I've just come online and the first subscription was to LACTNET! I'm a
staff nurse and IBCLC in an LDRP unit in Pittsburgh, PA.  One of our OBs
is working with a 6 week postpartum mom of 2 children who developed a
large breast abcess on her right breast at 3 weeks postpartum.  The
abcess was drained, with a 5 cm incision just behind the edge of the
areola on the top of the breast.  Since the surgery, a fistula has
formed under the incision and milk is leaking/dripping/freely flowing
from this incision site (which actually appears to be healed).  The
mother does not want to wean but her surgeon has suggested this as a way
to dry up the breasts and allow the fistula to close and heal.  If the
mother nurses only on the left breast and provides no direct stimulation
to the affected breast (nursing or pumping) will the right breast
eventually involute?  Milk is still being removed from the right breast
through leaking.  Since breast milk has antiinfective properties, is
there a great risk of infection while this fistula remains open?  The
mother is willing to put up with the mess and inconvenience of having
this milk draining if it will evenually stop without her weaning from
the left breast.  I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, either to
Lactnet or directly to me at [log in to unmask]  Now back to reading
the digests!
Martha

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