Lori writes about a mother with some awful postoperative complications whose milk supply (crucial for her preemie) is very low. Lori, it's been my experience that we can view the mother's body as a power plant with a finite supply of energy. If maternal health is poor or stressed, there is typically less energy to divert to tasks not crucial to her own survival (like making milk for the baby.) I've seen this in women with infections, severe blood loss, etc, and the literature supports this fact. What has been important for the future potential to make milk once the mom's medical condition is stabilized is to keep the breasts "turned on" by keeping them stimulated. I don't know how the correct terminology to explain the physiology of this should be stated, but I do know that if she pumps (even if nothing comes out in the present) over time, she may see increases in supply. If she could, have her try using Pam Hill's base line of a minimum of 6 daily pumpings for bringing in milk for a preemie (JHL 1999; 15(3)209-216.) Perhaps it would help her state of mind if the baby could receive some donor milk. This can be shipped, but would need a prescription from the doctor. Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC Austin Lactation Associates LactNews Press www.lactnews.com *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html