Here's case I'd like comments on.  The mom is someone very, very
committed to breastfeeding.  I have her permission to post excerpts
from her emails to me here.

>>>My boys were
> 10 wks early and are still only 7 wks old (37 wks corrected). They are
> also still in the NICU. The doctor> has not concluded that they are lactose intolerant (or galactosemic)she > only says that at the moment she thinks the problem lies in that their > guts just aren't ready to process lactose. Is this possible? She has > told me numerous times not to fret yet that they may still very well be > able to nurse eventually.<<<<

NOTE:  These babies have not been tested for galactosemia.

Her original note to me ran as follows:

>> I want to breast feed so badly but the boys just will not take my milk.>> Peter eats it for a day or so then starts to turn blue and Bergen just>> throws it all up. the doctor says not to worry yet that they just may>> not be ready for lactose and put them back on the formula (lacto-free).>> I asked if eliminating dairy from my diet would take the lactose out of>> my milk and the doctor said no, that even to get significant amounts of>> "cow" protein in it I would have to be drinking huge amounts of milk a>> day (which I'm not). I am just starting to get a little paniced.

To me it sounds as though the dr. is not clear at all why this
reaction is happening AND knows even less about breastfeeding.
Apparently the babies are not on the breast at all.

Does this, in fact, sound like galactosemia to you all?  What
procedures would you follow to help this mom?  (Keep in mind I am only
in email contact with her, as she is a friend of a friend. :)  )

Teresa G. in NC

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