My LLL co-leader has been contacted by a 24 year old women , 2nd pregnacy,
first baby died after premature birth at 27 weeks, mother had eclampsia.
 Mother was in intensive care with kidney failure. Has been medicated for the
last three years to the present for hypertension, which is controled by
procardia, Is now at 17 weeks gestation and on bed rest, has only 30 percent
kidney function. Nephrologist does not want her to breastfeed  due to her
lack of kidney function. The mother wants to breastfeed, her  doctor wants
her to prove its safe. My sources who shall remain anonymous for there own
safety say: that because the mother has such poor kidney funtion that it
would not be safe. They seem to have some concern about her ability to remove
waste and toxins from her system. This women may never get to term or even
have a living child but I find it hard to understand how breastfeeding could
cause her further problems. She did say that her doctor was very upset that
she was pregnant. I almost wonder if this is meant as some kind of
retaliation for her getting pregnant against his wishes. Thoughts any one ?
Mom would like  to be able to show him something that says it's safe for her
to breastfeed. I know that most of us would just say have him prove it's not
safe. But unfortunately in our bottle , formula environment this may not
work.
Dee Keith, IBCLC, LLLL, mother of ten breastfeed children, Cincinnati, Ohio