Breastfeeding a baby with health complications

This chapter presents stories and guidance from a practitioner and mothers for supporting babies to breastfeed with cleft lip and palate, Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. It may be assumed that breastfeeding a baby with complications would present insurmountable difficulties. The stories shared by these mother’s show difficulties may be overcome even though there are hurdles. Leo, was born with antenatally diagnosed cardiac defects of Fallot’s tetralogy/double-outlet right ventricle and severe pulmonary stenosis, plus a surprise atrioventricular septal defect at 38+3. Day 13: a landmark day – Leo’s first day of breastfeeding! He was slow and tired, so after a few short stop/start feeds, doctors topped up expressed breastmilk via his nasogastric tube. David, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. For David personally, breastfeeding was a fantastic way for him to regulate his temperature, something he struggled with as a cardiac baby.