In a message dated 97-11-21 00:09:41 EST, you write:

<< And as far as I can
 tell, having colostrum has nothing to do with later milk production. >>


This is not surprising, see R. Lawrence "Breastfeeding guide for the medical
professional"  p. 63 talks about lactogenesis and states "the initiation of
the process does not depend on the suckling by the infant until the 3rd or
4th day, when secretion declines if milk is not removed from the breast." The
whole system is turned on by the birth of the baby and the drop in
progesterone. Colostrum comes, then in a few days the endocrine (hormonal)
system kicks in followed in a few weeks by the autocrine sytem (milk
removal/stimulation). So to me your thinking is right on target.  Your moms
are not following up the colostrum production with homonal maintainance.

Denise Breheny, RN, IBCLC
Fayetteville, NC