Babies with Down syndrome gain weight very slowly anyway.....babies with
heart defects must use enormous amounts of energy just to stay alive and so
gain weight very slowly also.....

I would think it might be easier on the baby to let it nurse the foremilk,
which comes out easier due to let-downs, and then have mom *pump* the hind
milk and give in an SNS or cup.  It is more work for the baby to try to
nurse out the hind milk.

Once the heart defect is repaired, the weight gain will probably pick back
up to where it should be *for a baby with Down syndrome* (i.e., less than
"normal" baby).  Growth charts for babies with Down syndrome are available,
doc should have them, first author is Chris Cronk.

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352