Hi, I am forwarding this message from one of my colleagues re: preeclampsia.


I wouldn't blame all the BFing problems on the MgS04, per se. she had
pre-eclampsia and one of its hallmark symptoms is fluid retention and 3rd
spacing (which causes edema=swelling) If the mother is intravascularly
dehydrated from t he pre-eclampsia she will have little fluid available to
make milk. if she was given any diuretics to manage her high BPs that may
also being contributing too.
But it sounds like her unlatchable breasts are the primary issue here. Edema
may have worsened the problem but I'd suspect it'd have been a *very
difficult* case anyway. And many women have edematous breasts after birth
even w/o IVs.
I think the nipple shield is a reasonable direction to take. the purpose it
to get the baby to draw the mom's nipple into the shield forming a teat
which he can then latch on to. But I have to tell you I've have some moms
where nothing worked: the baby never did latch on. Have you tried a breast
pump or a reversed syringe to draw out the nipple before a feeding?
I've also seen some rather lumpy, thick areolas change texture when the baby
did some significant licking &sucking attempt behaviors. As though the
smooth muscle relaxed, allowing the areola to soften somewhat. Sometimes
some manual expression can accomplish the same thing.
Good luck
Nicki Ward

I hope this helps,  Maryann