They are sending more home with low numbers than used to be. Actually, the
low end criteria for a transfusion in many hospitals is a Hgb<7.0 (except in
cases of cardiac issues where they keep it higher) and I have seen moms sent
home even lower than that. If it is that low, that could affect production
even in the absence of actual Sheehan's. Doctors are looking at the risk of
transfusion vs the benefit in an otherwise healthy individual who could
gradually make new red blood cells - I am sure that breastmilk production
isn't even a consideration for most.  It would be nice to do a study of the
correlation between low Hgb and poor or delayed milk production.

Sharon

On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 12:20 AM, Kathleen Gale <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> I know of one mother who had enough hemorrhaging during delivery to be very
> anemic( I don't remember the exact details), and they did not transfuse her,
> but left her Hgb very low.  I was concerned that she might have Sheehan's
> Syndrome.  Her milk supply was terrible, then about 7 days after delivery,
> they decided to do a transfusion, and just treating the anemia caused her
> milk supply to rocket.  I suppose that different mothers can still produce
> enough milk at a certain Hgb level, while others cannot.
>
> I know the docs have to weight the advantages vs. the disadvantages of
> giving transfusions, and they often opt. to give oral Fe supplements.  It
> also seems that different doctors decide to transfuse at different Hgb
> levels.   But if a mother's milk supply is terrible, I think they should
> give a transfusion to see if it makes a difference.
>
> If the mother you are speaking of still has quite a low Hgb, she may want
> to talk to her doctor and request a transfusion to see if it will remedy the
> situation.
>
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