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Subject:
From:
Diane Wiessinger <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 9 Jun 2001 10:58:39 -0400
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Neil Campbell, MD (Australia) did a wonderful plenary session for the 1993
ILCA conference on breastmilk feeding of seriously ill babies.  His
overriding comment:  It's not the nature of the problem but the motivation
of those involved that determines whether or not a baby can be breastfed.

Among the slides he shows are a couple of babies with externalized bowel,
although the term "omphalocele" isn't used.  He talks about how the bowel
may be utterly unable to function at first, and may then have severe
malabsorption problems.  Since lactose is considered to be one of the big
problems, it used to be that "sophisticated artificial milks" were
considered necessary.  Later, it was generally agreed that breastmilk could
be *tried* as a first feed, but *when* diarrhea occurred, the baby would
need to be switched to the sophisticated artificial feed.  In his facility,
however, they would make numerous attempts with human milk before abandoning
it.  At a time when 50% of Australian babies overall were discharged
breastfeeding, *50% of the babies in his facility who were born with major
bowel abnormalities went home breastfeeding*.  He did stress, however, that
about a third went home still unable to tolerate human milk.

I wonder:  if lactose is the chief problem, why not just add lactase to the
milk, and offer these babies lactose-free breastmilk??  Seems simple enough,
and well worth a go if the straight stuff isn't working.

He has pictures of a baby with a massive jaw tumor... breastfeeding; with a
grossly enlarged tongue... breastfeeding; in a rigid legs-in-the-air frame
that's drawing his pelvis into line... breastfeeding.

Those of you who have his video, dig it out and view it again.  It's *very*
satisfying, and his overriding message is worth repeating:  it isn't the
nature of the problem but the motivation of those involved that determines
whether or not a baby can be breastfed.

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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