1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to Wellness End Mass with doctor Nicole Staftfire. I 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: am doctor Nicole Staftfire, and today's episode, we are going 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: to talk about something ear and dear to my heart, 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: and I'm talking literally and figuratively. That's right, We're talking 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: about breastfeeding. 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: Now. 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: We tend to oversimplify this because most of us just 8 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: think of human breast milk as food, calories, fat, protein, 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: something you can just list on the label. But the 10 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: reality is human breast milk. It's not static nutrition. It's 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: quite dynamic. It's a living system that adapts to a 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: baby's needs in real time. So while we can talk about, oh, 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: formula feeding is equivalent to breastfeeding now, it's not. The 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: reality is breast milk changes hour to hour, day to day, 15 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: week to week, month to month based on the baby's needs. 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: And that matters because when we talk about rising childhood illness, 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: immune dysfunction, allergies, asthma, obesity, this is one of the 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: earliest biological exposures that we just can't ignore. Breastfeeding isn't 19 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: just about bonding, although obviously it is an incredible bonding 20 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: session between baby and mother. It's also about immune education 21 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,919 Speaker 1: for the baby. Gut development and long term health programming 22 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: and the science behind it. It's actually starting to go viral. 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: That's why I talked about it this past weekend on 24 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: Fox and Friends, because the more we study human breast milk, 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: just the more impressive it becomes. Human breast milk changes 26 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: by the day, by the feeding, even by the time 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: of day. Early milk, also called colostrum, is packed with antibodies, 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: especially IgA. This acts as a newborn's first immune shield. 29 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: As the baby grows, the milk shifts. The composition of 30 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: what's in the milk changes to based on what the 31 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: baby needs. The protein levels decrease as the cure kidneys 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: mature because too much protein for kidneys baby or adults. 33 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: Is not a good thing. 34 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: And the fat and lactose actually increase as the brain 35 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: growth accelerates, because we need those healthy fatty acids for 36 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: brain growth. Even within one feeding, the fore milk, you know, 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: the milk that comes at the beginning, as soon as 38 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: you start breastfeeding, this is more hydrating, while the hind milk, 39 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: the milk kind of towards the end of the session, 40 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: delivers more calories so that the baby feels satiated, meaning 41 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,839 Speaker 1: that the baby feels full. That's not accidental, it's biological sequencing, 42 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: it's intentional. So now this is where the data becomes 43 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: absolutely impossible to ignore. Breastfed infants have lower rates of 44 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: respiratory infections, ear infections, GI illness, and hospitalizations in the 45 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: first year of life. We also see reduce risk of 46 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, one of the most devastating 47 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: neonatal conditions. So breast milk doesn't just provide antibodies, it 48 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: teaches the baby's immune system what to tolerate and what 49 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: to fight. That immune education early in life. It matters, 50 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: not just early in life, but it continues to matter 51 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: throughout their entire childhood and maybe even to adulthood. Now 52 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: here's the part that has really fascinated people, especially scientists, 53 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: and it's gotten picked up recently in the last week 54 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: and has really just gone viral on social media. When 55 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: a baby is sick, signals from the baby's saliva when 56 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: it attaches to the breast, actually interact with the breast 57 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: the mother's hormones, and it triggers changes in the milk composition. 58 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: Immune cells to help fight infection are released, antibodies adjust 59 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: the same way. Now, this is what we call targeted 60 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: immune support. Customize for that baby in that moment, beat 61 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: that formula. 62 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: You can't so. 63 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: Anthropologists Katie Hinde I think her name, she essentially helped 64 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: redefine how we think about breast milk, and it is 65 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: her research that has recently gone viral. I also noticed 66 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: that she is now I believe at Arizona State University. 67 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: Ye forks up my alma mater, but really interesting. Her 68 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: research essentially showed that the milk from the human breast 69 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,799 Speaker 1: varies based on the baby's age, sex, and development needs. 70 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: In other words, breast milk isn't just nutrition, it's biological messaging, 71 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: it's information. And that's why her work is resonating so 72 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: much now with so many people, because it just challenges 73 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: the idea that milk is generic, that it can be 74 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: easily replaced, and it reminds us that evolution doesn't do 75 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: like this one size fits all thing, and the benefits 76 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: of breastfeeding doesn't stop in infancy. 77 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 2: Kind of what I talked about earlier. 