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Date: | Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:32:02 -0400 |
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There are always prolactin spikes (increases when the nipple is
stimulated), it is baseline (all the time release) of prolactin which
decreases after about 6 weeks postpartum. According to Dr. Hale, bf
women do have higher prolactin levels than non bf women, but it is no
longer many times greater as it is in the early days.
Don't have time to look up the numbers...
About the prolactin receptor theory - receptors can upregulate depending
on demand anytime, while still maintaining a sensitive period when they
are very responsive to stimulation. I am confident that this is what we
are seeing after birth. The body is primed to increase milk production
then, so it is easiest then. Moms can increase production any time, but
it is much more difficult after the early weeks.
I tell moms that the first 2 weeks are the "market research" phase of
bf. The more product sells, the bigger a milk factory the body will
invest in building. It's more efficient to build a large factory
initially, then to try to cram in extra shifts or expand one later. This
makes sense to them, and encourages them through the sleeplessness of
early breastfeeding.
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC, NYC (back to my project now)
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