I really hope this mother is bringing back her own supply, as the
cornerstone of all other efforts!  This child, whether he has another
problem or not, is being deprived of a good 2 *years'* worth - or more - of
a normal relationship with his mother, a normal food source, and normal
protection from illness.  It's downright scary to contemplate what her
caregivers were willing to destroy on the chance that they might squeak a
few more calories in.  

As to the premie milk, I love Chris Mulford's analogy:  If formula is
Philadelphia and breastmilk is Hawaii, the new improved formula, if it
really *is* new and improved (which is questionable) might be Pittsburgh.
And (my addition) frozen milk, donor milk, milk after having taken most
medications, milk from the "wrong aged child" is maybe a few miles off
Waikiki Beach. 

If her potential donor has a whole freezer full of premie milk, much of it
is probably mature milk or close to it.  And if it isn't?  Ruth Lawrence's
6th edition (p 483) says premie and mature milk have the same caloric
density and probably the same total fat and lactose.   

We know precious little about human lactation, so we like to talk up the
little we know: foremilk and hindmilk and how milk varies with different age
babies, and it gets us into trouble.  No one thinks to label cow milk
according to the age of the calf it was for.  Milk is milk, with minor
variations that we've overblown because we like to have something to talk
about.  For my part, I'd take slightly east of Hawaii over Pittsburgh any
day.  

I hope she rebuilds her own supply and relationship!  There's a lot more
going on there than calories, and this baby deserves it all.

(And if anyone thinks they're going to get me to eat more Lima beans by
depriving me of chocolate, they're sadly mistaken!  I don't see why the same
logic wouldn't apply to babies who love to nurse.)   

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL  Ithaca, NY  USA

 

 

 

 


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