In a message dated 98-08-02 14:43:36 EDT, you write:

<< healthy full term 7#15oz boy in late April 1998.  Mom has had a
 chronic breast infection since ten days postpartum.  >> <<We have tried all
the usual and not so usual bed rest, fluids, healthy diet, extra vitamin C,
echinacea, lactobacillus bifidus for infant and lactobacillus acidophilus for
mother without results.
>>


Connie,
I had a mom with a similar problem (baby # 4)--similar problems with her first
three babies, but increasing in severity and recurring more quickly with each
successive baby. I wrote in to LACTNET and got a great post regarding the use
of lecithin for prevention (in cases where infection is due to plugged ducts).
Baby is now 11 months old, and mom has only had one episode of mastitis in the
past seven months! For her, the lecithin sure seemed to solve the problem.
Here is a copy of the post:

<<Laurie, do the episodes begin with blocked ducts? I have had great success
with using lecithin for repeated blocked ducts.  The mom takes 3 capsules a
day.  Most of the brands I've seen contain 1200 of lecithin and 3 caps work
to prevent the plugs. It works by keeping the fats in suspension instead of
sticking to the milk ducts.  (Chefs use it in cooking when they have a sauce
or stew that has too much fat as it breaks down the fats.)

Ruth L. mentions it and that is where I got the idea. Your client might want
to use it even if she hasn't noticed blockage before her mastitis.

Pat Gima >>

Laurie Moody
WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor