Can Breast Milk Cure Conjunctivitis in a Newborn’s Eyes
Pink eye or conjunctivitis is when the eye looks red and might have some gooey stuff coming out of it. It can make babies uncomfortable and cranky. Some families believe that a few drops of breast milk can fix the problem.
One common piece of advice is putting breast milk in a newborn’s eyes to treat pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis.
Many believe that breast milk is like magic for treating all sorts of things, including pink eye in babies. They say that since breast milk can help babies fight off germs inside their bodies, it should do the same when put in their eyes.
What science says
Breast milk is indeed amazing. It’s full of nutrients and antibodies that help babies grow strong and healthy. But when it comes to treating pink eye, the science isn’t so clear.
- Antibodies in breast milk: Breast milk indeed has antibodies, which are like tiny soldiers that fight off germs. However, most of the research isn’t sure if these soldiers work the same way when they’re put in the eye as they do in the stomach.
- Different types of pink eye: There are a few kinds of pink eye – some are caused by viruses, some by bacteria, and others by allergies. Breast milk might have some stuff in it that can fight bacteria, but it doesn’t have much to do against viruses or allergies.
- Risks: Putting breast milk in a baby’s eye could also introduce new germs, making the situation worse.
So, while breast milk is great for many things, using it as eye drops is not recommended by most doctors.