I have had a number of calls from mothers who have
lost babies in labor, to various early complications,
to SIDS, or who have offered babies for adoption and
wish to gently relieve their milk or to offer their
milk to another mother as part of the grieving
process.

I wonder about the many mothers who, when nothing was
offered in a medical setting, endure a more painful
goodbye to their children.  While some mothers
experience a loss of milk, others experience an
abundance as if an outpouring of emotion.  One mother
reported feeling letdown whenever she thought of the
child given to adoptive parents, even months after
letting go.

Some mothers report no help with their continuing milk
production.  (It may be that in a stressful situation,
some mothers may have “missed” the intervention,
particularly if no written instructions were given.)
In a few cases I have been concerned about potential
long term harm to the breast.

I hope Christy’s experience empowers more of us to
offer women opportunities that others may not know to
offer.

The re-posting of Patti's story was a poignant
reminder of regret, guilt, or anger that mothers may
feel years later if those of us in a position to make
a difference instead choose not to.


Susan Johnson MFA, IBCLC
Salt Lake City, USA

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