Dear Lactnetters,
        Last night a mom who has been attending our meetings for the past
four months called to tell me that her daughter arrived three weeks late.
Her little one has Trisomy 18 Syndrome with PDA and VSD - there are no
plans for surgery at this time.  (...Sad sigh...) This is my first time
supporting a mother in this situation and I want to help her as much as
possible. I have much to learn in this area.
        Baby was born August 10 at 4lbs 14 oz.  She is now 4lb. 10oz.
(Please pardon my lack of metric conversions.)  Mother is pumping every
three hours and seems to have an abundant milk supply.  She is feeding 35ml
of breastmilk with E*****l Human Milk "Fortifier" ever three hours.  Baby
sucks lightly on mom's finger with some jaw motion but no compression as
the breast.  The mom has a wonderful attitude and is focusing on enjoying
her little baby one day at a time.
        Some suggestions I asked her to run by her HCP were:
1) Kangaroo Care
2) adding extra hindmilk to the baby's feeding once or twice a day
3) increasing frequency of feedings to every 2 1/2 hours (mom noted baby
seemed hungry at the lesser interval)
4) finger feeding.
        While I am waiting for further information from my PL I would
appreciate any information you can share to help me help this mom.
WarmLLLy,
Elizabeth (La Leche League Leader)

Elizabeth Tencza in Durham, North Carolina (USA)
Wife to Michael, Mother to Christopher (10) Matthew (8) & Amanda-Eden (5)
and "YaYa" to Celia (11 months)