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Date: | Thu, 27 Apr 2006 18:09:58 -0400 |
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Hi everyone. I'm concerned about this mom, and I'm looking for input to
see if I'm handling this ok.
Mom is 17 and has a 4.5 month old exclusively breastfed baby. Mom has been
bleeding vaginally since the birth of the baby. Blood has seemed like an
ongoing period: at times it's a lot, at times it lighter, sometimes bright
red, sometimes brown. At about 13 weeks (4 months, one week), mom stopped
bleeding for about 2 days, then started bleeding a lot and it tapered off
again. About a week later she stopped for 3 - 4 days only start again and
again it was heavy at first tapering off until none today. She has had
blood tests, ultrasounds, paps all coming up negative for anything. Mom is
not anemic. Doc said she can try the mini pill which will probably take
care of the problem or she can wean. This doctor has been encouraging and
supportive of breastfeeding but is concerned for mom's health (in mom's
words). Mom went to buy mini pill but it was not covered by insurance and
could not buy them that day... as an aside the pharmacist told mom that
she had also bled for 5 months pp while breastfeeding and the mini pill
would do the trick. Since mom was not able to buy the mini pill that day
she decided to go 2 days with no bfeeding/or pumping. Mom stopped bleeding
but is now engorged. I advised mom she has to relieve the engorgement or
risk mastitis not to mention what formula may do to baby. Mom was glad
there was an excuse to breastfeed again as she doesn't want to quit. I've
been doing some research and my concern now is that while yes, the mini
pill will solve the obvious - it will probably take care of the bleeding;
is it possible that its masking something else? I mean, why is she
bleeding so much for so long? Could this be a problem with the pituitary?
I read in Ruth Lawrence's Breastfeeding a Guide for the Medical
Profession, that it's the sucking that controls amenorrhea, so could there
be a problem with the nerves that take the info from the areola to
pituitary? Also, I had never heard of a mom bleeding for so long while
exclusively breastfeeding and here not only is my client bleeding like
this but the pharmacist she happens to meet had the same experience. Is
this more common than I think or the books let on?
Any information, lessons, experiences will be greatly appreciated.
Sarah Muņoz, IBCLC
Miami-Dade WIC Breastfeeding Program
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