In a message dated 8/10/00 1:24:22 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< <snip> Many tests were done and the final conclusion was Tracheal Malacia.
 The parents were told she will probably grow out of this within a year.
Meanwhile she is a poor feeder.  She has always had a poor latch, with little
suckling.  Mom has
large breast and slightly flat nipples.  A shield has been tried but baby
does not improve with this.  I have had mom pumping since day 2 postpartum
but she has not been consistent with this until the baby was over a week old
and readmitted for a viral infection.  Her milk supply has never been great,
getting 20-40 cc per pumping with a double setup large electric pump.
My question is: how does Tracheal Malacia affect eating and breathing?  Is a
push to breastfeed too big of a goal for this baby? >>

Ann, I looked this up on the internet, as I have no experience with it. Part
of what I found is:
 <<1.Malacia, or softening, of the airway structures is the underlying
structural problem.
    2.Underlying causes of tracheomalacia must be sought and treated.
    3.Masqueraders of laryngomalacia must also be sought and treated.
    4.In the long term, children do well as they outgrow this disorder. >>
Further,
<<Tracheomalacia and laryngomalacia are congenital problems that commonly
lead to respiratory distress in children>>
It also explained that these babies have difficulty eating due to the
collapsing of the airway on expiration.

I am no expert, but common sense would suggest that breastfeeding would
certainly be less stressful under such circumstances than bottlefeeding.
Further, considering the very high risk of recurrent respiratory infections,
breastfeeding would seem imperative to me. (Of course, breastfeeding is
always imperative IMO). I would imagine the mother's low supply would be
contributing to this baby's difficulty also (but I imagine Barbara W-C would
be better able to make suggestions here). One more thing, I would have this
baby seen by someone who does Integrated P/T. I would think of it this
way--if you have a compromised system, then you want to optimize everything
else around that system so that the compromised system is under as little
stress as possible.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html