Hello all,

I'm almost all caught up...

Someone posted about initiation of lactation being triphasic (my husband
deleted the post before I got to replying... sorry I don't remember the
exact words or who posted). I found this description of how lactation
changes in the first months really interesting and it got me wondering. Re
the first stage, putting down prolactin receptors: do we do this again with
each baby, or does it only occur after the first birth, or do you add more
receptors with each birth and does this maybe explain why the milk comes in
faster for multiparas? Where are these receptors? In the pituitary? And
what about tandem nursing (nursing an older baby/child and a newborn
together)? Also, how does tandem nursing effect the second stage: "hormonal
lactation" I think you called it?

I'm generally very curious about tandem nursing (since I'm doing it now)
and I find almost nobody knows about it or talks about it. But I'm sure
this forum has loads of experience, clinical and personal, about managing
tandem nursing. Is there any published research on the subject?

And while I'm on the subject of tandem nursing, I'm curious if anyone has
noticed a reduction in afterpains (those painful contractions that occur
each time your milk lets down during the first few days post partum) when
tandem nursing. I have been spared this pain in the two times I tandem
nursed, and not with the baby in the middle who's older sister weaned mid
pregnancy. If this is a common effect of tandem nursing I'd like to know so
I can mention it as an advantage of tandem nursing.
Soryy to babble on, I've been wondering about this for a while.

TIA
Dalia Abrams
CBE, BFC

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