A dear friend of mine has a child with spina bifida.  He was born six weeks
prematurely.  His meningomyelocoele was at the level of L 4.  He is almost 15
y o now.  I wonder what exactly they plan to do for this fetus?   I suppose
there is less exposure to the environment by doing a closure before birth?

  Soon after our friends' son's birth they operated and covered the area with
skin.  My friend nursed him soon after and continued to do so for a few
years.  She had lots of support from the hospital staff and had no problems
breastfeeding him.  He was exclusively breastfed for at least the first six
months of life.  Although he has braces and crutches, uses a wheel chair, and
has bladder and bowel differences, he has been much healthier than other
children they know with spina bifida.  They also have him adjusted regularly
by a chiropractor.  They attribute his good health and lack of need to take
antibiotics frequently to long-term breastfeeding and the adjustments.  He
does have a shunt for hydrocephaly and has had hip surgeries.

I hope that the parents of this baby know how good breastfeeding can be for
their baby.  My best wishes for success in the procedure and beyond.

Mardrey Swenson
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