Brenda, I once worked with a mom whose obstetrician absolutely forbade
breastfeeding due to the risk of bruising of the nipples.  I don't know if
this was a valid concern, but when I saw her she looked dreadful, her
haemoglobin level was 4, and she had superficial bruising above her eyelids
(straining during labour? I don't know).  She subsequently had a blood
transfusion (the only mom I have ever worked with who has, we consider it
the absolute last resort because of the risks of HIV transmission, even
though Zimbabwe was the third country in the world to start screening
donors).  Within 24 hours her Hb had risen to 7 and she was then encouraged
to put the baby to the breast.

With regard to the mom you mentioned and the concern about loss of fluids,
wouldn't the mother be on a drip??

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe