Hello all,
        I have been on Lactnet for a month or two, and have learned a
bunch. I am a nursing student and have been a LLLLeader for a year or two.
My local group is pretty silent and slow, but occasionally something pops
up . This time it's a big one and I know I need help.
        A month ago a mom with a 12 wk old boy came to the monthly meeting
because her baby was throwing up everything about an hour after nursing.
There was history in the family of milk allergy and there was lots of cues
about stress and lack of information/support happening too. We worked with
her  and she left feeling hopeful with lots of info. Baby was very alert,
happy, and plenty of weight gain, okay diapers, but also seemed to cry all
the time, except we focused on him with so much love there wasn't any
crying that evening.I held him in the colc hold and walked the room and he
was so peaceful and content
        Heard from her this morning after not seeing her at the meeting.
She was apologizing for not returning the copy of the Art. Turns out the
babe had surgery last week for a cancer tumor the size of its head that is
withn his abdomen, pushong on the rest of his organs. A gastro specialtist
noticed it when she went and had an utrasound. The babe had previously just
been put on Pepsid and told bm was the problem
        Any way, she called the diagnoses ragdomarcenoma. They did surgery
and the tumor is still there and his kidney tubes have been placed outside
his body(ostomy?) because it was placing too much pressure on his bladder.
She hasn't BF him in a week, but is pumping and wants a double electric.
They have told her that he will be on chemo for a year and a half and it
would be about 6 months before the tumor shrinks markedly, but they will
start sson and hope. Even a half ounce of bm or abm is thrown up, so he's
on an IV.
        She seems to want to pump and store until feeding is possible and I
can help her with that.She would like to be in touch with others who have
experienced similar challenges and I would like any and all info that would
help her. I'll do a search on Lactnet and am getting in touch with local
LLL supprt services, one works in the same hospital in Pedi ICU so she will
be of help.
        Thanks for reading all they way to the end and hope to hear lots of
input. My firts impression is can she really pump and keep up the milk for
6 months if it takes that long before he feeds by mouth and can the babe be
on IV that long?
        But obviously there will be lots more questions on the way.
        Reach me at [log in to unmask]
        Thanks again,
        Amy Mohrbacher, Sanford, Maine, USA