Mira Leibovich, MD asked:
Do any of you have references that breastfeeding a baby with a cardiac
defect is NOT much more stress than bottle feeding?

Yes, and it's one of my favorites:

Title
     Oxygen saturations during breast and bottle feedings in infants with
     congenital heart disease.
Author
     Marino BL; O'Brien P; LoRe H
Address
     Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Source
     J Pediatr Nurs, 1995 Dec, 10:6, 360-4
Abstract
     Bottle feeding is commonly advised for infants with congenital heart
     disease (CHD) based on the belief that breast feeding is too difficult
     for them. However, studies of preterm infants have shown that
     greater cardiorespiratory effort occurs during bottle feeding than
     during breast feeding. The purpose of this study is to determine if
     there is a relationship between feeding method (breast vs. bottle) and
     oxygen saturations (SaO2) in infants with CHD. In a correlational
     design, pulse oximetry measured SaO2 during one breast and one
     bottle feeding in each of 7 infants with CHD. SaO2 during breast
     feeding is significantly different from SaO2 during bottle feeding (F =
     59.72, p < .0001). SaO2 during breast feeding is higher on average
     and less variable (M = 96.3%, SD = 2.2) than SaO2 during bottle
     feedings (M = 92.5%, SD = 6.9), indicating that there is less
     cardiorespiratory stress with breast feeding. None of the infants
     desaturated (SaO2 < 90%) during breast feedings, whereas four
     infants desaturated during bottle feedings.

Hope this helps.
NancyH
Nancy Holtzman RN BSN MOM
Great Beginnings New Mothers Groups
Boston, Massachusetts
http://www.great-beginnings.com
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