800-FIGHT CF (USA) McNeil Pharmaceuticals puts out a *very* informative booklet, _Intro to CF for Patients and Families_. Jan Ellen Brown gave an excellent session on cf and bf at the last ILCA cnf in Scottsdale. She said about 20% of cf babies suffer from GER. She suggested the following as ways an LC can support a mother of a baby w/cf: --recognize stages of maternal grief --clarify nutritional goals and help experiment w/enzymes --run interference w/ other members of the health care team who may discourage bf (mothers are unwilling to antagonize HCPs b/c they view them as their baby's lifeline) --share written materials; put in touch w/other mothers with children w/cf --test weigh as indicated; supplementation with donor human milk or manufactured baby milk; bottom limit of weight gain; once HCPs see how much the baby is taking, HCP support for bf often rises --reflect issues unrelated to cf: growth spurts, night waking, sheltered feeding sessions, etc: normal bf management --encourage self-care for the mom: her focus is (understandably) on the baby --recognize financial constraints/insurance issues --refer to "baby with cf" rather than "cf baby" (he is a baby first, not a disease); NEVER call them cystics <shudder> --listen.....listen.....listen Karen Zeretzke, MEd, IBCLC Baton Rouge, Louisiana [log in to unmask]