I'm cross-posting here - sorry to those of you who will receive it more
than once.
This lady isn't my client, but LC friend is not on the internet.
She was first seen by the LC a week AFTER she had spent a week in hospital
on IV antibiotics having needle aspirations done on a daily basis on a
breast abscess.  The first aspiration was 130ml, then 110ml, 70ml and
finally 40ml.  At this point the pathology came back saying the final
specimen was sterile and was predominantly milk.  The surgeon decided it
was a galactocoele was now encapsulated and would resolve by itself and so
discharged her.
Mother had been breastfeeding only on the unaffected side since it first
happened because of the position of the abscess.
A week later (when she presented to LC wanting to increase her supply in
that side) my friend was horrified to see the breast.  She describes it as
being VERY distorted with a huge lump involving half the breast.  She is
completely unable to attach the baby to that side as the nipple areola area
is involved.  The swelling is that firm thick tissue you feel before you
feel the lump within the breast.  It's not red, though does occasionally
'flair up' and is not painful - but the mother is aware there is a large
lump in her breast.

LC contacted a doctor she works with who is also an LC who then contacted
the original surgeon.  He feels his treatment may be unorthodox but feels
surgical drainage isn't warranted and it will resolve spontaneously - he
acknowledges it may have some 'flair ups'.  He feels further needle
aspirations will only give temporary relief as it will refill.  He still
wants to sit tight and let nature take its course.
Baby is now about 3 months old, fully breastfed on unaffected side.
Affected side not been expressed since this all began about 5 weeks ago.

Questions:
Will it reabsorb given time? What effect will this have on subsequent
lactations?
What have others experiences been with needle aspiration?
Any suggestions on a better management method?
Comments?

Thanks
Denise

****************************************************
Denise Fisher, BN, RM, IBCLC
BreastEd Online Lactation Studies Course
http://www.breasted.com.au
mailto:[log in to unmask]
****************************************************

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html