My co-IBCLC-MD here called and asked me to get some feedback:

A mom, 6 mos. pg. came to see her.  She has had a swollen areola since right
before she learned she was pregnant.  The nipple is fine, the breast is fine,
other than having her normal pregnancy changes, but the areola became very
edematous, and had some reddish spots.  The spots are gone (not blisters -
reddened areas), but not the swelling.  She has been to 6 dermatologists and has
been given a variety of corticosteroids resulting in no change.

She went to the IBCLC to find out if this swelling will cause problems with
breastfeeding.  Of course, the final answer will not come until we have mom and
baby together - size of mouth and willingness to open as well as depth of
lactiferous sinuses are problems that come to mind - but any suggestions????

Thanks.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC - Puerto Rico

PS - mom with colostomy-Tetrology of Fallot baby is slowly losing milk supply,
have had her contact Pediatrician and Gastroenterologist to try to simplify her
schedule (when do you breastfeed or pump when you need to feed baby cereal,
vegetables, formula with protein supplement, as well as care for colostomy, and
cope with the very difficult medical situation here - no MD appts., you need to
go and SIT until they see you!).