Some time ago, you posted a note to Lactnet about a woman with such
severe generalized edema that she was having extreme difficulty
breastfeeding.  Your breastfeeding management sounds excellent.

I am surprised that the doctor did not rehospitalize the patient and put
her on magnesium sulfate.  Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH,
pre-eclampsia, toxemia) can occur within the first week postpartum and
can even result in seizures; mag sulfate is the drug of choice for
seizure prevention.  One of the most reliable signs that it is resolving
is that the patient begins diuresing (putting out urine).  I think the
first thing I would do with a patient with symptoms as severe as you
describe would be to call the doctor.

Bonnie Jones, RN, ICCE, IBCLC
who was a labor and delivery nurse not many years ago