Dear Anne,

What your mother had is a dissecting aneurysm.  An aneurysm is a
weakening of the wall of the artery causing it to balloon out.  If the
wall becomes sufficiently weakend or damaged it can eventually begin to
rip apart or "dissect", causing massive bleeding and possible death.
Although pregnancy could put more stress on the system due to the
increase in blood volume and sometimes blood pressure, I don't see what
breastfeeding would have to do with it, or hormones, for that matter.  I
do know that one of the most common causes of aneurysm, other than a
congenital abnormality, is damage due to the affects of arteriosclerosis.
 Since this mom also had a triple bypass due to multiple blockages, I am
assuming that she has a pretty severe case of arteriosclerosis, quite
uncommon at such an early age, probably due to some inherited tendancy.
Does the doctor have references supporting his theory of breastfeeding
causing the aneurysm rather than the obvious, usual causes of this
condition?  This lady will need a lot of follow-up with a knowledgable
cardiology team that can find out why she is having such severe disease
at such an early age and what she can do, by way of diet, exercise,
drugs, to prevent a possible fatal recurrance.  This mom will need a lot
of emotional support in any case as she is facing a condition that
usually does not occur until a women is in her 60s or 70s, on average.

Sharon Knorr, BSMT, LLLL, IBCLC
Lactation Consultant Services
Rochester, New York
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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