an entire grocery bag full of supplements that they take. The body likes FOOD for nutrient sources, and unless you are under the care of a professional who understands what the supplements are doing to you body, you should not use them.

#3 You must be able to understand research studies.

Not all studies are equally valuable when it comes to making conclusions about the results. The way that a study is conducted, as well as who is funding the study, can give you valuable insight as to the amount of information you can take from the findings. For instance, a correlational study (a study that has no “control group” and only looks at a few variables from a population) is not as helpful as a study that controls for all the variables that can come up. To be sure that the rate of mortality was only due to the vitamin usage, you would have to make sure that everyone took the same vitamins, in the same amounts, and that no one had other chronic illnesses that might have caused them to look towards vitamins as a way to correct it. Of course, there are numerous other variables that can skew the results of correlational studies. They do, however, help to bring questions to the surface that other, more rigorous studies can be developed from.

The take home message is that you should strive to eat a healthy diet, avoid processed foods, reduce stress, and get exercise to be healthy. Do not rely on supplements to take the place of a healthy lifestyle, and always consult a professional if you plan to use supplements to improve you health. For more information, check out this article in on the AP website:

Associated Press – Worried about vitamin safety? Experts offer advice – By Marilynn Marchione – (Thursday, October 13, 2011)

Two studies this week raised gnawing worries about the safety of vitamin supplements and a host of questions. Should anyone be taking them? Which ones are most risky? And if you do take them, how can you pick the safest ones?

Vitamins have long had a “health halo.” Many people think they’re good for you and at worst might simply be unnecessary. The industry calls them an insurance policy against bad eating.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to “Ask Dr. Tara.”

When I developed Colic Care, it was out of necessity for my patients. My daughter (now six years old) had little problems with colic symptoms, other than some pesky hiccups. I am now the proud mom of a 4 week old, who has had a much more difficult time with his digestion than his older sister did. Luckily, I have Colic Care on hand to help us through this process! I wanted to share a little insight, both about the product, as well as the benefits that I have been able to achieve with his tummy troubles.

My son’s name is Levi. He was a big baby (9.5 lbs) and ended up being delivered via c-section. This probably started him off on the wrong foot, as babies born via c-section don’t get exposed to the “good bacteria” that are present during a vaginal birth. In any case, about two weeks of age, he started having episodes of crying that seemed to be related to gas and stomach pain. He also had some pretty “forceful” bowel movements that would cause him a lot of distress. I started using Colic Care, and now, two weeks later, I can tell you that he is much happier and content. His stomach pain seems to have lessened dramatically, and he doesn’t seem as bothered by his bowel movements. He even slept in three hour increments last night without waking in a screaming fit from pain.

I also wanted to let you know about the different ways you can use Colic Care. I am breastfeeding, and Levi’s dad is using expressed milk via bottle while I am at work and every other night. With bottles, we simply put ½ scoop in at least two of the bottles. I also make up a “batch” consisting of about 1 oz of breastmilk or warm water with 1 scoop of Colic Care. I then dose this throughout the day, usually prior to feedings or immediately after, utilizing a medicine dropper. I have also made a paste and put it on my finger. The paste seems to be the best for hiccups because I can get the entire dose of ½ scoop in his mouth at one time. The hiccups generally go away within 5 minutes of giving him the paste.

I hate that my son had to have such a rough beginning with his stomach issues, but I am glad I was able to personally experience the struggles that mom’s go through with similar situations. Colic Care is a product that I am proud to say can help ease your baby’s transition to a more mature digestive tract and make him or her more comfortable. Mom and Dad will be more comfortable too!

Thanks for reading and I hope you will try Colic Care for yourself!  And as always, if you have any questions, please just “Ask Dr. Tara!”

