Jenn Sullivan asks for an evidence based reply to mother of a baby whose
meningitis a month ago has left him quite handicapped.  The mother is
expressing half an ounce a day and he is getting that, along with a formula.

The mother may be interested to know that the total *amount* of antibodies
secreted over a 24 hour period is constant, which means that the half ounce
she expresses, contains a much higher antibody concentration than if she
were producing all the milk he drank.  Particularly since he is getting so
little breastmilk, he will really need all the antibodies he can get.  You
could remind her that the antibodies in her milk will reflect both her
infection history from long ago, and whatever bugs she lives with now, so he
will always be getting tailored immune support too.

It was unclear whether he was suckling at the breast himself.  Didn't sound
like it, in which case the mother has a job ahead of her if she wishes to
keep him supplied with any of her own milk.  If he is able to come to
breast, perhaps her supply will improve and they can both enjoy continued
breastfeeding.  That would even give her a good reason to sit down and not
do anything else but be with the baby.

Others may have other nuggets of wisdom, this is the best I could do right now.
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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