Thank you for your reply and encouragement, Laurie - I feel quite insecure in such difficult situations, but I am really trying to do my best to support the mothers who seek help (and to learn something from every mother's experience I have the honour to share in my role as bf helper).
Your post answers one of mom's worries - she says her breasts stopped feeling full and "working" after the first round of chemo and they remain the same since. Could you please point me out to some information about the effect of the chemo on the milk-producing ability - it will be very useful.
And do you think it is helpful to share this information with the mother now, so she is prepared - or just to talk about how there might be challenges without mentioning this possibility, so she does not enter her bf experience with a mind set for failure?
Thanks,
Christina Yaneva
BF Peer Councellor
Bulgaria
--- On Tue, 1/19/10, laurie wheeler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: laurie wheeler <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Hodgkin's disease
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc: "LACTNET" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 6:27 PM
> Christina,
> I think you are doing a fine job helping this mother.
> You have done the research and have helped mother find the
> answers to her questions so far, and you are giving her
> emotional support and encouragement. Well done! I think if
> you continue to help her find answers as challenges arise,
> that is what she needs most. Of course, if you don't
> know the answer, say so. And seek out resources that might
> have the answers.
>
>
> My understanding is that the radiation therapy is not
> harmful to the infant, but it can adversely affect the milk
> production capability, and this can be permanent. But it
> seems mother will be able to breastfeed and since her
> history is one of good supply, this might not be a problem.
>
>
>
> I think one of the most important things will be
> mother's LONG TERM health and survival. Therefore, she
> should be helped to eat and sleep well, and to have low
> stress; so bringing in family and friends and/or healthcare
> system might be needed.
>
> Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
> Mississippi USA
>
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