Special mom needs special support!!!

     Mom with 4 month old, ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) baby
boy has gone through a lot, and is STILL nursing despite difficulties created
by hospital settings.  Due to his condition, baby has already had a heart
lung bypass, and has broncho pulmonary dysplasia.  Currently, he has a
tracheostomy and is on a ventilator.  Amazingly (or should I say due to
Breastfeeding?), this baby does not have the typical, neurological
impairments that ECMO babies have, and he has a strong suck!

    Aside from current problems, mom and dad are true survivors.  Both are
recent cancer patients in remission.  Mom had only begun to recuperate for 4
months after her surgery and treatment before she became pregnant (by
accident).

     Our needs are twofold.  First, I would love to get pearls of
Breastfeeding wisdom from any of you out there in Lactnet Land about
assisting moms who are nursing a baby with a tracheostomy.  Second, this mom
really needs to speak to other moms that have done this.  According to the
hospital staff, she is a rare bird.  If you know anyone who has succesfully
nursed a tracheostomy baby, please get permission to provide her name, phone,
& address to this Mom, and e-mail me privately, so she can get this support.

     By the way, Mom is an LLL Leader too!     Debbie Albert, IBCLC