Hi, Karen:  A symptom that is common to virtually all cardiac conditions is 
easy fatigue.  It doesn't take much activity for any cardiac patient, 
including babies, to fatigue to the point where they can no longer continue 
the activity they were engaged in.  The feeding behavior you are describing 
is pretty typical for a baby with a cardiac condition.  They are not able 
to nurse very long at any given feeding and tend to expend more energy than 
we'd like to see during feedings which is why most of these babies don't 
gain weight very well.  They're burning up the calories as fast as they 
take them in just trying to maintain themselves.  I have found using a 
supplementer at the breast every feeding to be helpful - allows baby to 
take in more milk with the same or even less energy expenditure during the 
feeding.
Good luck to this mom and her baby!

Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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