Breastmilk to Cure Conjuntivitis?

Updated on October 14, 2008
C.M. asks from Gilbert, AZ
20 answers

I was wondering if any of your Mama have tried to use breastmilk to treat Conjuntivitis? My lactation consultant told me it would work. I think my 2 month old has conjunctivitis (water eye, slightly swollen eyelid), no fever or eye redness. I have washed out his eye with saline and it is still bugging him.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

My Little One's eye looks better. The eyelid is no longer swollen and it is just a little bit watery. We ended up taking him to the doctor (because it was not 100% better) and she said that he has a partially clogged tear duct and to keep massaging it. She said if it starts getting red again or has discharge that I can try to use breastmilk to clear it up it, but if it gets worse to go back in for Antibiotics. Thank you for all the support and the suggestions!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.W.

answers from Phoenix on

I was told the samething when my son had it i dont think it helped he had it till he was like 6mon i just keeped his eyes clean.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.H.

answers from Tucson on

It works! Squirt a little milk in there. It's kind of gross and his eye will look "milky" after you do it for a short time, but it's completely safe and way better than using drugs to fix it!

:-) T.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

We put breastmilk up my daughter's nose when she was sick and it seemed to help her congestion so I imagine that it would work well in their eyes as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

Yep! Go for it. I did it with all 8 of my kids. Did not hurt them a bit, cleared up the infection in no time.
In fact, if an older child got pink eye while i was nursing an infant I would express some milk into a TOTALLY clean shotglass or medicine cup and pour it in the eye.
The doctor will only give you antibiotics. Milk has natural antibiotic properties....hence the reason most breast fed babies get WAY fewer illnesses while they are breast feeding than kid who are bottle fed.
PLUS? Wash the nipple first....as the milk comes out it is STERILE....AKA NO IMPURITIES. If the kid can drink it he can put it in his eye with NO CHANCE OF BEING ALLERGIC AND CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS.
Go for it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Tucson on

I've used it....works great!!! Most docs have no clue about breastmilk and what it can do, it's definitely worth a try before heading to a doc.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Phoenix on

Our pediatrician told us that was totally false information. Lots of babies are born with clogged tear ducts which can take as long as 12 months to develop after birth. My daughter had both ducts clogged, one was good after about 5 weeks and the other took almost 10 months. Her eye always was goopy and kinda red at the lids. Warm water compresses helped and so did massaging. To do the massage, if you are looking at the baby, it is the spot between the nose and the inner corner of the eye, where the duct sits. Light pressure and do it often...I would also call your pediatrician and have the baby checked.

N.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Listen to your lactation consultant. Breastmilk has GREAT immune antibodies. USE IT for anything including ear infections and eye infections

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.H.

answers from Flagstaff on

Obviously from the other posts it doesn't work for everyone. But I do have to say that it did work for me. I poured a little fresh breastmilk in my son's eye and it cleared it up pretty fast. I let it blink it about before I dabbed it off. Have you tried massaging the tear duct a little?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Phoenix on

It works... it's was alittle strange the first time I had to "shoot" my baby in the eye with milk; but within 6 hours her eyes were clear! Breastmilk is the natural antibiotic for your child.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.J.

answers from Phoenix on

It worked for me but took a little while. It worked better when I put more milk on his eye.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Tucson on

Take your 2 month old to the Dr. Conjunctivitis is contagious and unfortunately has less places to go in a little one. Don't play games with old wives tales when an infection is in your child's eye.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.J.

answers from Santa Fe on

Dear C.,

I'm not trying to freak you out here but I have to tell you this story cuss I wish someone would of told me. I have heard that breast-milk can cure pink eye, I have also been told sugar water can do it too. But When My child got pink eye and I would normally go the non medication route in gen. I took her to the doc. I ended up with it and pre this I prided myself on the fact that one of my kids could get something and it wouldn't do the rounds in the house. But in this case she got better but then it appeared one night that it looked to be getting worse- like someone punched her in the eye, there was a ring around it and puffy. I assumed the pink eye came back. I called the Doc and got an appointment. To my horror the next day my doc was upset that I had waited as what I thought was pink eye had turned into a case of cephalitis (ck spelling) Doctors were everywhere and shots were given and I spent the night in the hosp. scared. I saw a friend months later and her little boy looked like this she too was going the alternative route. I told her my story and she took her son to the doc. and was told the same thing. My point is here, not to mess around with alternatives in this case as the eyes are a major organ and we can be to careful. See the doc. they will give you drops or ointment and get it under control cuss it can get out of control. Well it did for me and I thought i reacted fast.

A.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Breastmilk did not work for my 3rd son who got conjunctivitis pretty badly. I heard it would work so I tried it for over a week and it just got worse. My firstborn got it when he was a few weeks old and when I bathed him every night I allowed the soapy water to run down in his eyes after shampooing his head, and his cleared up. I tried that with my 3rd son, and the breastmilk, but nothing helped. Give it a try, but if you notice it is not working, there is a great antibiotic salve that cleared up my son's really quick...even after it got really bad. It just took a quick trip to the doctor's office to get the prescription. Good luck to you and your sweet baby.

A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.L.

answers from Phoenix on

I've done it lots, it works great! Just squirt the little sucker (ha-ha) right in the eye before or after nursing, it clears it right up. That breast milk is fantastic stuff!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from Phoenix on

I used breast milk to treat my little girls blocked tear duct two years ago and it worked. I thought it was the strangest cure, but it worked.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Tucson on

I put breast milk in my kids' eyes.... it worked. :) God made our bodies amazing to help our babies! Blessings!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.T.

answers from Phoenix on

When my baby first had goopy eye, I freaked out. I even cried. I was so worried, she's my first and I was super concerned that it was pink eye. Of course this happened over the weekend. I did my research and all the sites recommended breast milk. I didnt think it would hurt plus I really didnt want to give her antibiotics just yet. I put a few drops in her eye every few hours and it cleared up! Of course that monday our doctor said it that was just an old wives tale BUT it worked for us.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.Z.

answers from Phoenix on

My sister in law swears that it works, I tried it with one of mine, but I could never really squeeze enough out to make a difference. You might as well give it a try!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Wow, from reading the responses you can tell whose open to natural medicine (many people which is awesome!)& whose into 100% antibiotics for everything..which SOME day your child MAY need & MIGHT not work if overused! Good for you for asking such a great question! I am a nurse & have also heard from numerous Lactation consultants & Naturopathic Drs to at least try the brestmilk as usually it will work great..now w/ that said if it doesnt clear up quick def go see a Dr to make sure it doesnt turn into something worse.
good luck!
S.
www.shannonstair.myarbonne.com

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches