Breastfeeding following emergency peripartum hysterectomy.

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) is usually performed in cases of intractable obstetric hemorrhage unresponsive to conservative treatment. EPH is associated with a high incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality. Most of these women do not have the opportunity to even start breastfeeding. We report a case where breastfeeding was attempted after EPH. The mother spent 6 days in the intensive care unit and suffered several medical and surgical complications. On day 7 she was reunited with her baby. One month later, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was made. Breastfeeding became very important, with the patient frequently expressing that this was the most healing aspect in her recovery from the traumatic EPH. At 3 months, five daily feeds were supplemented with formula. Breastfeeding, principally nocturnal, continued 6 months after childbirth, with the baby being weaned at 7 months. Women who undergo EPH need psychological support. The option of breastfeeding should be considered even days or weeks after the surgical intervention as it can be a healing experience for some women who are grieving the loss of their fertility. Professional specialized breastfeeding support should be offered in these cases, and the possibility of reuniting mother and infant even when the mother is in the intensive care unit should be considered.

Fertility after embolization of the uterine arteries to treat obstetrical hemorrhage: a review of 53 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study subsequent fertility of patients who underwent embolization of the uterine arteries to treat postpartum hemorrhage. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study between January 2000 and June 2006 with two patient groups: exposed and nonexposed to embolization for postpartum hemorrhage. SETTING: Level 3 maternity unit. PATIENT(S): Fifty-three patients exposed to embolization and 106 nonexposed patients were included and paired according to several criteria: date of delivery, age, parity, whether the pregnancy was spontaneous or with fertility assistance, and mode of delivery. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE(S): Occurence of pregnancy. RESULT(S): Among patients exposed to embolization, 14 had been exposed to pregnancy and 12 had been pregnant. There was no statistically significant difference of occurrence of pregnancy between the nonembolized and embolized groups (P=.30). CONCLUSION(S): According to the results, it seems that embolization does not alter subsequent fertility. This study nevertheless suggests a trend toward fewer pregnancies in the embolization group and reports three severe complications in that group. This trend deserves to be explored by further studies with higher statistical power. However, even if it would be difficult to provide complete reassurance to patients who have undergone embolization, better information regarding their subsequent fertility and potential risks could relieve them of their worries regarding a new pregnancy.