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Date: | Fri, 29 Sep 2000 17:05:42 -0700 |
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A valuable study by Soledad Diaz and colleagues was part of the
intensive scientific work done on lactation amennorhea in Chile in the
1980s. The prolactin response at six different clock times in cycling
and non-cycling breastfeeding women is dramatically graphed for the
3rd month. Release of prolactin in response to suckling was highest
at midnight and 4 am in both groups, though higher in amenorrheic
women. At all six times of day studied, prolactin levels were markedly
higher 30 minutes after the start of suckling than ten minutes after
the start.
Diaz S. et al Circaedian variation of basal plasma prolactin,
prolactin response to suckling and the length of amenorrhea in nursing
women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 198;68:946-
The graph is also shown in
Diaz S. Determinants of lactational amenorrhea. Int J Gynecol Obstet
1989 Suppl 1 Natural Fertility Regulation Today;83-9
Reflecting on this graph and the physiology it represents, one can
easily see why almost all formula company information materials about
breastfeeding urge mothers to drop the night breastfeeds. And we are
also coming to understand that what used to look like a 'side effect'
of overfullness in the breast through lack of flow may also be key to
diminishing milk production.
I recommend use of the Diaz graph in training health workers, along
with newer information on inhibition of secretion and the importance
of keeping the milk flowing out of the breast -- though I cannot bring
myself to use the words "drainage" or "emptying" that are widely used
by British Commonwealth colleagues but neither of which seems pleasant
or encouraging in the American version of English.
How have LactNuts found to phrase this important concept more
attractively?
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