Common Breastfeeding Myths

By Lisa Marasco
Assistant Area Professional Liaison
LLL of Southern California/Nevada USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 34 No. 2, April-May 1998, pp. 21-24

We provide articles from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information change over time

Myth 1: Frequent nursing leads to poor milk production, a weak let-down response and ultimately unsuccessful nursing.

Fact: Milk supply is optimized when a healthy baby is allowed to nurse as often as he indicates the need. The milk-ejection reflex operates most strongly in the presence of a good supply of milk, which normally occurs when feeding on baby’s cue.

De Carvalho, M. et al. Effect of frequent breastfeeding on early milk production and infant weight gain Pediatrics 1983: 72:307-11.

Hill, P. Insufficient milk supply syndrome. NAACOG’s Clin Issues 1992; 3(4):605-12.

Klaus, M. The frequency of suckling: neglected but essential ingredient of breastfeeding. Ob Gyn Clin North Am 1987; 14(3):623-33.

Neifert, M. Early assessment of the breastfeeding infant. Contemporary Pediatrics October 1996; 6-9.

Lawrence R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby 1994; 188.

Salariya, F. et al. Duration of breastfeeding after early initiation and frequent feeding. Lancet 1978; 2(8100):1141-43.

Slaven, S. Harvey, D. Unlimited sucking time improves breastfeeding. Lancet 1981; 14:392-93.

Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 129.

Woolridge, M. and Baum, J. Infant appetite-control and the regulation of the breast milk supply. Child Hosp Qtrly 1992; 3:113-19.

Myth 2: A mother only needs to nurse four to six times a day to maintain good milk supply.

Fact: Research shows that when a mother breastfeeds early and often, an average of 9.9 times a day in the first two weeks, her milk production is greater, her infant gains more weight and she continues breastfeeding for a longer period. Milk production has been shown to be related to feeding frequency, and milk supply declines when feedings are infrequent or restricted.

Daly, S., Hartmann, R Infant demand and milk supply: Part 1 and 2. J Hum Lact 1995; 11(1):21-37.

De Carvalho, M. et al. Effect of frequent breastfeeding on early milk production and infant weight gain Pediatrics 1983: 72:307-11.

De Coopman, J. Breastfeeding after pituitary resection: support for a theory of autocrine control of milk supply. J Hum Lact 1993; 9(1):35-40.

Riordan, I. and Auerbach, K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Boston and London: Jones and Bartlett 1993; 88.

Myth 3: Babies get all the milk they need in the first five to ten minutes of nursing.

Fact: While many older babies can take in the majority of their milk in the first five to ten minutes, this cannot be generalized to all babies. Newborns, who are learning to nurse and are not always efficient at sucking, often need much longer to feed. The ability to take in milk is also subject to the mother’s let-down response. While many mothers may let down immediately, some may not. Some may eject their milk in small batches several times during a nursing session. Rather than guess, it is best to allow baby to suck until he shows signs of satiety such as self-detachment and relaxed hands and arms.

Lucas, A., Lucas, P., Aum, J. Differences in the pattern of milk intake between breast and bottle-fed infants. Early Hum Dev 1981; 5:195.

Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 129-37.

Myth 4: A breastfeeding mother should space her feedings so that her breasts will have time to refill.

Fact: Every baby/mother dyad is unique. A lactating mother’s body is always making milk. Her breasts function in part as “storage tank,” some holding more than others. The emptier the breast, the faster the body makes milk to replace it; the fuller the breast, the more production of milk slows down. If a mother consistently waits until her breasts “fill up” before she nurses, her body may get the message that it is making too much and may reduce total production.

Daly, S., Hartmann, R. Infant demand and milk supply: Part 2. J Hum Lact 1995; 11(1):21-37.

Lawrence R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby 1994; 240-41.

Myth 5: Babies need only six to eight feedings a day by eight weeks of age, five to six feedings a day by three months, no more than four or five feedings a day by six months of age.

