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Breast-feeding When Your Baby Has Hypotonia, Congenital Heart Disease, or Down Syndrome

By La Leche League International

Babies with special needs are often bombarded with a variety of health problems early on. Those babies who have Down syndrome often face respiratory tract infections and bowel problems. They can benefit from the gentle protection human milk provides. Breast-feeding also helps establish a bond in the midst of the strong emotions and high stress surrounding the birth of a child who has special needs.

Hypotonia (low muscle tone) is common among babies born with Down syndrome, as well as other babies who are born with special needs. Hypotonia may make breast-feeding difficult, but with practice these babies gradually improve mouth and tongue coordination as well as muscle tone. This improves speech and language development later in life.

The child who has Down syndrome and/or hypotonia, may have instability in the neck joints. Therefore, the baby should be well-supported and nursed in an upright position supported by lots of pillows. This will also help with gulping and choking. The baby may also need to be burped every five minutes or so during a feeding.

Babies with Down syndrome are often born with physical abnormalities, such as congenital heart disease, and require extra energy just to maintain adequate circulation. These babies must be closely watched for adequate weight gain. Keeping track of wet diapers is an easy way to monitor weight gain: a healthy baby should have six to eight wet cloth diapers or five to six wet disposable diapers a day. Frequent bowel movements, two to five a day, for the first six weeks, indicate that the baby is getting enough to eat.

According to Combs and Marino, (Pediatric Nursing Mar-Apr 1993) children with congenital heart disease who received any amount of mother’s milk, even if it was supplemented with formula, had shorter hospital stays and gained weight more easily than babies who were exclusively formula-fed. The other plus is that breast-feeding is compatible with all heart medications. Once the baby’s condition is stabilized with medication, he or she will be more enthusiastic about nursing, and will generally not require supplementation.

However, if the baby is not showing signs of adequate weight gain, it may be necessary to give supplemental feedings. Supplements are often necessary for babies who have heart disease due to the excess of energy they use. The mother can pump her own milk for these supplements so that the baby continues to receive the benefits of mother’s milk.

The bond established during breast-feeding reassures the new mothr that she is able to help her child mature into a strong and capable individual.

"Breast-feeding has made it easier to parent a child with Down syndrome," says one mother. "Not only has it helped Aaron physically and emotionally, it has made life more pleasant for me. I love to hold and nurse him, and he thrives on this bonding and contact. We have not had the stress of illness, since human milk has kept Aaron so healthy. His oral development is very good since breast-feeding is the best exercise there is!"

La Leche League International

1400 North Meecham Road

Schaumburg, IL 60173-4080

(847) 519-7730 or (800) 525-3243

http://www.lalecheleague.org