I hope this will be clear, since I am typing fast (my friend is in labor
and bringing her child for me to watch any minute).

I received a call today from a fellow LLL Leader who wanted me to find out
what you all know about her situation--what she can expect, how her milk
production, etc. will be affected.

She is 43 years old and nursing a 3 1/2 year old. The child is small, and
she nurses 5-6 times a day, so it isn't just comfort nursing or infrequent
sips. The Leader (a registered nurse) is experiencing signs of menopause:
menses ceased after July 8, her skin has become dry, her abdomen is a bit
swollen, she has spells of irritability, and her breasts are sensitive.

She wonders if her changing hormones will affect her nursing, which is
important to both her and the child (she doesn't immunize, so is relying on
breastmilk's properties).  Her doctors and other nurses she knows have
never dealt with a lactating menopausal woman, though I think it should be
common nowadays with people starting their families later, and nursing
being popular among the "older" mothers.

You can respond directly to her at: [log in to unmask] (her husband made up
the name).  I hope you will cc: the list, though, because I am interested
in this too.

Thanks.


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Sue Ann Kendall, mother of two small boys, editor, La Leche League Leader
LLLI World Wide Web Coord.,  LLL of Ill. Dist. Advisor, Champaign, IL USA
East Central Illinois Breastfeeding Promotion Task Force Chair, 1995-6
List Maintainer, La Leche Leaders On Line          ([log in to unmask])
Prairienet Documentation Committee Head   http://www.prairienet.org/~sak/
[log in to unmask]                        http://www.prairienet.org/llli/
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