<< At what point should we be concerned about blood loss during delivery
> causing a problem with breastfeeding? >>

I just went through this with a friend who had a homebirth.  In the end,
it was determined that she lost more than the originally stated two
litres...it was closer to three.  OMG.

Anyhoo, Rachel has some great info and my brother (doc) clarified some
things for me.   He felt it was less about the amount of blood lost and
more about the blood pressure the body was able to maintain (unless mom
almost totally bled out).   as long as bp is maintained, the brain will
be the last place to sustain damage....the first being the kidney's and
the gut.

he, like Rachel, basically stated that if mom is conscious, the blood
loss shouldn't be enough to lower bp to the point that the brain is
being deprived of blood and therefor oxygen.

in our recent situation here (happy ending posted a few days ago), we
were very very concerned.  everyone pretty much felt that best case
scenario was beginnings of lact2 at 5 days with a slow arduous building
of milk supply.   Anne Grider kept us focused on 'what is normal' and to
assume her milk would be in at 72h until we had other evidence.

well d*mn if her milk didn't come in at 70h on the nose.  and lots of
it.   huge abundant supply.

other factors that may have helped her.....she started labor with a hgb
of 13.5 so her hgb only ever went down to 6.9.....whereas if she'd
accepted 11 as 'acceptable' (which it's not imo), it would have gone
down to 4.5.....big difference.   She had tons of help and really
nourishing  (read: not hospital) food brought to her in the hospital.
She immediately started taking Solgar Hematinic Formula, which ime is
the best and fastest way to rebuild rbcs.

best of luck......with good support in the early days, an excellent
latch and frequent nursing and the absence of other issues, her milk
should come in well.


katherine in atl

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