< I have a mom who keeps threatening preterm labor> She's now describing a case of engorgement.> < On mag sulfate and terbutaline, with beta methasone, for baby> <Would the medications result in engorgement> Pat - I have seen this twice. I am a hospital based LC at a university medical center. As a level three hospital, we see a lot of preterm labor. One mom had engorgement and one had engorgement and some leaking. In the last case, Mag sulfate, terbutaline was successful in terminating contractions and the mom maintained the pregnancy another several weeks. She went on to successfully initiate pumping. I don't think its the medications per se. When Mag is used for pre-eclampsia in fact you may see delayed milk secretion. I think i's more physiologic, than pharmacologic, in both cases. Since we know that delivery of the placental removes the prolactin inhibitory hormones allowing increasing milk secretion; we have speculated that in these preterm labors there may be a decreasing level of hormones to support the pregnancy and hence allowing some increasing secretion of milk leading to engorgement. That plus all the IV fluids sometimes used to give Mag sulfate etc. And the fact that moms are on bedrest - in the hospital and worrying about every tiny symptom and their babies! We did nothing other than tell moms to use warm compresses for discomfort. Martha Roseen BSN, IBCLC