I saw a mother today (permission to post) 6 days PP, with a serious case of breast, areaolar, and whole body edema. She experienced PROM, and there was heavy meconium. During labor The amniotic fluid was diluted by infusion of fluid into the uterus to help prevent aspiration. (The mother says this was painful.) She stalled at 5 cm. the baby was decelling increasingly and a section was performed with a spinal, IV ect. Pit was also used during the labor (sigh) (The baby also has a terrific case of oral aversion from the vigorous suctioning after his traumatic C birth, this aversion (or actually the behavior, no one at hosp said "aversion") was attributed to "cup feeding confusion" by the hospital personel!) The woman's ankles are denting, her face is puffed, the skin on her fingers is tight and shiney. The only recommendation she was given was "don't eat too much salt until you clear that fluid." Needless to say, her breast and areolar engorgement are terrible. I used reverse pressure softening, a short pumping session, and a 16mm sheild (baby is orally apprehesive, gags on a 24 mm. and mother has flat, almost nonvisble nipples, he gagged during the suck assesment, with only the *first* section of my pinkie drawn in by himself!) and lots of compression. After rewards with the syringe while at breast (and after reinsituting the cup feeder, as he was getting really frustrated, AND hungry) he nursed well, appeared to realize the breast wasn't going to shove itself down his throat and took 4 oz, (2 from each breast) and wanted more as I left! (And after RPS and a good feed we actually saw something that might just be a slightly protruding nipple!)He has also stopped biting her, pulling away and shaking, and screaming when he sees the breast! (Mom says LC at hosp "forced" the breast into his mouth by pushing on his head, and he got so upset and shaky that he held his breath, got rigid, and started to twinge blue.) This poor traumatized baby needed only to be treated with respect....I think he is recovering. He nursed for comfort for the first time, and mama, papa and grandma said they had never seen him SO relaxed until after this successful nursing.... Anyway, *she* is still terribly edemic and miserable. We are using cabbage, for 10 min, after each feeding,as well as some judicious pumping when baby doesn't drain her well, as well as making sure she is hydrated (*her* mother, who is actually very helpful and knowlegable about BF, seemed to be under the impression that client should not have too many fluids.) I know what to do for uncomplicated engorgement, Am I missing anything *I* can do to help with the edema? (which is, of course, complicating the breast engorgement) No one else seems to care, and she is very uncomfortable. Cabbage on the ankles? On her face? I don't know. Thank you all again, so much. Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL, AAPL Private Practice *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [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(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html