Hi.  I'm new here.  My name is Laura Alexander and I live near San Francisco
with my husband and four sons.  I work as an LC at California Pacific Medical
Center Perinatal Education and Lactation Center.
I recently had a call from a Mom who happens to also be an EMT physician.
 She has a 6 week old baby and breastfeeding is going well.  Unfortunately
she very recently discovered that she has a base of the skull brain tumor and
will require major surgery down in L.A. in about three weeks.  She will
probably be unavailable to her baby for at least 4-5 days.  She would very
much like to continue to breastfeed after the surgery and we are trying to
make a plan for her to decrease her stress level as much as possible but
still make it possible for her to relactate and get the baby back to the
breast when she is able.  She will probably be suffering some disability
after the surgery since cranial nerves 10, 11, and 12 will all be affected
and maybe other cranial nerves as well.  I would like to know if anyone out
there has any experience with dealing with mothers who have had to undergo
such major surgery so early in the breastfeeding relationship and how they
handled the whole situation.  I have some ideas and possible plans in mind
but thought I might be able to learn form some of your experience.  Thanks so
much.  It's great meeting you all.