This week Elijah got his first prescription for antibiotics. To have reached the age of four without ever having had a single ear infection, strep throat, or any other bacterial infection is truly remarkable, I think, and I can’t help but think that his two years of breastfeeding had something to do with that.
True, I did not breastfeed exclusively. I was one of those unfortunate women who had a great deal of trouble pumping, and was forced to let Elijah drink formula during the days while I was at work. But we nursed exclusively on the weekends and in the evenings, when we coslept and he nursed pretty much all night (until maybe 15 months or so), and this continued for 2 years. Even when other kids in Elijah’s daycare got sick, he didn’t.
I guess I can’t say for sure that it was the breast milk, after all, I’m sure there are babies who get infections and are exclusively breastfed and are not in daycare, but studies show that breastfed babies simply don’t get infections nearly as often as formula fed babies do, so I have to think my breastmilk played a big role in Elijah’s health. It’s a good example of how breastmilk does your child good, even if you can’t do it exclusively. Do as much as you can for as long as you can, and watch the benefits roll in.
And, in case you’re wondering, Elijah’s infection was in his finger. He smashed his finger the weekend before last and the wound got infected. We’re still going strong with our no ear infections streak. Here’s a picture of his poor, infected finger one day into antibiotic treatment.

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