Nikki and Norma,

<I can't go along with the notion of deferring to physicians; it is an
artifact of the days of standing up when physicians entered the nurses's
station, of giving them the chart (even if I was using it), and of letting
them enter the elevator first.  Physicians are generally the least
knowledgeable about breastfeeding of any of the health disciplines,
although that is a changing situation.  Seems to me this notion of nipple
stimulation is a theoretical risk that is not supported by history.>

Of course, that's exactly how my early training took place in the late
1940's- early 50's. I have shed large quantities of that attitude, yet it
seems to me that an LC takes a legal danger proposing any such plan as was
originally referred to without some form of medical OK. Some lawyer
somewhere would dig up something from the doc's point of view in a law suit.

The original question had to do with using a breast pump to build supply,
with very little information given as to why and how often, etc.
.
That seems much more "iffy" on the grounds of physiology of the placental
effects on lactation, not withstanding the personal experiences of
continued lactation going OK for many moms. Off the top of my head, I am
not aware of any studies that have measured the actual quality of milk
changes during pregnancy,  but at some point, colostrum does come out for
the newborn!

I wasn't advising against continue nursing per se during pregnancy.
But without some academic research on her side, I tend to think she would
have a very weak case in court, on the off chance that that mother did go
into premature labor.

I couldn't agree more that it is the docs and their damned "labor
management" that is responsible for so many complications with prematurity.
That's a separate battle in itself, and I don't agree with going off
completely on one's own (which I have been known to do fairly often) unless
you have some good evidence to support it, for your own legal peace of mind
as an LC. That seemed to be what she was seeking, and if there is any
evidence based insight, I, too, would be interested.

Jean



On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 8:09 AM, Norma Ritter <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
> With regard to nipple stimulation in pregnancy and the risk of inducing
> labour:
> I would very much like to hear of personal experiences. As Jean said, we
> can't expect hospital-sanctioned studies any time soon. We can, however,
> share our own experiences.
>
> My son was 22 months when I gave birth to my next child. He nursed
> voraciously thoughout that pregnancy, but I did not notice any correlation
> between the occurrence of nursing and Braxton Hicks contractions - and I
> was definitely on the alert for that .  It was only when I was actually in
> labour (40 weeks) that I felt a difference in the strength of contractions
> as he nursed. When I nursed him to sleep just before I left for the
> hospital, the contractions were very strong, but they slowed down
> considerably afterwards.
>
> Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC
> Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region
> www.NormaRitter.com
> Join us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and
> views:
> http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB
>

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