78 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: Breastbed children continue to have lower rates of asthma, allergies, obesity, 79 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: type two diabetes later in life through teen years through adulthood, 80 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: and there's emerging data linking breastfeeding to improved cognitive outcomes, 81 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,239 Speaker 1: you know, like healthier brain, being able to do better 82 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: on tests, maybe even lower rates of dementia. I haven't 83 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: seen that, but I'm going to guess potentially, and also 84 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: just healthier metabolic profiles in general. So it's not about 85 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: like perfection, but it's all about this early biological programming 86 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: that is intentionally done with human breast milk that happens 87 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: when you breastfeed. This sets the foundation for long term health. 88 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: But let's be honest. Not everyone can breastfeed, Okay, I 89 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: understand that. Obviously. My specialty is a breast imager. I 90 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: have patients who can't breastfeed. Maybe they had bilateral mastectomy 91 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, they can't breastfeed. I was blessed and 92 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: fortunate enough with my three children. I produced a ton 93 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: of milk. I was able to breastfeed all three of 94 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: my kids for a year, and I had about three 95 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: to six months of frozen milk in the freezer by 96 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: the time I finished at twelve months, so they were 97 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: able to continue having breast milk close to being two 98 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: years of age. It was wonderful very grateful that I 99 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: can do it. There's a bonding experience. The reality is 100 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: it was very stressful experience, but I'm so happy that 101 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: I was able to do it. But not everyone has 102 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: that situation, and that is why formula was developed. It 103 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: was developed about a century ago for women who couldn't breastfeed. 104 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: Maybe at that time a mother who died during childbirth, 105 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: and you know, sometimes they had wet nurses, they had 106 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: women who were breastfeeding and they would just come and 107 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: feed all the babies. It's kind of interesting if you 108 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: think about it, but sometimes that wasn't available. So hence 109 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: the birth of formula. Because formula was developed to save lives. 110 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: Babies need nutrition, and it does for babies specifically who 111 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: cannot receive breast milk, Formula is essential. But the reality is, 112 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: over time formula shifted from just being a medical backup 113 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 1: to being a cultural default. Not because breast milks stop 114 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: being superior. It hasn't. In fact, the more we know 115 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: about it, the more superior it continues to be. But 116 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: because society has stopped supporting breastfeeding, and you know, we 117 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: have these shortened maternity leaves, lack of lactation support, workplace 118 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: barriers women just being in the workplace in general, and 119 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: lot of women are on medications that are contraindicated to 120 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: breastfeed and anxiety and depression and all these other things 121 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: that are really stopping women from breastfeeding. Formula has become easier, 122 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: but it doesn't mean it's better. But the reality is 123 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: today's formula is more advanced than ever. Manufacturers are beginning 124 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: to add like DHA, which are like healthy fatty acids 125 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: that are essential for the baby's brain development, eye development, 126 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: and others. They're really trying their best to mimic human 127 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: breast milk. They're also adding probiotics and synthetic human milk, oligosaccharides, 128 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: whatever they can do to really try to replicate breast milk. 129 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: But interestingly, the more complex formula becomes, the more quality 130 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: and safety concerns are emerging. We are seeing not high number, 131 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,559 Speaker 1: but not an insignificant number of recalls, contamination issues, heavy 132 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: metals being found. 133 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: In some of the formulas. 134 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you saw what the first lady was doing 135 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: down in Florida. She tested you know, two to three 136 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: dozen baby formulas and it tested positive over the recommended 137 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: limits of things like cyanide, Now, I know that sounds 138 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: terrifying and arsenic and all these other things, but the 139 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: reality is some of these do exist in nature, and 140 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: there's actually an acceptable amount seen in water. Like we 141 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: have to monitor our drinking supply because we assume that 142 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: you're going to see some of these contaminants because they're 143 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: in the soil and it just gets in there. And 144 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: so scientists have determined, you know, what's the amount that's 145 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: acceptable that's not going to cause health issues, and so 146 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: they have those numbers for say water. What they don't 147 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: have those numbers for is baby formula. And the reality 148 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: is if you're testing baby formula and they test positive 149 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: for some of these things, then what happens, Well, the 150 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: powder baby formulas you mix water into. So the water 151 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: already probably has its limit of these and now you're 152 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: mixing that water with the baby formula. And no one 153 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: has actually looked at this to say, hey, is this 154 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: too much? 155 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 2: Can we be giving this much to the babies. It's 156 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: a big concern. 157 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: And again, the more complex the formula becomes as they 158 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: try to mimic human breast milk, they have to get 159 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: more ingredients. And what we're seeing is are supply chain 160 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: nightmares because if a formula, say, is manufactured in Europe. 