Fact: A breastfed baby’s frequency of feeding will vary according to the mother’s milk supply and storage capacity, as well as baby’s developmental needs. Growth spurts and illnesses can temporarily change a baby’s feeding patterns. Studies show that breastfeeding babies fed on cue will settle into a pattern that suits their own unique situation. In addition, the caloric intake of a breastfed baby increases toward the end of the feeding, so putting arbitrary limits on the frequency or duration of feedings may lead to inadequate caloric intake.

Daly, S., Hartmann, R. Infant demand and milk supply: Part 1. J Hum Lact 1995; 11(1):21-6.

Klaus, M. The frequency of suckling. Ob Gyn Clin North Am 1987; 14(3):623-33.

Lawrence R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby 1994; 253.

Millard, A. The place of the clock in pediatric advice: rationales, cultural themes and impediments to breastfeeding. Soc Sci Med 1990; 31:211.

Woolridge, M. “Baby-controlled breastfeeding: biocultural implications” in Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 217-42.

Myth 6: It is the amount of milk that a baby takes in (quantitative), not whether it is human milk or formula (qualitative), that determines how long a baby can go between feedings.

Fact: Breastfed babies have faster gastric emptying times than fomula-fed babies–approximately 1.5 hours versus up to 4 hours–due to the smaller size of the protein molecules in human milk. While intake quantity is one factor in determining feeding frequency, the type of milk is equally important. Anthropologic studies of mammalian milk confirm that human babies were intended to feed frequently and have done so throughout most of history.

Lawrence R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby 1994; 254.

Marmet, C., Shell, E. Breastfeeding Is Important. Encino, California: Lactation Institute, 1991:4.

Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 129.

Myth 7: Never wake a sleeping baby.

Fact: While most babies will indicate when they need to eat, babies in the newborn period may not wake often enough on their own and should be awakened if necessary to eat at least eight times a day. Infrequent waking to feed can be caused by labor drugs, maternal medications, jaundice, trauma, pacifiers and/or shutdown behavior after delayed response to feeding cues.

In addition, mothers who wish to take advantage of the natural infertility of lactational amenorrhea find that the return of menses is delayed longer when baby continues to suckle at night.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 1997; 100(6):1035-39.

Klaus, M. The frequency of suckling: neglected but essential ingredient of breast-feeding. Ob Gyn Clin North Am 1987; 14(3):623-33.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 60-65, 360-61.

Tips for Rousing a Sleepy Newborn. LLLI, 1997. Publication No.485.

Myth 8: The metabolism of a baby is disorganized at birth and it requires the implementation of a routine or schedule to help stabilize this disorganization.

Fact: Babies are uniquely wired from birth to feed, sleep and have periods of wakefulness. This is not disorganized behavior but reflects the unique needs of newborn infants. Over time, babies naturally adapt to the rhythm of life in their new environment and do not require prompting or training.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 24-29.

Sears, W. The Fussy Baby. LLLI 1985;12-13.

Myth 9: Breastfeeding mothers must always use both breasts at each feeding.

Fact: It is more important to let baby finish the first breast first, even if that means that he doesn’t take the second breast at the same feeding. Hindmilk is accessed gradually as the breast is drained. Some babies, if switched prematurely to the second breast, may fill up on the lower-calorie foremilk from both breasts rather than obtaining the normal balance of foremilk and hindmilk, resulting in infant dissatisfaction and poor weight gain. In the early weeks, many mothers offer both breasts at each feeding to help establish the milk supply.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 25.

Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 129.

Woolridge, M., Fisher, C. Colic, “overfeeding” and symptoms of lactose malabsorption in the breastfed baby: a possible artifact of feed management? Lancet 1988; II(8605):382-84.

Woolridge, M. et al. Do changes in pattern of breast usage alter the baby’s nutritional intake? Lancet 336(8712):395-97.

Myth 10: If a baby isn’t gaining well, it may be due to the low quality of the mother’s milk.

