Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 I'm seeing a mom tomorrow whose situation is completely new to me. Here is what I know from the referring midwife. I have yet to talk to the mom.mom has bf 3 babies. this is the 4th baby. mom developed mastitis in one breast about the 32-35 week of PG. It's bad. She is seeing a breast specialist and it sounds like there is a huge abscess that is being drained. Since the birth of her baby (now 2 days old) she has developed more abscesses near her areola. the midwife reported that she tried to nurse on that side, but the pain was unbearable (duh!) breast is swelling, engorged and sounds like it's horribly painful. she is nursing on the other side pain free.My first thought is that perhaps she had an undiagnosed infection with 3rd baby that never resolved (I have talked to dad and he didn't know if she'd has mastitis before)2nd thought is MRSA. Again, dad didn't know if she'd been tested for that.Wondering about... do I advise her to just nurse on the unaffected side? Try to get milk out of infected side, or leave it alone to involute? I'm sure things will be more clear when I see her and talk to her, but right now, just trying to get info!Thank you!!!any words of wisdom would be appreciated. Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 , I would encourage her to take whatever pain relief has been recommended by her doc, and to do her best to keep the breast empty-ish using a pump or manual expression. I think milk stasis in this situation would be detrimental. She should definitely nurse on the other side. But I think that, with your extensive experience, your intuition will guide you once you see her. Fay Bosman Mother Nurture www.nwmothernurture.com > > I'm seeing a mom tomorrow whose situation is completely new to me. Here is what I know from the referring midwife. I have yet to talk to the mom. > mom has bf 3 babies. this is the 4th baby. mom developed mastitis in one breast about the 32-35 week of PG. It's bad. She is seeing a breast specialist and it sounds like there is a huge abscess that is being drained. Since the birth of her baby (now 2 days old) she has developed more abscesses near her areola. the midwife reported that she tried to nurse on that side, but the pain was unbearable (duh!) breast is swelling, engorged and sounds like it's horribly painful. she is nursing on the other side pain free. > My first thought is that perhaps she had an undiagnosed infection with 3rd baby that never resolved (I have talked to dad and he didn't know if she'd has mastitis before) > 2nd thought is MRSA. Again, dad didn't know if she'd been tested for that. > Wondering about... do I advise her to just nurse on the unaffected side? Try to get milk out of infected side, or leave it alone to involute? I'm sure things will be more clear when I see her and talk to her, but right now, just trying to get info! > Thank you!!! > > > > any words of wisdom would be appreciated. > > > Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC > Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula > > www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 Thank you! Unfortunately with the gauze and the swollen tissue around her nipple impossible to express or pump. Used a shield which was much more effective than I thought. baby created some vacuum and pulled nipple out a bit. Unfortunately, the main concern is a dehydrated baby and milk not flowing easily. It seems her whole body is holding. Wondering if car accident during PG contributed to this--possible breast trauma. lumps in breast started forming a couple months later.thanks for your confidence in me! It was easier than I thought to navigate this once I saw her... Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/--- Subject: Re: your wisdom please?To: Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010, 9:49 AM , I would encourage her to take whatever pain relief has been recommended by her doc, and to do her best to keep the breast empty-ish using a pump or manual expression. I think milk stasis in this situation would be detrimental. She should definitely nurse on the other side. But I think that, with your extensive experience, your intuition will guide you once you see her. Fay Bosman Mother Nurture www.nwmothernurture.com > > I'm seeing a mom tomorrow whose situation is completely new to me. Here is what I know from the referring midwife. I have yet to talk to the mom. > mom has bf 3 babies. this is the 4th baby. mom developed mastitis in one breast about the 32-35 week of PG. It's bad. She is seeing a breast specialist and it sounds like there is a huge abscess that is being drained. Since the birth of her baby (now 2 days old) she has developed more abscesses near her areola. the midwife reported that she tried to nurse on that side, but the pain was unbearable (duh!) breast is swelling, engorged and sounds like it's horribly painful. she is nursing on the other side pain free. > My first thought is that perhaps she had an undiagnosed infection with 3rd baby that never resolved (I have talked to dad and he didn't know if she'd has mastitis before) > 2nd thought is MRSA. Again, dad didn't know if she'd been tested for that. > Wondering about... do I advise her to just nurse on the unaffected side? Try to get milk out of infected side, or leave it alone to involute? I'm sure things will be more clear when I see her and talk to her, but right now, just trying to get info! > Thank you!!! > > > > any words of wisdom would be appreciated. > > > Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC > Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula > > www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 > Thank you! Unfortunately with the gauze and the swollen tissue around her nipple impossible to express or pump. Used a shield which was much more effective than I thought. baby created some vacuum and pulled nipple out a bit. Unfortunately, the main concern is a dehydrated baby and milk not flowing easily. It seems her whole body is holding.