This is a blog from one our very own inspiring IBCLC’s ! Something fun for Friday.
We all know that breastmilk is natures perfect food for our babies. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, antibodies to fight off infections, etc. But there are also other uses for breastmilk that you might not have known about. I, personally, have already tried a few of these uses and can attest to them. Some, however, I have not but have heard from friends and fellow mommies that they work and are totally worth it! Please note that a lot of these methods have not been scientifically studied or proven so there really is no medical evidence for a lot of these methods, but many mommies swear by them. Hey, they’re worth giving them a try!
Treating Diaper Rash
I have tried this method, and will say that it does work under certain circumstances. After you apply the milk to dry, clean skin and rub it into the skin, it is important to let the area air dry first before closing the diaper. If baby has a yeast infection, however, this method will not work and can in fact make the infection worse. So, its important to contact your pediatrician if the rash doesn’t clear up or gets worse.
Healing Cracked or Sore Nipples
There are many ways that women combat sore or cracked nipples. One of the best ways is by expressing a little bit of breastmilk onto the nipples and letting it air dry. This is also a great way to help fight infections due to the antibodies in the breastmilk. Again, if there is thrush or a yeast infection on the nipples, this method can actually make the infection worse, so seek medical attention if this occurs.
Help With Teething Pain
Breast milk can be frozen, as we all know, but instead of just sitting in the freezer, your toddlers can use it to alleviate pain associated with teething. Older children can have the milk frozen in popsicle trays, while the younger babies can have the milk frozen in ice cube trays and put into a mesh feeding bag. Not only will the ice help with the pain, but babies will also be getting the benefits of breastmilk!
Making Soap
You’ll need a lot of milk for this recipe! 6 cups in fact. So if you have a stash in your freezer thats just sitting there and ready to expire, this is a great way to use it! I have a lot of friends that have used this recipe and swear by it. Breastmilk soap is great for babies and mommies alike. They swear that its great for eczema and skin issues and it leaves their skin so soft. Here is the link to one of the recipes that is a favorite of my friends: http://thesnapmom.com/homemade-breastmilk-soap/
Breastmilk Jewelry
This one is probably one of my favorites. Yes, you can actually get your breastmilk made into jewelry. I’m not exactly sure of the whole process but I know it involves removing the casein and hardening it. It also takes up to six weeks to make. I actually have two pieces of jewelry, one is a ring that has the hair snippets of both of my girls and the other is a mermaid cameo. I love when people ask where I got them and and I get to tell them the story. You should see the looks I get! This is one of the many companies you can contact if you are interested and also the one that I use personally. https://post-bedtime-creations.myshopify.com
Healing Skin Issues
Breastmilk is know to have many healing properties. It can also be not just consumed but used on the skin as well. Breastmilk has been know to help clear up a multitude of skin problems. Here is just a short list of different skin issues that have benefited from the application of breastmilk: sunburns, chicken pox, poison oak/ivy/sumac, cuts and scrapes, insect stings and bites, burns, infected wounds, skin rashes and contact dermatitis, and warts. There are different ways to treat these issues with breastmilk and a link will be provided at the bottom for your reference.
Pink Eye
I have tried this before in both of my girls, and while not medically studied, I can say personally it has helped both my girls. With pink eye (or conjunctivitis) being such a common bacterial and viral infection and becoming more resistant to antibiotics I know a lot of us are looking for more untraditional methods to treat it. Applying two drops of breastmilk twice a day into both eyes can really help to clear up pink eye. Make sure you get the ok from your pediatrician beforehand.
Ear Infections
My oldest daughter suffered from chronic ear infections and has gone through two sets of ear tubes. I wish I had known about this treatment before I went through years of doctors visits and treatments. Putting a few drops of breastmilk into the ear canal every few hours should have the ear infection cleared up within 24-48 hours. You can bet the next time one of my girls gets an ear infection I plan on trying this method!
Below is a list of links where you can find multiple uses for breastmilk
http://www.mom365.com/baby/breastfeeding/10-surprisinging-alternative-uses-for-breast-milk/
http://codenamemama.com/2012/02/20/medicinal-cosmetic-alternative-uses-breastmilk/
http://www.medicaldaily.com/6-surprising-natural-uses-breast-milk-247460