Fact: Studies have shown that even malnourished women are able to produce milk of sufficient quality and quantity to support a growing infant. Most cases low weight gain are related to insufficient milk intake or an underlying health problem in the baby.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 116-32.

Wilde, C. et al. Breastfeeding: matching supply with demand in human lactation. Proc Nutr Soc1 1995; 54:401-06.

Myth 11: Poor milk supply is usually caused by stress, fatigue and/or inadequate fluids and food intake.

Fact: The most common causes of milk supply problems are infrequent feedings and/or poor latch-on and positioning; both are usually due to inadequate information provided to the breastfeeding mother. Suckling problems on the infant’s part can also impact milk supply negatively. Stress, fatigue or malnutrition are rarely causes of milk supply failure because the body has highly developed survival mechanisms to protect the nursling during times of scarce food supply.

Dusdieker, B., Stumbo, J., Booth, B. et al. Prolonged maternal fluid supplementation in breastfeeding. Pediatrics 1090; 86:737-40.

Hill, P. Insufficient milk supply syndrome. NAACOG’s Clin Issues 1992; 3(4):605-13.

Woolridge, M. Analysis, classification, etiology of diagnosed low milk output. Plenary session at International Lactation Consultant Association Conference, Scottsdale Arizona, 1995.

World Health Organization. Not enough milk. Division of Child Health and Development Update Feb 1995 21. http://www.who.ch/programmes/cdr/pub/newslet/update/updt-21.htm

Myth 12: A mother must drink milk to make milk.

Fact: A healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins is all that a mother needs to provide the proper nutrients to produce milk. Calcium can he obtained from a variety of nondairy foods such as dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and bony fish. No other mammal drinks milk to make milk.

Behan, E. Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding. New York: Villard Books, 1992; 145-46.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 377, 379.

Myth 13: Non-nutritive sucking has no scientific basis.

Fact: Experienced breastfeeding mothers learn that the sucking patterns and needs of babies vary. While some infants’ sucking needs are met primarily during feedings, other babies may need additional sucking at the breast soon after a feeding even though they are not really hungry. Babies may also nurse when they are lonely, frightened or in pain.

Riordan, J., Auerbach, K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Boston and London: Jones and Bartlett, 1993; 96-97.

Lawrence, R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1994; 432.

Myth 14: The mother should not be a pacifier for the baby.

Fact: Comforting and meeting sucking needs at the breast is nature’s original design. Pacifiers (dummies, soothers) are literally a substitute for the mother when she can’t be available. Other reasons to pacify a baby primarily at the breast include superior oral-facial development, prolonged lactational amenorrhea, avoidance of nipple confusion and stimulation of an adequate milk supply to ensure higher rates of breastfeeding success.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 1997; 100(6):1035-39.

Barros, F. et al. Use of pacifiers is associated with decreased breastfeeding duration. Pediatrics 1995; 95:497-99.

Gotsch, G. Pacifiers: Yes or No? LLLI, 1996. Publication No.45.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 34-35, 43-44.

Newman, J. Breastfeeding problems associated with the early introduction of bottles and pacifiers. J Hum Lact 1990; 6(2):59-63.

Myth 15: There is no such thing as nipple confusion.

Fact: Breast and bottle feeding require different oral-motor skills, and rubber nipples provide a type of “super stimulus” that babies may imprint upon instead of the softer breast. As a result, some babies develop suck confusion and apply inappropriate suckling techniques to the breast when they switch between breast and bottle.

Blass, E. Behavioral and physiological consequences of suckling in rat and human newborns. Acta Paediatr Suppl 1994; 397:71-76.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 82-87.

Neifert, M, et al. Nipple confusion: toward a formal definition. J Pediatr 1995; 126(6):S125-9

Nipple Confusion – Overcoming and Avoiding This Problem. LLLI, 1992. Publication No.32.

Myth 16: Frequent nursing can lead to postpartum depression.

