Saana-Mari wrote asking about the effects of pre-natal
preeclampsia on breastfeeding...
Typically, moms who are fluid-overloaded and/or
edematous, for whatever reason, often experience
delayed onset of milk production post-partum.  This is
a normal physiologic response to edema.  Also, please
remind/encourage your friend by telling her that
pre-eclampsia, however well controlled or mild, is
perceived by the mom's body as a crisis.  The breasts
are not essential to survival (not for mom, anyway
<grin>) so blood supply can actually be shunted away
from glandular breast tissue during physiologic
stress/crisis in favor of vital organs (heart, lungs,
brain, et. al.).  This will also delay the onset of
milk production.

I would venture to say that EARLY, FREQUENT breast
stim in the postpartum period is essential.  An
un-drugged, vigorously nursing infant, allowed to
nurse on cue and for unrestricted periods (when
latched correctly), is best.  A hospital-grade, double
pump is second-best, or could be used if baby is
reluctant to nurse, or after nursing sessions for 5-10
minutes to provide additional breast stim.  If mom's
nipples are flat due to edema, she could use shells
between feeds to compress the areola and assist in
eversion.  Any other measures to treat/manage
flattened nipples would be useful, too.

This is a temporary, managable situation.  Best of
luck to your friend as she approaches the birth of her
baby!
Carole Jernigan, RN,LC
(who has seen plenty of edema at work lately)

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail!
http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html