A previously healthy 31-year-old Oriental woman was admitted to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Ill) obstetrical service at 30½ weeks' gestation for management of severe preeclampsia. In the 2 weeks prior to admission, her blood pressure had risen to 160/110 mm Hg, and she had experienced increasing edema, proteinuria, and weight gain.
In the hospital, the patient was put on a regimen of bed rest, and her blood pressure was controlled with magnesium sulfate and hydralazine. Induction of labor with pitocine was initiated and, on the second hospital day, she delivered an apparently healthy, though premature, baby boy.
The child was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit where temperature support and nasogastric tube feedings were provided. Included in these feedings was the mother's breast milk, which she pumped daily as she intended to breast-feed once her son developed an adequate suck response.
On the third postpartum day, a routine