161 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: One specific example is they are trying to get this 162 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: particular fatty acid that actually came from Wuhan, China, of 163 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: all places, if you can believe it. Well, that turned 164 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: out to be contaminated. And so you know, the fatty 165 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 1: acid came from China, and then this part came from 166 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: this place in Europe, and then that combination came to 167 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: the United States, and then it was packaged up here, 168 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: and then it comes to the United you know, and 169 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: then it's in the source here in the United States. Well, 170 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: so we've started to see there's some kids who've gotten sick. 171 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: There's actually, tragically a couple who have died from some 172 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: very recent recalls. I think the most prominent and recent 173 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 1: ones are by Heart whole nutrition infant formula. There was 174 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: a potential contamination with Custridium botulinum. You may have heard 175 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: of it more as like you know, botox, and that's 176 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: essentially what that is. But botulism can be deadly and 177 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: it is a toxin that comes from bacteria. And in 178 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: November twenty twenty five, announced a recall of all by 179 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 1: Heart products, including all lots of cans and single serve, 180 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: these sticks kind of everything. And as of January twenty 181 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 1: twenty six, FDA is still receiving reports of the recalled 182 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: formula being found on store shelves. Hello, there's potentially botulinum 183 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: in there. It's just it's crazy, and it's not just 184 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: with this one. And by the way, this buy Heart, 185 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 1: this buy Heart company came to try and be one 186 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: of the healthier formulas that it's supposed to be, more 187 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: like breast milk. And yet here we are they're already 188 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: having a big recall. Nesley, one of the biggest formula companies. 189 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: They have a potential contamination with cerreulide, which is another 190 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: bacterial toxin basilla's toxin that can cause severe nausea and vomiting. 191 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 2: And a whole global recall. 192 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: Was initiated in January twenty twenty six, affecting products. 193 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: In over fifty countries. I mean, that's crazy. 194 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: And the contamination was linked to a raw material supplier. 195 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: That's the one I was mentioning earlier because they're trying 196 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: to get this one fatty acid from China. 197 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: Just imagine how complicated it is. 198 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: You have all these various ingredients in these formulas that 199 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: are sourced from all across the world, and all of 200 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: a sudden, while formula is very regulated, all of these 201 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: other ingredients are less regulated, and then it's a supply 202 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: chain nightmare and there are more recalls. Obviously, you have 203 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: to go online, you have to look into it, but 204 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: it's very scary. And so when we're talking about formula, 205 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: we know we want to do what's best for our babies, 206 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: but you have to be very careful, and especially as 207 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: these formulas are getting so complex in their ingredient lists, 208 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's really important to know what you're getting. 209 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: The FDA needs to get on this and make sure 210 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: that these formulas are safe. We also, if you look 211 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: at the formulas that are manufactured here in the United States, 212 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 1: a lot of them the second or third ingredient are 213 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: like seed oils, there's high in sugar. No wonder that 214 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: we have such obesity in our children. Something has to change. 215 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: I mean, is it's really detrimental. But you know, going 216 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: back to the formula, so when I'm what I was 217 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: trying to get to is the fact that formulas are trying, 218 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: these formula manufacturers are trying really hard to mimic human 219 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: breast milk, because it's just you cannot argue breast is best. 220 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: Breast milk is much healthier for the babies than any 221 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: sort of formula. So they're trying really hard, really for 222 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: marketing to mimic human breast milk. 223 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 2: Whether or not it will ever be as good. It 224 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 2: won't be. And I'll tell you why. 225 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: Even if they can match the ingredient list, human breast 226 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: milk is not just an ingredient list, and that's what 227 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: we're talking about. 228 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: Earlier formula may be. 229 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: Nutritionally adequate, but it's biologically static, not like human breast milk, 230 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: which I'm telling you is biologically dynamic. 231 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 2: It changes premature infants. 232 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: The milk that is coming out of that woman's breast 233 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: to that baby is a different composition than full term 234 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: infants because the body knows what that baby needs, just 235 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: like we are saying, if the baby has an infection, 236 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: there's an immune response. 237 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 2: So there's just no replacing human breast milk. 238 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: And for anyone who has the ability to breastfeed, you 239 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: should absolutely try. 240 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 2: And I'm tired. 241 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: I'm tired of hearing the industry saying, oh, it doesn't matter, 242 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: it's the same, it's not the same. Yes, formula absolutely 243 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: an excellent alternative in those instances where a woman cannot breastfeed. 