Tuesday, May 17, 2011

clarification

Just over the last couple of weeks I have had a two moms ask me questions about serving honey to their little ones and in the course of the convo went on to say that they didn't want a botulism scare that I experienced with Gracelyn. And even one of Gracelyn's doctors told me that she had a mom argue with her when she reminded that no honey was to be given before the age of 2 and the doc said she almost offered my number to her. While I would be more than happy to talk to that mom about the risk of honey in babies under 2, honey is NOT, in any way linked to Gracelyn's botulism. So essentially I would simply be going off what I have read in books.
Gracelyn's botulism that she contracted is called "C Botulism." I know I have stated per the PICU doctor, that we would never know the exact cause of it. His best guess was that with 3 big bros they possibly came in from playing outside and didn't wash their hands and touched her hands or face.
C. botulinum is commonly found in soil. Clostridium botulinum is a soil bacterium.
Gracelyn was strictly breastfed when she became ill and even if I do eat honey, which I don't, botulism cannot be contracted through breastmilk.
My message before and especially since her illness is to wash hands. I reminded the family to wash hands prior and I still do, many many many many times a day. And not just for risk of botulism but many other little viruses and illnesses. As if I wasn't already a germphobe mom I certainly am now!