I bumped into a former client in the supermarket yesterday, and while I was
admiring her two beautiful daughters (age 3, and 17 months) she sadly told
me how her little one has been having myoclonic seizures for the last 3
months and how glad she is that she is still breastfeeding.  Apparently the
seizures started 2 weeks after a fall (she said her husband dropped the
baby, and her arm was broken), she is unsure if this is related.  An EEG
confirms abnormal brain activity.  The baby has been on medication, but it
has not helped and the baby acts drunk and walks into things so mom has
stopped giving it. The seizures occur after the child has been asleep, they
cause her to wake up, and she has great difficulty in getting back to sleep
again, then becomes frantic because she is so tired.  Mom finds that she can
use the comfort of the breast to help the baby fall asleep more easily and
in fact this is the *only* way she can fall asleep at these times.

I seek your collective wisdom:  (1) can anyone educate me about myoclonic
seizures?  (2) does anyone know of any support groups, or e-mail lists that
might provide comfort, solace and information for this nice young mother who
is very worried about her baby, and (3) is it possible that breastfeeding
(breastmilk per se) will help?  This mom is well aware of the comfort
aspects of nursing, and all my instincts tell me that the "brain-food" in
breastmilk will be helpful - can anyone point me in the right direction on
the more technical (physiological) aspects?

Thanks for any thoughts/opinions/info.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe