Hello 'Netters

I need your help.  A co-worker's 3 month old  nephew has just had surgery on his
liver for biliary atresia.  He is not a breastfed baby.  The family
lives in Phoenix, AZ and are researching the condition.  The baby has
been placed on a list for a donor liver.   The little guy will
receive a diet of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) formula and extra
fat-soluble vitamins.

Biliary atresia is a closing of the bile ducts that leads to
dysfunction of the liver.  During surgery, they discovered that the
gallbladder was practically non-existent.

The questions are:  Has anyone worked with a baby with this
condition?  Are there support groups?  Is there an organization that
can give the parents some practical information?

My personal bias is that any human milk is better than none.  With
all the trauma and stress this mother is going through, is it
appropriate to suggest she re-lactate to offer this baby some human
milk to compliment his diet?  Baby is at risk for liver infection and
human milk could help.

Could donor milk or expressed milk be given if hepatic enzymes are
added?

By the way, there are 3 other children at home and mother has a 3/4
time job.

Thank you in advance,
Jeanne Fisher, MSN, RN, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Promotion Nurse
Texas Department of Health
phone: 512-406-0744
email: [log in to unmask]