[Dysphagia] thickening breast milk

[Jcarved at aol.com (Jcarved@aol.com)]

In a message dated 7/8/2004 9:06:59 AM Central Standard Time, 
eripley@yahoo.com writes:


> no one has questioned why it's needed in the first place.
> 
> **And that, of course, would be my first question.
> 

Mine as well. One should also consider the potential effects on the digestive 
tract One of the reasons for the American Academy of Pediatrics making the 
recommendation change a few years ago that introduction of food (spoon feeding) 
be held off until 6 months of age (and remember that usually means 6 months 
developmental skill levels and/or corrected age at a minimum for preterm 
infants) has to do with infant's digestive systems. Granted the head control and 
independent sitting as well as tongue action changing from suckle to suck patterns 
all play into decisions about readiness for spoon feeding.

Considerations for thickening infant liquids must be thought through very 
carefully - seems to me it may be ikely to do more harm than good for at least a 
good many situations. Our first mandate always is to Do No Harm.

Joan Arvedson

Joan C. Arvedson, PhD, BC-NCD, BRS-S
Program Coordinator, Feeding and Swallowing Services
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PO Box 1997, Mail Station 785
Milwaukee, WI  53201

Clinical Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics
Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Telephone: 414-266-6548
FAX: 414-266-6189