Fact: Postpartum depression is believed to be caused by fluctuating hormones after birth and may be exacerbated by fatigue and lack of social support, though it mostly occurs in women who have a history of problems prior to pregnancy.

Astbury, J. et al. Birth events, birth experiences and social differences in postnatal depression. Aust J Public Health.1994; 18(2):176-64.

Dunnewold, A. Breastfeeding and postpartum depression: is there a connection? BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS, LLLI, May 1996; 25.

Lawrence R. Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Professional, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby 1994; 191-2.

Myth 17: Feeding on baby’s cue does not enhance maternal bonding behavior.

Fact: The responsive parenting of cue feeding brings mother and baby into synchronization, leading to enhanced bonding.

Ainsworth, M. Infant-mother attachment. Am Psych 1979; 34(10):932-37.

Berg-Cross, L., Berg-Cross, G., McGeehan, D. Experience and personality differences among breast and bottle-feeding mothers. Psych of Women Qtrly 1979; 3(4):344-58.

Kennell, I., Jerauld, R., Wolfe, H. et al. Maternal behavior one year after early and extended post-partum contact. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 1974; 16(2):99-107.

Temboury, M. et al. Influence of breastfeeding on the infant’s intellectual development. J Ped Gastro Nutr 1994; 18:32-36.

Myth 18: Mothers who hold their babies too much will spoil them.

Fact: Babies who are held often cry fewer hours a day and exhibit more security as they mature.

Anisfeld, E. et al. Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev 1990; 61:1617-27.

Barr, K. and Elias M. Nursing interval and maternal responsivity: effect on early infant crying. Pediatrics 1988 81:529-36.

Bowlby, J. Attachment and Loss: Attachment, vol 1. New York: Basic Books, 1969; 178, 208, 240.

Heller, S. The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact with Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development. New York: Henry Holt, 1997;41-53, 204-21.

Hunziker U. and Barr R. Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial Pediatrics 1986; 77:641.

Matas, L., Arend, R., Sroufe, L. Continuity of adaptation in the second year: the relationship between quality of attachment and later competence. Child Dev 1978; 49:547-56.

Myth 19: It is important that other family members get to feed baby so that they can bond, too.

Fact: Feeding is not the only method by which other family members can bond with the baby; holding, cuddling, bathing and playing with the infant are all important to his growth, development and attachment to others.

Heller, S. The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact with Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development. New York: Henry Holt, 1997;54-55, 60-61.

Myth 20: Child-directed feeding (nursing on demand) has a negative impact on the husband/wife relationship.

Fact: Mature parents realize that a newborn’s needs are very intense but also diminish over time. In fact, the teamwork of nurturing a newborn can actually bring a couple closer as they develop parenting skills together.

Bocar, D., Moore, K. Acquiring the parental role: a theoretical perspective. LLLI Lactation Consultant Series. Unit 16. Garden City Park, New York: Avery, 1987.

Sears, W. BECOMING A FATHER. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI 1986; 29-50,119-29.

Myth 21: Some babies are allergic to their mother’s milk.

Fact: Human milk is the most natural and physiologic substance that baby can ingest. If a baby shows sensitivities related to feeding, it is usually a foreign protein that has piggybacked into mother’s milk, and not the milk itself. This is easily handled by removing the offending food from mother’s diet for a time.

Hudson, I. et al. A low allergen diet is a significant intervention in infantile colic: results of a commmunity-based study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995; 96:886-92.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 97-99.

Salmon, M. Breast Milk: Nature’s Perfect Formula. Demarest, New Jersey: Techkits, 1994; 32-3.

Myth 22: Frequent nursing causes a child to be obese later in life.

Fact: Studies show that breastfed babies who control their own feeding patterns and intake tend to take just the right amount of milk for them. Formula feeding and early introduction of solids, not breastfeeding on demand, have been implicated in risk of obesity later in life.

