i'm hoping to get some advice/suggestions for a distraught mother who  
has written to the holistic lactation site on FB, where i'm one of the  
admins. she writes:

My daughter is currently in Arkansas Childrens Hospital, she was born  
at 34.5 weeks and has a congenital heart defect. The heart issue is  
being controlled by meds (she may need surgery later in life), and as  
far as being premature, she is still needing a tiny amount of oxygen  
and is having some trouble with feeding. She is stable and improving.  
My issue is that I take Lamictal - an anti-seizure med. Due to me  
taking this, the Drs say that they do not want me BF her. Before I  
started taking it, I researched it and decided that if I became  
pregnant, I would continue taking it during pregnancy and while BF. It  
is an L3 drug. No formal studies have been done, but there is one in  
progress that is studying mothers and kids tracking from pregnancy to  
age 6. Currently the study is in it's 3rd year, and no adverse  
reactions have been found so far. The Drs ordered her to be fed  
formula. I am pumping, but having trouble with milk supply. Me and  
pumps do not get along. I also am disgusted with the fact that shes  
being fed formula. I feel alienated and am really depressed, I am sure  
you other moms can understand what it would be like. It's hard to even  
look at FB pages because most of mine I keep up with are parenting  
sites, and I start crying when I see stuff about BF. I need advice and  
help. :(

i have advised her to contact the infantrisk site to see if they can  
advise her, as well. mom is hesitant to assert her rights and insist  
that baby be allowed to have her milk as she fears the hospital would  
view this as some sort of irresponsible parenting. i'm looking forward  
to any feedback anyone might have, thank you!

~jacqui morris, bsw
(near detroit, michigan, usa - where i'm currently languishing in a 7  
day facebook banishment for posting a breastfeeding pic & have the  
spotless house to prove it! )

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