A twin moms who attended one of my bf classes for mothers of multiples
just called with a difficult situation.  Please let me know your
thoughts.

One of the babies was found to have, during pregnancy, a diaphragmatic
hernia.  Because this condition has an extremely high mortality rate, it
was very fortunate that it was discovered during the pregnancy so that a
surgical team was ready to go right after the delivery.
She has many health difficulties as a result of this condition,
primarily digestive ones, but also cardiopulmonary.

Mom called asking about donating her previously pumped milk to a milk
bank and I am obtaining that info for her.

The reason is that there is concern that the baby is allergic to
breastmilk protein and consequently she has been switched to a soy
formula.  She has improved dramatically on it.  For the first time, she
seems happy, is smiling and somewhat content.  She is now 5 months.  Mom
is continuing to nurse the twin and expects to until at least 12 months
of age.  Mom did say that the "sick" twin has always been highly
reactive to the foods mom ate.

I told her I would send her the milk bank info, but that perhaps she
might want to consider holding onto the milk in the hope that in a month
or so the babies gut will have had a chance to further mature and heal
and perhaps may be able to tolerate her milk at that time.

I did have to dispute her doctors assertion that she has gotten the
majority of the health benefits of the breastmilk by now and so there is
no disadvantage to her getting formula now.  I think I even managed to
be tactful about it, for once :)

Can anyone offer any insights or suggestions for this mom?
TIA
--

Denny Rice, RN, IBCLC
Dallas Texas USA

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