Dewey, K., Lonnerdal, B. Infant self-regulation of breast milk intake. Acta Paediatr Scand 1986; 75:893-98.

Dewey K. et al. Growth of breast-fed and formula-fed infants from 0 to 18 months: the DARLING study. Pediatrics 1992a; 89(6):1035-41.

Kramer, M. Do breastfeeding and delayed introduction of solid foods protect against subsequent obesity? J Pediatr 1981; 98:883-87.

Stuart-Macadam, P., Dettwyler, K. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives, Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1995; 192.

Woolridge, M. Returning control of feeding to the infant. Paper presented at the LLL of Texas Area Conference, Houston, Texas, USA, July 24-26, 1992.

Myth 23: The lying-down nursing position causes ear infections.

Fact: Because human milk is alive and teeming with antibodies and immunoglobulins, the baby is less likely to develop ear infections overall, no matter what position is used.

Aniansson, G. et al. A prospective cohort study on breastfeeding and otitis media in Swedish infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1994; 13:183-88.

Harabuchi, Y. et al. Human milk secretory IgA antibody to nontypeable haemophilus influenzae: possible protective effects against nasopharyngeal colonization.J Pediatr 1994; 124(2)193-98.

Myth 24: Nursing a baby after 12 months is of little value because the quality of breast milk begins to decline after six months.

Fact: The composition of human milk changes to meet the changing needs of baby as he matures. Even when baby is able to take solids, human milk is the primary source of nutrition during the first year. It becomes a supplement to solids during the second year. In addition, it takes between two and six years for a child’s immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 1997; 100(6):1035-39.

Goldman, A. Immunologic components in human milk during the second year of lactation. Acta Paediatr Scand 1983; 72:461-62.

Gulick, E. The effects of breastfeeding on toddler health. Ped Nursing1986; 12:51-54.

Innocenti Declaration on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 1991; 26:271-73.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 164-68.

Saarinen, U. Prolonged breastfeeding as prophylaxis for recurrent Otitis media. Acta Paediatr Scand 1982; 71:567-71.

We would love to hear your comments below!!

Benefits of Homeopathy

by Manish Bhatia

Homeopathy is safe. Unlike other medicines, homeopathic medicines usually do not have any side effects. Their ability to cause structural damage is Nil. The reason for this is that homeopathic medicines act by stimulating the body’s own defense mechanism and healing powers. They do not have any chemical action, so they do not have the potential to cause any sustained damage. The doses are given in sub-physiological quantities. So they can be given to children and adults alike without worrying about the dosage. Safe for every one.

Homeopathic medicines are very effective – in both acute and chronic conditions. Homeopathy in fact, is the only system of medicine which offers curative treatment (not palliative) to a large number of chronic ailments which have been labeled as ‘incurable’ by other schools of medicine. In acute ailments also, homeopathic remedies, if selected properly, give results faster then any other systems of medicine.

Homeopathic medicines are easy to administer. Homeopathic medicines are usually dispensed as sweet sugar pills, which are very easy to take. Due to this reason, children readily agree to take homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathic treatment is cheap. Homeopathic medicines are usually much cheaper than comparable allopathic and ayurvedic drugs. And also there is little stress on costly diagnostic procedures as homeopaths rely on the symptoms to find the right medicine for a person. So the overall cost of treatment is very little. Still this may not appear so to many people in western countries as homeopathic treatment is usually not covered by insurance companies. But that’s myopic vision. One has to think of long-term gains. Under proper homeopathic treatment not only the person’s immediate complaints improve, but also his/her susceptibility to disease decreases as there is a general improvement in health. So in the long run, there is better health,less medical consultations and the cumulative cost is very low. Even otherwise, hasn’t some wise man said ..”Health is the real Wealth“?

Homeopathy considers the complaints of a patient in totality. It views a person as a whole, as an integrated entity, and not as a mere collection of body parts. So it treats the person as a whole too. Thus one does not have to visit ten different ‘specialists’ for his/her ten different body parts. After all our body is more than a collection of parts! So homeopathy saves your time, money and health at the same time.

