Hi Sharon I do not find expressing works for these women. Can I suggest that she has a diagnostic ultrasound to see the trigger/cause? Plus when did the mastitis develop? I have seen instances of a "caked" breast in a women who are suppressing, where there is residual milk that is gradually reabsorbed over a period of time. There is no infection simply a wedge of solid tissue. This is usually in women who started breastfeeding and weaned abruptly and very early in their lactation. Gwen Gwen Moody CNC Postnatal Care Westmead Hospital PO Box 533 Wentworthville 2145 Phone: 02 9845 6964, 0422212774 Fax: 02 9845 8340 Page: 02 9845 5555 - 01135 email: [log in to unmask] >>> [log in to unmask] 04/03/2009 8:56 am >>> Wise friends and colleagues. I need your help. I have received a consult request from one of the clinics here on the reservation, but I really think this is outside my knowledge and scope of practice and wonder what you think. A nonlactating woman 1 month postpartum has mastitis in one breast. One of the modes of treatment they have decided to use is to give her a pump. I am assuming it is a hand pump. She has no desire to breastfeed. They want me to see her and make certain she is using the pump correctly. We do loan electric pumps and provide hand pumps, so I am familiar with that as part of my scope of practice. I am not at all certain whether pumping is an appropriate method of treatment for mastitis since I've always worked with breastfeeding women. Perhaps some or at least one of you will have some ideas for me. I will go to the town where the woman is (about 60 miles from here) tomorrow anyhow, so I guess I could see her, but I feel a bit uncertain about it. I want to tell her to nurse frequently, but then again, that is not her desire. Hoping for your ideas. Sharon Jimenez, RN, IBCLC Apache Diabetes Wellness Center White Mountain Apache Tribe *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome ______________________________________________________________________________ This electronic message and any attachments may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this message would you please delete the message and any attachments and advise the sender. Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) uses virus scanning software but excludes any liability for viruses contained in any email or attachment. This email may contain privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressees named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify SWAHS immediately. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender except where the sender expressly and with authority states them to be the views of SWAHS. *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome