Ok I may come across as a horrible mother so need your opinion. I have a 4 mth old and at a point where what I pump today are his bottles the next time I work. I barely pump what he needs when I'm gone. So today I'm pumping my second round and look down to start cleaning everything and notice a small bug in the bottle that has 5oz. a little bigger than an ant and black so not sure what kind. I got the bug out immediately and don't rem seeing it in there the first time so not sure when it got in there. I'm torn. If I were the one to drink then my take is a fly absolutely not, an ant absolutely extra protein, other bugs depends on the bug. A few details in case you want, he's 4 1/2 mths, he's boy number 3, totally healthy, knock on wood so far not even a cold, older boys play with bugs not sure if they eat. Pretty much all 3 plus hubby are about as boy as they get. What's your take on it? Do you give to your baby or do you poor it out?
Thanks to everyone for your quick responses. I had a blast reading them. I have to say I agree and glad to know I'm not the only mom who would give the "Liquid Gold" touched by extra protein to my son. I feel much better now. LOL If I go by what my other sons have done there will be a lot of bug eating in the future. Thank you again.
Well, once he starts crawling, he will probably feed himself bugs now and then... I know I pulled more bugs out of my kids mouths than I wanted to count!
I really doubt that the insect, whatever it was, would have really contaminated that much......
I wouldn't worry about it.
It's not going to hurt him. Really! And we are talking about throwing out liquid gold! I'd keep the milk and give it to him.
I have to admit, I was never the mom who carried around bottles of GermX or always washed the spoons that they threw on the floor. I'm a big believer in washing hands and trying to be smart about bacteria, but I it's important not to go to the extreme. I little dirt (or bug) is good for you.
I am not one to flinch at bugs but I also don't go looking to grub on the little creatures either. When he is crawling he will go forage for critters on his own.
In many parts of the world they actually eat bugs. Sounds nasty to us...but a delicacy to others. Don't worry, you are not coming across as a horrible mom. You are breastfeeding...good for you and baby. Between that healthy food source and an occasional ant...I think he will turn out just fine.
I didn't flinch when my kids ate pea gravel. Probably not the best person to answer.
Then again I can say my kids are never sick and you never know how many bugs he eats when you aren't looking.
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Just throwing this out there before you poor it out. :p I pick bugs out of my drinks all summer. If I didn't I don't even want to speculate how much I would have to dump. Completely stupid to waste something because a bug fell in. Well unless it is a yellow jacket, they can drink what ever they want while I run!
I know that extra stress of being just ahead of the game for the baby to have enough while you are at work the next day! No way would I dump it. Any contamination from the bug would be so minuscule it couldn't compare to the bad stuff in your mouth that you spread when you kiss him :)
If you search around on here, you can find stories of babies eating bugs, poo, boogers, rotten food, mold... all gross, but no casualties!!
Ah-hahaha! What a great story!
Sorry to laugh, but motherhood is just highly hilarious sometimes, you know.
I'd have to dump the milk, I'd probably shed a tear or two as I watched it go down the drain too.
:(
I haven't read any responses, so sorry if I repeat. If it were me, I'd fish it out, and pretend it was never there. I bet there's been yuckier things in your little one's mouth than some anty germs!
Also, he's beyond newborn, so I wouldn't be too concerned about being completely sterile!
I would just take the bug out and it should be fine. If it was huge then that might be a little different but I am with the others that said that stuff is liquid gold. It's so hard to get enough for them and then to dump it. He will be fine.
I'm going against most answers, but I'd dump it, no matter how precious that Liquid Gold is. It's not the bug itself, but what else it's carrying that would concern me. What if it had been in a bait trap recently and had poison on it's body? What if it had been feasting on feces or carrion? Not worth it to risk baby's health. Try to squeeze in an extra pumping session.
Maybe this makes me a bad mother, I wouldn't pour it out, but if a bug flew in my drink most likely I would dump it.
I remember the days when I could barely pump any milk and was so afraid my child would starve, so I get that 100%.
This is a little off the question but pertains to breastfeeding and pumping. A trick that worked for me while I was pumping, if, I nursed my son as I was pumping I usually could produce a lot more breast milk than if I only pumped and didn't have him nurse at the same time. (of course I couldn't do this at work, but at home, usually in the morning and when I got home from work, I did)
Good luck, keep us posted on what you decide to do.
Hi M.,
Sounds like a high protein shake to me!
KP
I would poor it out. Better safe than sorry! I know how sometimes you can't afford to toss milk out, but I feel like if I wouldn't drink something after seeing a bug in it then I definitely wouldn't give it to my baby.
This happened to me a couple of weeks ago! My son was only 8 weeks old, but I just fished that bug out and kept the milk. He's none the worse for it. But of course, I gave myself an extra "bad mommy!" for that one.
weirdly, ants don't gross me out as much as other bugs. if it were a little cockroach? EEEEEEEEeeeeeEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEE!!!!!
the only worry i'd have would be if the little buggy might have some sort of toxic bug spray in it. but if it happened here i'd be okay because we've cut out most poisonous substances anywhere in my blessed acres.
i do think in this case i'd pitch it. my boys ate bugs galore it's true, and are probably stronger for it. but i think a good rule of thumb is that if YOU wouldn't drink it, don't deliberately feed it to your baby.
i wouldn't put much worry into it either way, though.
:) khairete
S.
Dump the milk . If there is not enough so leave, leave him some formula.
Then to back to regular schedule.