If you have any questions, please comment below or Ask Dr. Tara.

Chamomile Tea for Infants

by Robert Steele, MD

Chamomile has been used throughout the world for infantile colic supported more by word-of-mouth than scientific validation. To date there has only been one study that has been published in a reputable medical journal investigating the use of chamomile for infantile colic. So, certainly one could argue that the medical community has been sorely behind in investigating a potentially beneficial medication.

The history of chamomile is a long one going back to the Egyptians who worshipped its healing properties. More modern times have found it the source for investigation into its possible anti-inflammatory properties.

So, what is a parent to do concerning the safety and effectiveness of this herb when it comes to colic? Apart from rare allergic reactions, tea made from chamomile has been safely used for many centuries in many cultures. It is important to be confident that the herb is reasonably pure. Arsenic, lead, and other serious poisons have been ingested by unsuspecting tea drinkers. And there are plenty of reports of children being significantly harmed (even dying) from teas made from questionable sources. As for the effectiveness, there are certainly parents who swear by it, while others notice no difference. Until more unbiased studies are done, the answer to whether chamomile is beneficial to infants with colic will remain a mystery.

Be sure to let your little one’s doctor know that you are giving him chamomile tea. His physician can only be completely helpful if he/she is aware of what he is eating.

As usual, if you have any questions about fennel, chamomile, or probiotics (the other ingredient in All Natural Colic Care), just Ask Dr. Tara!

Fennel for Colic

by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa

If you are a parent who has marched the halls at 2:00 a.m. with a screaming tot, you probably would cheerfully give up your right arm for a good colic remedy.

Fortunately, you only have to give up a couple bucks at the health food store. Fennel is here to save the, er, night.

Just what constitutes colic? That’s a bit of a slippery subject. Colic is defined as infant crying at least three hours daily, three days a week, for more than three weeks- the extreme of normal crying between 3 weeks and 3 months of age. In the Western world, it strikes 15-30% of newborns. Colic is physically benign, but can be emotionally devastating.

The party line is thatit’s from immature development, and not health issues, such as digestion. However, traditional remedies usually treat the baby’s intestinal gas. Dicyclomine, the only drug that works consistently, causes breathing difficulties, seizures, dizziness, and even death, in 5% of cases.

Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare) is probably the world’s most popular gas remedy. It contains essential oils that warm the stomach, increasing intestinal motility.

In the first study to show that fennel is an effective colic treatment, researchers found that it is able to reduce the intensity of the symptoms. Parents gave their infants a fennel preparation when crying began. In the experiment, 121 colicky infants randomly received 5 to 20 ml of a 0.1% fennel seed oil emulsion, or placebo, up to four times daily, for one week. Symptom diaries were kept for the week, as well as the week before and the week after.

The infants taking the fennel formula had a significant 45% decrease in colic symptoms, in contrast to only a 5% symptom reduction from the placebo. According to the diagnostic criteria used, colic was eliminated in 65% of the fennel group.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, from 2005, involved 93 healthy breastfed infants with colic. For 7 days, they received a dose of fennel mixture twice daily before breastfeeding. Crying time was reduced (by an average 2 hours per day) in 85.4% of infants in the fennel group, compared to 48.9% for placebo. No adverse effects were noted in either study.

Europeans have been using herbal “gripe water” for colic for years. One of the oldest is based on the closely related dill seed. Chamomile, lemon balm and ginger are common ingredients.

Use commercial gripe water, or brew a tea with 1 tablespoon seeds in a cup of water. Sweeten as desired. Use 1 ounce.

No need for you and your toddler to suffer, when herbal medicines can do such a great job of easing emergency colic.

All Natural Colic Care also has chamomile AND probiotics.  Your baby is in good hands with us!!  Just Ask Dr. Tara!