Hi boys and girls!  Boy what a time for me to get behind on my LACTNET !
 I was the Lactation Consultant whose hospital this mom was flown to .
I saw her right after her admission last Thursday eve.  I was there when   
she was
"allowed" to breastfeed her beautiful baby girl for the "last time".   
Needless to say, it brought me to tears.
 I arrived on the unit with an electric pump and Tom Hale's book in hand,   
my "passport" into Intensive Care.  Her nurse and I went over her med   
orders one by one and I copied each one to put in her chart for when the   
next person questioned it and I wasn't there.  Unfortunately, she was on   
one medication, Milrinone ?, that I had never heard of and couldn't find.   
 Apparently it is fairly new and there hasn't been any research with   
breastfeeding etc.  Therefore her physician did not want her to give the   
milk to the baby.  We discussed it and she decided to "pump and dump"   
until such time as we could get her meds changed.
 My partner (yes, her name is Sally) saw her on Monday.  By that time she   
had decided to give up .  Her prognosis wasn't good , and they were   
having such a difficult time getting her on a drug combination that   
helped her , she said:
" I didn't want them to have to factor in what was O.K. for the baby on   
top of everything else.  As I look at it, what good would it do  for me   
to breastfeed now , but not be around to raise her later? Besides, I'm   
tired of pumping." 
She did have some engorgement, but we got her ice, tylenol and a good   
support bra and it's better now.  She seems saddened by the fact that she   
has decided not to try to continue, but it was her decision, and she   
certainly had a lot of support ( Kathy Koch, Sally, nursing staff,   
family, minister, myself, etc,) so I truly believe it was her own   
decision.
 As for her prognosis: she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy ( they are   
suspecting virus related?) and sinus tachycardia.  She was placed on the   
waiting list for a heart transplant.  According to the staff she has   
"30/30/30" odds:  30% chance of recovery with drugs, 30% chance of   
recovery with a heart transplant, and 30% chance of no recovery.  ( We   
won't think of that one.)
 Needless to say, I am trying to update my knowledge on the subject of   
postpartum cardiomyapathy.  There seems to be a trend here.  One of the   
nurses referred me to the transplant docs for more info, but of course   
they have a lot more to do than return my calls.  Can anyone recommend a   
good reference for up to date info. on this topic?
 In this time of many celebrations in many nations and cultures , let us   
remember this woman in our prayers, and count the many blessings we all   
take for granted each day.  And a special Thank You to Kathy Koch.  I   
smiled when she told me she had already talked to you before her   
admission.  It really is a small world.
   Happy Holidays everyone!
    Kathy Miller in D.C. ...where it just started snowing...