Hi Melissa,
It doesn't sound to me like the mom you wrote about below had Sheehan's. The
moms that I have seen with it only make drops of milk and have FTT babies if
not supplemented heavily. The mother just stating that she doesn't "feel"
the let down doesn't qualify, in my experience. I know plenty of women who
don't "feel" let -down, EVER, with any of their children. Some are very
concerned, because they are told they should feel it. But "feeling" let down
is not necessary for breastfeeding. Milk ejection can happen whether the
mother feels it or not.
One lovely mother I worked with successfully nursed her twins for 9 months to
a year. They were both 18 lbs at 6 months without any supplements, the
picture of beautiful breastfed babies. THEN with her second delivery she
hemorraged, but was never unconcious. She did not have a blood transfusion,
just extra IV fluids and supportive care. Everyone, especially me, and the
very supportive doctor thought things should progress well. I thought a mom
had to be unconcious, have transfusions, and be in ICU to have Sheehan's.
WRONG! Her milk never came in, and she only produced drops. She was so
determined, used a tube device at the breast to nurse, and in addition pumped
10 times a day, took Reglan, and finally at 8 weeks gave up when she could
still only pump less than 1 ounce in 24 hrs and baby was receiving over 30
ounces of ABM via tube device. She was crushed emotionally. I also want to
know what her chances are of lactation with another baby. Is this pituitary
damage permanent?
Jane Bradshaw RN, BSN, IBCLC
Lynchburg, VA
Melissa stated:
I'm looking for similar information, although the mom I'm helping
(indirectly) is just now pregnant with #2. She had significant blood loss
requiring a packed cell transfusion with her first. Says she never got
really full, felt extremely worn down, and only felt let-down at 9 months
postpartum. She's concerned about a repeat performance with the next baby.
From the information I have been given I don't know that Sheehan's was ever
confirmed. I have to ask, though, if this mom did have Sheehan's and it did
affect the pituitary gland, would that make getting/staying pregnant
difficult in the first place?
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