Hi Jean
Better question: Is it safe not to breastfeed my baby? Artificial feeding
is not without risk and these risks should be considered when making a
decision.
Breastmilk (including colostrum) comes in all the colours of the rainbow
(and a few others besides). The fact that this mother's colostrums is grey
green may not be related to the mastitis she has had in the past.
Have a look at the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's Mastitis Protocol.
You will notice that treating mastitis may require a 10 -14 day course of
ABX and that the preferred antibiotics are usually penicillinase-resistant
penicillins,4 such as dicloxacillin or flucloxacillin, 500 mg four times a
day. (Is your mum allergic to penicillin?). You will also notice that, in
the event that this mother does have mastitis, it is not only safe to feed
the baby but doing so will help her to avoid complications such as breast
abscess. I am not aware of any evidence of risk to the baby associated with
this course of action.
Not breastfeeding, however, will place the baby at a five fold increased
risk of hospitalisation (for gastro and pneumonia) in the first year. It
will significantly increase his/her risk of otitis media (and so of
complications such as glue ear which can affect hearing and speech
development). (Consequent exposure to abx and paracetamol carries its own
risks.) It will increase the risk that her baby will become an overweight or
obese adult who battles elevated cholesterol. It will also increase the
risk that baby will develop diabetes mellitus. For mum, not breastfeeding
will expose her to unnecessary risk of breast and ovarian cancers, hip
fracture, post natal depression and rheumatoid arthritis.
Best
Nina Berry
Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jean Clinton
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 4:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Grey-green colostrum prenatally
I have been reading and learning from Lactnet since I was introduced to it
about two years ago. I am a Lactation Consultant with Deschutes County WIC
in Oregon. Last week a woman came to me with the following:
First episode of mastitis 3 years ago, when she was no longer lactating. She
saw her family doctor who prescribed a course of sulfa. The woman improved,
but didn't feel that the mastitis resolved, and it reoccurred several months
later. She was put on the same course of sulfa, and felt that this time it
resolved.
In early 2007, the mastitis reoccurred and this time she was sent to a
breast "specialist" (i.e. surgeon) who told her that this was a staph
infection
and would be a reoccurring problem that she would have to live with. She was
prescribed the same sulfa treatment. The mom has a 7 and 4 year old; no
history of breast surgery. Her hemoglobin level is 11.9 and remains
unchanged
despite taking slow Fe. She is constantly fatigued.
Now she is 36 weeks pregnant, and leaking colosturm which she describes
as "grey-green" in color. Her question is "Is it safe to breastfeed my
baby?"
Thanks for all your thoughts.
Jean Clinton, IBCLC
Bend, Oregon
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set
lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
