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Will lying down to nurse cause ear infections?By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC You might hear that breastfeeding your baby in a lying down position will cause ear infections. Research indicates that this is not true. No matter what positioning you use, breastfeeding actually works to decrease the incidence of ear infections. This myth is one of many that has come from a mistaken application of bottle-feeding information to breastfeeding. There is good evidence that if baby is given a bottle of formula while lying flat, the formula can get into the Eustachian tubes and middle ear and cause an infection. However, there are two problems with applying this fact to breastfeeding: (1) breastmilk and formula are not the same -- breastmilk inhibits the formation of bacteria, while formula encourages bacteria; and (2) breastfeeding and bottle feeding are not the same -- milk does not pool in the mouth when baby is nursing, as as it does when baby drinks from a bottle. Also, keep in mind that with most nursing positions, baby is lying down while nursing anyway - whether mom is lying down or not! So don't be afraid to lie down to nurse your baby. Go ahead and get your rest... while you nurse your baby.
Additional informationCan lying down to nurse cause ear infections? by Kathy Kuhn, RN, BSN, IBCLC "Myth 23: The lying-down nursing position causes ear infections" from Common Breastfeeding Myths by Lisa Marasco in Leaven, Vol. 34 No. 2, April-May 1998, pp. 21-24.
General information on ear infection prevention and treatmentEar infections: What are the symptoms? by Robert W. Steele, MD Detecting an Ear Infection by Alan Greene MD FAAP Ear infections from AskDrSears.com Cause and Treatment of Ear Infections by Dr. Jay Gordon Alternative Treatment for Ear Infections by Dr. Jay Gordon Ear infection articles from Mothering.com Ear infections: Can chiropractic care help? by Deb Donovan and Bob VanMetter Middle Ear Disease and Allergy by David S. Hurst, MD Ear infections and the Breastfed Baby by Paula Yount Ear Infection Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association Bottle Feeding And Ear Infections: A Formula For Disaster? by Craig Brown, MD
Research on breastfeeding and ear infectionsWhy breastfeed? Your child will have fewer ear infections from Breastfeeding.com References on breastfeeding and ear infection (otitis media) compiled by Dr. Jack Newman
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Page last modified:
05/17/2006
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