Dear Netters,
I received a call from a mom who was diagnosed with Osteogenesisimperfecta
(brittle bone disease) at age 24 shortly after the birth of her now 7 year
old.  She was told to discontinue nursing immediately as "breastfeeding does
more harm to a woman's bone density than pregnancy" and that she should
consider sterilization as future pregnancies would probably render her
crippled for life.  Well, she has subsequently had another child who is now
three and she was told that she could only fully breastfeed for 4 weeks but
would be "allowed" to breastfeed once per day. Unfortunately, she felt that
she had lost her milk and quit trying.  Now the mother has once again
delivered and baby is three weeks old.  Dr. has told her only one more week
of breastfeeding allowed even though a recent bone density test has shown
that there has been no loss in density.  The mother takes calcitonin, a
calcium hormone plus 2500 mg calcium supplement.  The endocrinologist says
that she has type III - the least brittle of the disease and yet "there just
isn't any good reason to put herself at further risk when formulas are
nearly as good as breaastmilk".
        Well mom would do anything to breastfeed longer and isn't buying the
doc's advise as she feels she's in great health, her bone density hasn't
suffered, and that formula is NOT "nearly as good as breastmilk"!
        The mother says she has done a lot of research and what she's
learned is that there really isn't much on the subject nor has she met
anyopne else with the disease who has attempted to breastfeed.
        So is there anyone out there who can help shed some light on this
suject?  Does anyone have any references?  One important note:  even though
reasearch has indicated that mothers who breastfeed have increased
remineralization than mother's who don't breastfeed, there is no evidence to
prove that this also happens to mother's who have this disease - at least
this is what her endocrinologist at the U of WA has told her.
        Thanks for your help once again.
Nancy Ferland, IBCLC Kitsap Lactation Services