After reading the very interesting discussion on decrease in milk
supply among grand multips, I called a colleague in Jerusalem
(who very unfortunately cannot afford email, and her hospital
doesn't have). Batya works at a maternity hospital and sees very
many very religious women who have very large families. (People,
she doesn't bat an eye when she talks about 10-15 children being
common.) Yes, she has seen decreased milk supply quite
frequently. Interestingly, though, she tends to think heavily in
terms of culture and stress.
Culture: although it is strongly recommended to *exclusively* bf
for 2 years (and we also know about LAM, not just the Jewish
sages!), Batya says that these women across the board simply do
not do it. Why? It seems that another cultural imperative is
stronger - that to have many, many children to "replace" the 6
million Jews lost in the Holocaust. How can one counsel in this
case? Batya herself is religious, and altho I am not, as a Jew
who is very sensitive to our history, I am certainly compromised.
And I have a feeling that there are other cultures and ethnic
groups who have the same cultural imperatives, altho for
different reasons.
Stress: Batya brought up the very good point that these mothers
of very large families not only have a LOT of kids to take care
of, but very often have a wedding to prepare for, a bar mitzva, a
sister or sister-in-law to help out after SHE has given birth,
there's always a holiday to prepare for just around the corner,
not to mention Sabbath once a week to get ready (everything,
including all cooking, has to be done by sunset Friday, and no
work done until 1 hr after sunset Saturday).
When I brought up the point mentioned in the post about the
"meaty" nipples, Batya kind of drawled "Yeeaaah". (She's
originally from DC...if this explains anything.)
If anybody has anything interesting further to grand multips,
Batya would be very grateful for input. TIA from both of us.
Judy Knopf in Beer Sheva, Israel (getting ready for Sabbath
myself...) [log in to unmask]