Hi, All:  Cardiologists tend to be very concerned about a cardiac patient's 
energy expenditure.  I'm thinking that this is probably one of his reason's for 
telling this mom not to nurse.  The physical/energy demands of her pregnancy 
on her body's workload are dramatically increased, which does not bode well 
for her heart which is already compromised.  I would think that breastfeeding 
would be less energy-expending due to the influence of the maternal hormones 
and the decrease in her overall emotional stress levels.
There are very few cardiac medications that are contra-indicated for 
breastfeeding.  Ask mom what medications she is currently on, look them up in 
Hale, and talk with her cardiologist, if you can.  You need to know how he is 
planning on managing her care after delivery.
I am a fairly frequent visitor to our cardiac care center due to the fact that 
fluid-overloaded PP hearts tend to do things like palpitate, throw PVCs or PACs 
and cause shortness of breath. And our PP nurses tend to get nervous around 
telemetry. The cardiologists, some of whom see me as a patient, and the 
nursing staff (I have to be nice to them because I have already been in one of 
the beds there) tend to be quite interested in helping a mom continue 
breastfeeding and are willing to work with me in accomplishing this.


Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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