244 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: But we have to get away from this. Well women empowerment, 245 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: You don't need a breastfeed, there's equivalent blah blah blah. 246 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: It's just not true. If breastfeeding is possible, it matters. 247 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: It matters for immune resilience, it matters for gut health, 248 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: and it matters for just overall reducing childhood illness and 249 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: long term disease risk. We are in a state where 250 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: chronic illness is at an all time high, not just 251 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: in adults, in children as well. Is some of that 252 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: because fewer women are breastfeeding, and they're certainly breastfeeding for 253 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: a shortened amount of time. It's possible even partial breastfeeding, 254 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: you know, combined with formula, it gives benefits. It's not 255 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: an all or nothing science at all. But if we 256 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: truly believe breastfeeding is important, which I do, then the 257 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: support can't stop at just the recommendations. We can't say, hey, 258 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: got a do e cand of breastfeed, good luck. We 259 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: have to show up in policy and practice it really does. 260 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: So I'm going back to my first pregnancy you know. I, well, 261 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: I was very young, but I was breastfeeding my son 262 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: when I was in college. That was a nightmare. I 263 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: was going to class, I was pumping in between classes. 264 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: I was running to see him during lunch and trying 265 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: to feed him directly logistically. 266 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 2: That was a nightmare. And my next two sons. 267 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: I was working full time, so I would pump during 268 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: the day and it was a mess. I was spilling milk. 269 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: It was all over me. I always had to have 270 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: a cooler, but I did it. It was hard, but 271 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: I did it, and it was great. But we have 272 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: to make it easier for women. Okay, my youngest son 273 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: is now twelve years old, or just about twelve years old, 274 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: so it's been a while for me. I know things 275 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: have gotten a little bit better. I see these little 276 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: breastfeeding pods when I walk through the airport, and maybe 277 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: that's getting to the right page. There's obviously still a 278 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: lot more we can do. Just from the very basic level. 279 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: We could talk about finances. So if a woman chooses 280 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: to breastfeed and not use formula formula, I think on 281 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: average costs about two thousand dollars for that first year, 282 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: depending on which type you use. Obviously it can be 283 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: more expensive, it can be less expensive, But when a 284 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: woman choose to breastfeed, you know that's not free because 285 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: oftentimes you need to have a breast pump, special bras pads. 286 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: And let's not forget the fact that women who breastfeed 287 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: nursing mothers need to consume an extra four hundred to 288 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: five hundred calories a day because they are just burning 289 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: through those calories by breastfeeding increases grocery bills. So what 290 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: can we do to support breastfeeding women. Well, good news 291 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: is a lot of this has already been done, but 292 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: people don't know about it and so they're not utilizing it. 293 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: Breast pumps, those others you can pay for them through 294 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: pre tax dollars with your health savings accounts. They're also 295 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: available through Women, Infants and Children program Sometimes pediatricians office 296 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: sometimes have vouchers that they can help. Your insurance providers 297 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: often will cover a lot of this stuff. It's just 298 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: a matter of using those resources. But we also have 299 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: to talk about the long term savings of it all 300 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: beyond the first year. Breastfeeding reduces medical costs associated with 301 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: common childhood illnesses. Like we're just talking about Obviously this 302 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: leads to additional savings for the entire families. How much 303 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: hard to say, but if your child has a decreased 304 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: risk of getting asthma or allergies or something else through 305 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: their childhood, that's certainly not just going to save you money, 306 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: but it's going to save you a lot of heartache 307 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: during childhood, going through the doctor visits and missing school, 308 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:08,120 Speaker 1: missing work, all of that. Women also need to utilize 309 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: lactational consultants. I know it sounds funny, but they're usually 310 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: in the hospital, so they usually will stop by to 311 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: see if you want help with breastfeeding. And there is 312 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: no shame in asking for help. And by the way, 313 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: if you go home with your baby and you find yourself, 314 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: you know, a week or two week later and you're 315 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: still having troubled breastfeeding, talk to your pediatrician. They can 316 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: put you in touch with a lactational consultant. It's not like, oh, 317 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: if you don't use them when you're in the hospital, 318 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: that's your one. It's not you know, stand up now 319 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: or forever hold your peace. It's not like that. They 320 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: are available to you. They will help you. 321 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 2: And if you. 322 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: Are just looking for some also natural ways to increase 323 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: your breast milk production, you know, you can try increasing 324 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: the frequency of feeding. Make sure you empty both breast 325 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: every time you feed, so offer both breast to the 326 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: baby and that helps encourage more milk production. 