Does anyone have any good information on Postpartum Cardiomyopathy and breastfeeding? We have a patient that was originally told to pump and dump because of medications - not really necessary (Lasix and Prednisone). Then told by Cardiologist that it's too stressful to pump. I found a paper with this quote. This seems to be about what he is saying, it's too "stressful." The OB discussed with him and Pharmacist and the patient is cleared to breastfeed now, but wondering if anyone has any other experiences or information?


"Although patients are encouraged to remain as active as their functional status allows, aerobic activities and heavy lifting are discouraged for at least the first six months postpartum while assessing the degree of left ventricular recovery. Given the metabolic demands of lactation, breast feeding is strongly discouraged in more symptomatically limited patients. As pharmacologic therapy to the patient can be passed on to the child in breast milk, we also discourage breast feeding in more functional patients, though this could be considered with careful monitoring of the child."


I found one study that said that women with Postpartum Cardiomyopathy recovered faster if they were breastfeeding:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527310006558

And then I found a study by a Cardiologist who gave a prolactin antagonist to mice and found they recovered from Cardiomyopathy faster. But that was mice and they were on other meds too and they couldn't say for sure it was the medication that stopped lactation that was responsible, or that the same effect could be found in humans.


http://drwes.blogspot.com/2007/12/breast-feeding-hormone-affects-heart.html



Thanks for any help you can give!

Tricia Shamblin, RN, IBCLC





Confidentiality Notice:  This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

             ***********************************************

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