< , I wonder if you know about the mayo jar method of expressing milk? I know it sounds weird, but it is very effective, simple to do and costs nothing. Moreover, I think this mother might be able to do it even with all her problems. Take a clean, wide mouth jar - like a mayo jar. Put a metal knife in it. Fill it with boiling water. (The knife will absorb enough heat to prevent it cracking.) CAREFULLY empty the jar, using a pot holder. When it is cool enough to touch, slip the end of your breast into the jar. As the jar cools, the glass will contract, and draw out the milk. Repeat as necessary. Hope this helps, norma Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region www.NormaRitter.com Join us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views: http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 Cool! I just canned a bunch of jam and I guess it's sort of the same idea of creating a vacuum as the jars cool. I'd heard about this, but never really new the technique. If the swelling isn't down tomorrow, I'll give her a call with this. I'm still wondering if the gauze over the incision will interfere with the vacuum.... but we'll see!Thanks, Norma.BTW my very lucky intern got to go with me on this consult. she got to see something that I'd never seen in 20 years! Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC Lactation Consultant/Postpartum Doula www.second9months.comBreastfeeding Between the Lines: http://second9months.wordpress.com/--- Subject: Re: Re: your wisdom please?To: Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010, 8:01 PM > Thank you! Unfortunately with the gauze and the swollen tissue around her nipple impossible to express or pump. Used a shield which was much more effective than I thought. baby created some vacuum and pulled nipple out a bit. Unfortunately, the main concern is a dehydrated baby and milk not flowing easily. It seems her whole body is holding.< , I wonder if you know about the mayo jar method of expressing milk? I know it sounds weird, but it is very effective, simple to do and costs nothing. Moreover, I think this mother might be able to do it even with all her problems. Take a clean, wide mouth jar - like a mayo jar. Put a metal knife in it. Fill it with boiling water. (The knife will absorb enough heat to prevent it cracking.) CAREFULLY empty the jar, using a pot holder. When it is cool enough to touch, slip the end of your breast into the jar. As the jar cools, the glass will contract, and draw out the milk. Repeat as necessary. Hope this helps, norma Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region www.NormaRitter.com Join us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views: http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 Yes , it is the vacuum that draws down the milk. This is a very gentle method of milk expression which originated before there were reliable pumps. I believe I read about it in the first edition of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, the one with the blue cover. I actually suggest this method quite frequently to new mothers who are engorged. They often either have no pump or a cheap inefficient one, and this method is pretty much fail safe.norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 I've heard of this technique but I have never witnessed its use. Does it appear to elicit a letdown? And if not, how long does the milk flow generally, and any tricks to identifying that the bottle rim is cool enough to initiate the technique without burning yourself? Thanks, > > Yes , it is the vacuum that draws down the milk. This is a very gentle > method of milk expression which originated before there were reliable pumps. > I believe I read about it in the first edition of the Womanly Art of > Breastfeeding, the one with the blue cover. > > I actually suggest this method quite frequently to new mothers who are > engorged. They often either have no pump or a cheap inefficient one, and > this method is pretty much fail safe. > > norma > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 Yes, , the vacuum created does elicit a let down. How long it lasts and how much milk comes out is very individual. Of course the mother can repeat the procedure as many times as is necessary without any adverse effects. Identifying that the glass is cool enough is just a matter of common sense and trial and error :)normaNorma Ritter, IBCLC, RLCBreastfeeding Matters in the Capital Regionwww.NormaRitter.com Join us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views:http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB I've heard of this technique but I have never witnessed its use. Does it appear to elicit a letdown? And if not, how long does the milk flow generally, and any tricks to identifying that the bottle rim is cool enough to initiate the technique without burning yourself? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.