I hope all those who went to the ILCA Conference are all reinspired
and full of new knowledge, and ready to share it with us all!

I have two situations from a fellow NMAA Counsellor we would like
opinions, etc on. She has asked me to post to Lactnet.

>
>The first situation is:  mother suffered severe engorgement, for a
>period of 4 mths, but continued to suffer engorgement up until 6
>mths, if she didn't feed her baby within a 2 hour period.  The
>engorgement was such that she was in excruciating pain, her breasts
>were rock hard, very painful to touch.  She had badly cracked
>nipples for the first 8 weeks,and attributes their healing to, in
>part, the use of tinct benz, prescribed by a GP(who acknowledged
>that this goes against all current thinking).  She tried to express
>while in hospital, using an electric pump, but was so engorged,
>couldn't get attached to pump,  so used hand expressing in the main.
>Was not very sucessful at expressing, the most she was able to
>express was 60 mls, and this only the once.  All other sessions
>yielded less than this.  Her routine was, apply hot compress,
>massage breast, feed baby, apply cold compress, have a hot shower,
>hand express, hot compress, massage breast, feed baby, etc, every 2
>hours.  She never suffered any mastitis, but her breasts were
>constantly lumpy, with blocked ducts, which she was very diligent
>about unblocking.  She never leaked any milk.  She never felt her
>letdown, nor did she see signs of having one.  Her baby fed for
>about 5 minutes, never longer (baby led), and took 6 weeks to regain
>its birth weight.  Continues to remain on 10th percentile.  The
>mother commented that she felt she had milk, but just couldn't get
>it out.  During pregnancy, her breasts grew from A cup to DD cup,
>within a couple of months.  She had lots of discomfort from her
>breasts during pregnancy, they ached a lot.  This time around, her
>breasts grew once again to DD cup, having gone back to usual size
>after weaning.  They don't feel as uncomfortable this time.  She
>weaned her baby at 11mths, never comped.  Next baby due in
>September.  Medically, she suffers from macrocytosis as result of
>severe Vit b12 deficiency in childhood.  Has low red blood cell
>count.  No history of breast surgery, or hormonal problems in the
>past.  Was on the mini'pill for long time before her first pregnancy.
>That's about all the info I have.  My thoughts are whether there is
>something to do with oxytocin deficiency?  Your thoughts and ideas
>would be appreciated, as this lady does not want to suffer again.

I sent the Counsellor info from Lactnet on gigantomastia and Jean's
one about softening the breast. I also asked some questions about
oxytocin:

> > Did this mum have spontaneous labour, or did she have a caesar? If
>> the latter, did she have Braxton-Hicks contractions during pregnancy?
>> ie other signs of normal oxytocin activity.
>>
>> Did she ever try oxytocin nasal spray to see if it would help her
>> let-down?
> Yes, this mum did have a spontaneous labour, no Caesar, and she did have
>Braxton-Hicks contractions to the point where she had two or three false
>labours prior to true labour.  No drugs during labour except some nitrous
>oxide gas, no iv, Pitocin or epidural.  She did not ever try oxytocin nasal
>spray.

I also suggested Rescue Remedy.


>Second situation - have you heard of a tingling itchy red rash
>associated with mastitis.  This lady has had recurrent mastitis, 5
>bouts, and on the last two, got a red itchy tingling rash over her
>face, chest and down her arms when she fed her baby.  Once the feed
>was over, the rash settled down.  Any ideas with this one?

I thought this sounded like an allergic type reaction, like hives.

>the mother with the rash only got it one
>time with each mastitis, and that was prior to commencing the antibiotics.


Any thoughts or similar experiences? Please cc any replies to
<[log in to unmask]> as well as to me <[log in to unmask]>.
TIA
**********************************************************************
Joy Anderson, Leeming Group WA. Joined 1984, qualified Jan 1987.
Married to Keith. Son, Craig, born 1984 and daughter, Keryn, born 1987.
Group Treasurer, Group Project (name and address stickers),
South Metro Regional Information Service Counsellor, Local Assessor,
Approval of Breastfeeding Content, Internet and Breastfeeding
Information and Policy Working Groups, BCnet Moderator, NMAA Board
member     mailto:[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************

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