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56 HEALTH MOTHER AND BABY FROM PAGE 54 Ms Schilling added: “A baby is born with an immature immune system and a sterile gut. Breast milk has many features that come from the mother’s immune system that help the baby’s immune system develop. “A mother shares a range of proteins, fats, sugars and cells that work against infections when she breastfeeds her baby. For example, antibodies, white blood cells, lactoferrin, lysozyme, oligosaccharides, probiotics and prebiotics. “Since a mother and her baby are generally in contact with the same germs, and the mother creates antibodies to these germs, they’re passed to the baby through breast milk, which helps protect the baby from the illnesses they’re both exposed to. The main type of antibody in breastmilk is IgA. IgA antibodies protect the internal surfaces of the body, such as the mouth, stomach, intestines and lungs.” Ms Schilling points out that while “the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life ... we know there are some cases where, despite adequate support ... breastfeeding is unable to occur or continue”. “Therefore, there’s a need for nutritionally safe formula to be available to feed infants in their first months of life,” she said. “It’s recommended to seek assistance from your GP and healthcare professional, such as an accredited practising dietitian, in these circumstances to determine the most appropriate formula for your child.” Ms Fox adds that while she “would recommend breastfeeding when possible because the mother passes on lots of nutrients to their baby through their breast milk, which can aid in fighting infection ... breastfeeding isn’t possible for everyone, and that’s OK too”. “And obviously, a healthy, balanced diet for children who are older as well,” she said, adding that for those who may need them, “there are plenty of supplements (vitamin D, zinc and probiotics) that are safe for babies and children”. The role of pharmacists “I think they’ve got to be able to listen,” Mr Quigley said of pharmacists in this space. “The ability to listen is incredibly important. It takes only a couple of minutes, but just give a mum a chance to explain what’s going on. “Is the child struggling with eczema? Or is the child struggling with a runny nose and coughs and colds, particularly if they’re in day care? You’ve just got to learn about these things. Be confident in what you’re offering \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[in terms of pre- and probiotics\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. And, as we always say, always follow up, even to the point that if you’ve got a young mum who’s stressed, don’t bother having them come in to see you; ask them for their phone number, ring them.” Mr Quigley says “learning, follow-up and reassurance” are the key aspects pharmacists need to be aware of when working with mothers and babies in the area of gut health and immunity. “That’s the important thing,” he said, “because in spite of all we do, kids thrive. They really seem to find a way. In spite of us putting all sorts of things in their way, both good and bad, kids get through.” References 1. Domingues CPF, et al. ‘The social distancing imposed to contain Covid-19 can affect our microbiome: A double-edged sword in human health. mSphere, 2020; 5 (5). 2. Bloomfield SF, et al. ‘Time to abandon the hygiene hypothesis: New perspectives on allergic disease, the human microbiome, infectious disease prevention and the role of targeted hygiene’. Perspectives in Public Health, 2016; 136 (4). 3. Bridle BW. ‘A year of Covid-19 lockdown is putting kids at risk of allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases’. The Conversation. theconversation. com/a-year-of-covid-19-lockdown-is-putting-kids- at-risk-of-allergies-asthma-and-autoimmune- diseases-155102 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 24/3/21\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. 4. Apostolopoulos V, et al. ‘Extra hygiene precautions won’t weaken our immune systems’. Heart Research Institute. hri.org.au/health/your- health/lifestyle/extra-hygiene-precautions-wont- weaken-our-immune-systems \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 24/3/21\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. 5. Stanford Children’s Health. ‘The immune system’. stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=all-about- the-immune-system-90-P01665#:~:text=The%20 acquired%20immune%20system%2C%20 with,stay%20in%20your%20child’s%20body \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 29/3/21\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] 6. Stanford Children’s Health. ‘The immune system’. stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=all-about- the-immune-system-90-P01665#:~:text=The%20 acquired%20immune%20system%2C%20 with,stay%20in%20your%20child’s%20body \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 29/3/21\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] 7. Apostolopoulos V, et al. ‘Extra hygiene precautions won’t weaken our immune systems’. Heart Research Institute. hri.org.au/health/your- health/lifestyle/extra-hygiene-precautions-wont- weaken-our-immune-systems \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 24/3/21\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. For more tips on nutrition and infant health, see Melanie McGrice’s YouTube channel at: youtube.com/ NourishWithMelanie RETAIL PHARMACY • MAY 2021