327 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: And if the baby just isn't eating and. 328 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: You still feel like your breasts are full, double pump. 329 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: Use a high quality electric pump. Pump both sides simultaneously 330 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: for like ten to fifteen minutes after feeding to just 331 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 1: really empty your breast because that sends a chemical signal 332 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: to the brain to start focus on product producing more milk. Now, 333 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: there are also some dietary things you can do. It's 334 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: called glactagogs, which is just a very fancy medical term 335 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: for what's going to help you increase your milk production. 336 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: Oatmeal is a huge recommendation because barley, quinwa, brown rice, 337 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: all of those oats and grains you know, not the 338 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: heavily processed one, but more than natural ones. They can 339 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: really help your leafy greens like iron rich dark green vegetables, kale, spinach, arugola, 340 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: seeds and nuts like fennel, flax seeds, sesame steeds, almonds, 341 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: and also you know my favorite, you know, I love 342 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 1: my herbs, garlic, ginger, and cumin. All of these things 343 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: can help increase milk production. To make sure you're staying hydrated, 344 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: you don't want to overdrink, but you want to make 345 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: sure that you are drinking the best you can and 346 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: what you are drinking obviously matters. I'm talking about water here, 347 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: Carbonated beverages, caffeine, vitamin C, and vitamin B actually can 348 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: decrease your milk supply. I know you want to be, 349 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: you know, taking vitamins. You think it's keeping your body healthy, 350 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: but excess vitamins can actually decrease your milk supply. Also, 351 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: peppermint and spearmint can also decrease milk supply, and so 352 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: to sage by the way, So if you can avoid 353 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: some of those things, that's the best thing you can do. 354 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: It's not also just what you're eating and drinking. 355 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: The reality is you absolutely need to be getting some 356 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: sleep and focusing on your stress because the more stress 357 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: hormones you have circulating, the worse off you're going to be, 358 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: because all of a sudden, your body is going to 359 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: be focusing on fighting your own stress and not focusing 360 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,719 Speaker 1: on producing your milk. You really have to get your 361 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: body physically and mentally to the best place possible to 362 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: maintain adequate milk production. And while I know, I know, 363 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: I know, I know, as soon as the baby's. 364 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: Born, we're all like, all right, I gotta lose this weight, 365 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 2: get rid of this baby weight. 366 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: The good news is breastfeeding burns approximately five hundred to 367 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: seven hundred extra calories per day. 368 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 2: That's more than I burn on a peloton ride. So 369 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 2: that's the great thing. 370 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 1: The problem is, if you start losing weight too fast, 371 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 1: like if you start doing some extreme dieting or exercising 372 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: because you just really want to lose that baby weight, 373 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: you are not going to have enough calories in your 374 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: body to produce that milk. 375 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 2: So be very careful what you're doing. 376 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,239 Speaker 1: Because the more way you lose if you especially if 377 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: you lose it rapidly, it's going to be more difficult 378 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: for you to produce milk. So let's just tie this 379 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 1: all back up. I know a lot of people listening 380 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,120 Speaker 1: you're not in the market for breastfeeding. I know I'm 381 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: certainly not, but it doesn't mean we can't be educated 382 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: on it. And there's people around us, whether it's our 383 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: own children, it's our friends, it's our colleagues, you know. 384 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: I think it's just really important that we all understand 385 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: the true benefits of breastfeeding and we do what we 386 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: can to support those around us who are trying to breastfeed. 387 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,479 Speaker 1: Because if we take the stigma away from it and 388 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: we support people when they're trying to do what's right 389 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: for their baby, the more people we are going to 390 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:28,199 Speaker 1: see breastfeeding. So breastfeeding it's not about moral superiority or 391 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: printal perfection. It's about biology. Human breast milk is dynamic, 392 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: it's adaptive, and it's responsive in ways modern science still 393 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: cannot fully replicate. Listen, Formula has its role, but it's 394 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: not equivalent, and pretending it is does not serve families 395 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: or children. The real conversation isn't breast versus formula. It's 396 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: how can we support mothers, protect our babies and let 397 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: biology and nature do what it's designed to do whenever possible. 398 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: Because the more we study breast milk, the clear it becomes. 399 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: It's not just food. It's early medicine supporting breastfeeding. It's 400 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: not nostalgia, it's not whatever you want. 401 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: To call it. 402 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: It's preventative medicine and we all need to get on board. 403 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: I'm doctor Nicole Saffire. Thank you so much for listening 404 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: to Wellness un Mass. Be sure to catch all episodes 405 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: of Wellness un Mass on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 406 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts, and I'll see you next time.