Breast milk is full of a mother’s antibodies that preventively helps babies and toddlers develop immunity to illness. However, breast milk can also be used to treat illness and I think most of us tend to forget that part.
Colostrum is rich in protective antibodies and gives babies a foundation of immunity to fight germs and infection in the early days. Over time the baby’s immune system becomes stronger from exposure to the outside world and from continuing to receive the protective antibodies in its mother’s milk. Fresh breastmilk contains live antibodies that fight bacteria. It is therefore a naturally exisiting anti-bacterial agent, just like raw garlic, grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil. While so many of us “green” moms are reaching for an organic, herbal or natural cream or ointment to heal our baby’s ouchies, we are often neglecting a perfectly, and equally (if not better!) efficient product right inside our own bodies. And it’s free!
Here are six uses for breastmilk (aside from food) that I could think of. I have tried some and friends have tried others. A couple of these ideas I heard about “through the grapevine.” So please use your own discretion when deciding whether or not to try these. Some moms will be more comfortable with using natural remedies than others. While breastmilk cannot harm your child when administered either internally or externally, if the problem is persistent or severe, do seek the help or advice of a health care professional.
Six Uses for Breastmilk
1. Diaper rash. If your baby has a diaper rash, the least expensive and most natural way to treat it is to apply breast milk to affected area, and then air dry baby’s bum before putting on a new diaper.
2. Cradle cap. Some mother’s have found that breast milk can be helpful in clearing up the flaky skin on baby’s head. Apply, comb through and repeat. At the end of the treatment, apply and let dry to help soothe and protect baby’s scalp.
3. Ear infection. You can put breastmilk in a baby’s ear as many times as you want and not worry about adverse effects. The anti-bacterial components in breast milk, specifically “secretory IgA antibodies” help kill the bacterial infection.
4. Blocked tear ducts. Many infants get sticky eyes as a result of blocked tear ducts. A little squirt of breastmilk and tear duct massage can make this go away. I have used this method time and time again, met with perfect results.
5. Insect bites, cuts and scrapes. Breastmilk relieves the itch and sting of bites better than commercial preparations and the it helps to prevent against infection when applied to a cut or scrape before bandaging.
6. Cracked nipples. Lanolin is an excellent soothing treatment for sore, cracked nipples and it was what I used during the first two weeks of nursing my oldest daughter. However, breastmilk rubbed into the nipple area and allowed to dry also has been found to be helpful by some women. If I started breastfeeding all over again I would likely try breastmilk first, then switch to lanolin if the cracking got worse.
Do you know of any other uses for breastmilk? If so, please leave a comment and share your experiences with us. If you liked this post, consider subscribing by my RSS feed.
Related posts:
- Lansinoh Products Review: HPA Lanolin, Diaper Rash Ointment and Wipes
- Monday Musings: Cloned Breastmilk?
- Breastmilk for Dinner Again!
- Present Day Milk Outsourcing
- Breastfeeding When Baby is Sick
Tags: blocked tear duct, breast milk, cracked nipples, cradle cap, diaper rash, ear infection, scrapes, uses for breast milk
Stuffy or drippy nose. Squirt some breast milk up the nose instead of saline and then clear out with a bulb syringe.
I have heard people use it to heal acne too.
We used my breastmilk on our DD’s umbilical cord stump. Antibacterial and antiviral- why not?
I’ve done the stuffy nose one. I’ve tried breastmilk on just about everything you can imagine. My best friend likes to remind me of the day we met and she decided she wanted to be my friend. We were at a moms group and my baby had diaper rash so I leaned over her and squirted some breastmilk on her bum. My breast hanging out in front of everyone. Modesty’s never been my strong suit. Anyway, I’ve always considered breastmilk like super hero powers. Soothing and healing. Nourishing and hydrating. Medicine and prevention all in one. All I need is a giant “S” on my chest. And maybe a cape and some spandex panties.
Thanks for posting this! I have used BM for goopy eyes and it works like a dream. My daughter has baby acne right now I wonder if anyone has used it for that?
Thanks for commenting on my blog! Always nice to have new blogging mama friends.
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, I rate this post for four from five. Decent info, but I have to go to that damn yahoo to find the missed parts. Thank you, anyway!
After dealing with a blocked tear duct on and off for 2 months I tried bm in my little ones eye. It cleared up within 3 days and has yet become blocked again!!
The topic is quite trendy in the net right now. What do you pay the most attention to while choosing what to write ?
[...] just leave you with the above as “food for thought.” Ah, another one of the many uses for breast milk. Waste not want not [...]
[...] Infection – Sometimes a squirt of breast milk is all it takes to treat minor bacterial infections, like an ear infection, blocked tear duct, or diaper rash. Other infections require more vigorous [...]
It can clear up conjunctivitis (pink eye), too. One of the oldest treatments for it, actually.