-------------------------------------
Susan Nachman-Srebrnik, LC
Lactation Consultant
23 Nativ Halamed-Hey
Ranana 43340
Israel
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Fax:(972)-3-566-1914
Phone:(972)-9-771-8274
-------------------------------------
Dear "Netters,"

I have a mom with chicken pox.  She came down with it 3 days before going into
labor.  She was not c-sectioned.  After the birth, she was isolated from the baby.
Baby was given an injection.  So far at 5 days pp, the baby has not shown signs of
any illness.  From what I understand, if both mom and baby have chicken pox, the mom
can bf.  If she has it and the baby doesn't, they should be separated until the
mother is no longer contagious.  Ordinarily, I would tell the mother to send
expressed milk to the hospital, but this mom has lesions all over the breast/areola
- even nipple.  I didn't feel comfortable with that and couldn't find any reliable
refs so I told her to pump and dump till the nipple area heals.  Problem #2 - the
mom is very uncomfortable.  I wouldn't advise calamine on the areola/nipple since it
has a drying/caking effect.  When my kids had c.p., baking soda baths in the jacuzzi
plus aloe vera on the spots worked well.   Does anyone have suggestions for this
mother?  I'd also like to know if my knowledge on c.p. and lactation is up-to-date.
Wouldn't the baby be exposed to c.p. during a vaginal delivery?

Re:  Prozac and Lactation:  There have been a number of questions on the Lactnet
about the safe use of psychiatric medications.  I've been in contact with a number
of psychiatrist colleagues.  The consensus seems to be "not recommended."  According
to Dr. Dorit Rivlin, a psychiatrist-consultant here in Tel Aviv:  "These kinds of
drugs are usually taken for long periods of time.  They can't be compared to
short-term drugs like antibiotics for an infection.  These drugs have side effects
which must be taken seriously, especially in higher dosages.  We also need to
consider the mental welfare of the mother.  The priority in many cases needs to be
the ability of the mother to function/cope."

A note to Israeli Lactnetters:  Have you all seen the new ads for M.E. mineral
water?  Lovely posters on the backs of their delivery trucks as well as full page
ads in the papers... "M.E. and formula... the closest thing to mother's milk."
Now mineral water companies are getting on the band wagon.  What next?  I'd urge
you all to write letters to the company.     Susan