the post on galactosemia prompted me to pick up my Breastfeeding Answer
Book and look it up- the BAB happened to be right next to the computer!

I am not a medical person, but just wanted to mention a few points that
are made in the BAB:

to quote ". . . galactosemia. . . would become obvious within a baby's
first weeks or months of life. If a baby has been healthy and gaining
well during his first few months, he could not have . . . [this]
condition."

you describe the baby as very healthy and it is implied that the weight
gain has been good and the baby is alert,etc.Plus the baby is 5 1/2 mos.
old, and the above info. would have me believe that by 5  mos. of age,
the baby would show signs of serious trouble if galactosemia were
present.

the BAB also says, "Galactosemia, if untreated, causes vomiting, weight
loss, cataracts, and mental retardation."  You don't mention any
vomiting.

This in on pg. 238 of BAB.

Also in the BAB, pg. 336, it says, "blood tests for galactosemia produce
many false-positive results."  "because the enzyme in question is
sensitive to heat, babies who do not have this disorder may test
positive for galatosemia. . . "
on this page, a few other symptoms are mentioned, including diarrhea,
which would be pretty obvious by the time the baby is 5 mos. old.

Again, I have no medical expertise, but to me it sounds like a baby with
galactosemia would be in pretty bad shape, if she had been bf for 5 1/2
mos, and would be exhibiting all sorts of symptoms.

This baby you describe sounds so healthy!

You mention it is 'border line' galactosemia that has been diagnosed.
What does that mean? the definition I read is that the liver enzyme that
breakds down galactose is absent, leaving the baby unable to metabolize
lactose.It sounds to me that either the enzyme is present, in which case
the baby would not have this disorder, or else none of the enzyme is
there.
does borderline mean there is some enzyme present, but not enough to
break down the lactose?but then how has the baby been metabolizing the
breast milk for all this time?

Any docs out there, I have gotten intrigued by this! could someone fill
us in on this?Could a baby who appears to be quite healthy have this
disorder (while bfeeding), and what could "borderline" mean in this case?


ellen , LLLL , Pittsburgh, Pa.