Why would anyone think that the La Leche League, an organization who’s mission is to support breastfeeding, might be against vaccines?
“Many parents have questions about the compatibility of vaccines and breastfeeding. Your healthcare provider can address any questions that come up for you.”
la leche league international on Vaccines
They certainly don’t make any strong statements supporting vaccines…
“The LLLI Health Advisory Council suggests families discuss the pros and cons of influenza vaccines with their health care practitioners.”
la leche league international on Influenza
The cons of influenza vaccines?
What are those exactly? That the protection babies get from their mother’s pregnancy flu shot doesn’t last until they go to college?
What’s the greatest evidence that they might not support vaccines? I mean, besides anti-vaccine La Leache League leaders who actively say that they are against vaccines?
Bob Sears is giving two lectures on vaccines at an upcoming La Leche League breastfeeding conference.
Will he really discuss the benefits of vaccines for pregnant and post-partum mothers and their families?
“Dr. Bob Sears, a renowned Dana Point pediatrician who has been sought out by parents who wish to opt out of the state’s mandatory vaccine requirements, has been placed on probation for 35 months by the Medical Board of California.”
Dr. Bob Sears, renowned vaccine skeptic, placed on probation for exempting child from all vaccinations
And considering that he nearly lost his medical license over giving an improper vaccine exemption, what can we really expect from his talk on California’s vaccine law?
“Remember that La Leche League is exclusively focused on breastfeeding support and has no stance on vaccinations.”
La Leche League USA
No stance on vaccinations?
Actually, with bringing Dr. Bob to their conference, it seems like they made a very clear stance…
“Nursing also allows your baby to give germs to you so that your immune system can respond and can synthesize antibodies! This means that if your baby has come in contact with something which you have not, (s)he will pass these germs to you at the next nursing; during that feeding, your body will start to manufacture antibodies for that particular germ. By the time the next feeding arrives, your entire immune system will be working to provide immunities for you and your baby. If you are exposed to any bacteria or viruses, your body will be making antibodies against them and these will be in your milk.”
Can Breastfeeding Prevent Illnesses?
And they have also done a good job of making it sound like breastfeeding infants don’t need vaccines.
They do!
While breastfeeding is great, it is not a substitute for getting vaccinated. In fact, antibodies in breast milk will not protect a baby against most vaccine-preventable diseases.
If the La Leche League truly wants to support what’s best for kids, they should move away from pushing non-evidence based therapies, especially craniosacral therapy and referrals to chiropractors for breastfeeding problems, and they should take a stand supporting vaccines.
Then maybe they wouldn’t appear on any lists from the NVIC.
More on Vaccines and the La Leche League
- A Parent’s Guide to Complementary and Integrative Medicine
- La Leche League International Vaccines Page
- La Leche League International Influenza Page
- When a Leader’s Beliefs Become Mixing Causes
- Can Breastfeeding Prevent Illnesses?
- Dr. Bob Sears, renowned vaccine skeptic, placed on probation for exempting child from all vaccinations
- The Problem With Dr Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule
- An example of how alternate vaccine schedules endanger children
- Cashing In On Fear: The Danger of Dr. Sears
- AAP Task Force on SIDS Reponds to La Leche League Statement
- ABM President responds to Vaccines and Breastfeeding
- Passive Immunity 101: Will Breast Milk Protect My Baby From Getting Sick?
- Baby’s Immune System on Breast Milk
- Breastfeeding and vaccinations protect your baby in different ways
- AAP – Policy on Breastfeeding
- AAP – Debunking Breastfeeding Myths for New Mothers
- CDC – General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
- CDC – Contraindication and Precautions
- Vaccines for Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Yay for breastfeeding and immunizations!
- My Life With Anti-Vaxxers
- Lara’s Story: Growing Up Anti-Vaccine
- Yay for breastfeeding and immunizations!