Leslie notes:
<< I've heard from several women who experienced severe engorgement (one due
to
 the stillbirth of her baby) where the advice to "not pump" was given, but
 who did use breast binding and got relief and went on to have successful
 breastfeeding experiences later (something I was very concerned about when I
 heard about the extent of the engorgement). More food for thought .. >>

Gosh, sorry guys, but I'm really on a roll here.  I'll shut up in '99, I
promise.  (And if you believe that, well, you obviously don't know the 'real'
me!!)  Anyway, another of my pet peeves are nurses/physicians/well meaning
friends and relatives who tell the mother with engorgement, "now don't pump
much dearie, because you'll increase the milk supply and THEN look at the
pickle you'll be in!"  (These are to mothers whose babies aren't latching
because the nipples are so flat as to have disappeared).  Now granted, if the
baby has breastfed well, and she still feels 'full', she probably feels full
because of the edema and generalized full feeling of the breast, not because
there is still a ton of milk in there.  In this case, pumping is not
appropriate.  But to limit pumping time because of the fear that mom will make
too much milk?  I don't think so.  We can deal with oversupply later -- should
it happen.  I'm more concerned that the back pressure in the alveoli will
cause involution.  So if the baby isn't able to latch, then PUMP (with a GOOD
hospital variety pump).  And don't limit the time mom is to pump.

Now I'll be quiet?  Nah, it isn't 1999 yet....

Jan Barger (who needs to go ice her arm for shoulder impingement syndrome, and
who has been firmly warned not to lift her hand above her head.  Be glad you
CAN'T see me...I'm not even supposed to do my hair for 3 days!!!)