I wonder about the risk of hemorrhage if she *does not* start pumping/breastfeeding? Women who do not breastfeed are at increased risk of hemorrhage.

HELLP syndrome is basically a severe form of pre-eclampsia, and the only medical "cure" is to deliver the baby. Once the baby is delivered, mother should improve rapidly, shouldn't she? Next pregnancy, this mother is going to be "at risk" for developing this condition again, and she should be advised to look at ways of decreasing her risk factors, including gaining impeccable nutritional status. Blueribbonbaby.org is an excellent resource.

Best wishes,
Sam Doak

---- Price Pamela B <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I have a quick quetion, I have a patient who delivered a 34 weeker and mom has HELLP syndrome. Her platelets are still very low, they are coming up, but are still about 48,000. She is amazingly not in ICU, but her baby is in the Level II nursery and mom is going to breastfeed. Would it be safe or even advised for this mom to begin pumping? I am concerned about potential for bleeding with her platelets still so low. The mom is alert and oriented and her lab values are coming up.
> Thanks for sharing any knowledge.
> Pam Price IBCLC, RLC
> Charleston, SC USA
>

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