Just wanted to mention the importance of taking a course of probiotic 'friendly' bacteria after your antibiotics. Unfortunately not many doctors will tell you this as natural medicine is not really their forte. The antibiotics are effective at killing infections - but they cannot discriminate between good and bad bacteria - and effectively kill both. The 'good' bacteria (probiotics) in your system are important for the absorption of nutrients, for keeping the bad bacteria in check and fighting off infections (immune function) and are passed on to the baby via the breastmilk. Mothers who have been treated with antibiotics during or post labour have a much higher incidence of colic and digestive discomfort in their newborns - this is due to the lack of probiotic bacteria being passed through the milk.
Its an easy fix though - just go to the fridge in your nearest health food store and ask for either the capsule of powder form. Needs to be kept in the fridge. Once you have finished your antibiotics, take them day and night until you have finished the course.
You can also purchase infant probiotics, which come in powder form, and can be given to baby either in expressed breastmilk (best) or formula feeds. Avail from health food stores and selected pharmacies. The more probiotics a baby receives, the quicker their immune system will develop and the easier it will be for them to digest and assimilate the nutrients in their milk.
I wholeheartedly second what Jellybean just said about the probiotics - you can start them while still taking the antis - just not at exactly the same time
Registered User
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks