<Jean,
where are you?  We need an anatomical-physiological explanation for this
one!!>

Lurking, mostly, Esther, and trying to fulfill some writing commitments,
slow but sure. (Taking computer WP classes this quarter)

Can't remember the total thread, but just from what you say has helped
her, my first guess would be that she may have been overproducing on that
side (e.g. baby preferring it so mother deliberately or inadvertently
letting baby nurse this side more, or first every time, etc.)

This might thereby have built up enough oversupply that some one or more
of the ducts was so dilated, and perhaps bordering on inflamed, that some
of the MER's caused the pain. (I seem to remember now that the pain came
between feedings, but MER's do often happen between feedings, as well as
during them.)

Maybe with no baby removing it as it coursed forward, the milk dilated
the duct beyond its "comfort zone" between feedings. Or overdilatation
may have resulted from a particular "kink" in that duct cause by pressure
from a cinched up bra, or upright position or some other position or
condition different than at feedings.

(BTW, I DID get to go to Chicago to the Rush conference as I hoped,
specifically to hear and actually talk with Dr. Hartmann, whose graduate
students have been doing ultrasounds during actual breastfeeding
sessions, and getting exciting pictures of just how dynamically the ducts
change momentarily during MER.)

Cutting down somewhat on the milk removal from that breast then may have
slowed production, and thereby reduced the overdistention of the affected
ducts. I am glad to hear she has not developed any plugged ducts or
mastitis, no doubt due to your skillful explanation that the frequency
and amount of milk removal must be eased off gradually.

Anybody else care to hazard a guess!

Jean (Esther's 1999 Scottsdale ILCA roomie! I talked her ear off!)
********************************************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio, (who is taking along her 16 year old grandaughter to ILCA
in Washington on the pretext of some sightseeing, and possibly some
babysitting jobs, but who is [unbeknownst to her] shamelessly immersing
her in the most concentrated breastfeeding cultural experience I have at
my disposal!)

________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html