Thanks for that Joy. It is very interesting. I loved your teenager analogy-
it helps put a handle on it. I also think that this information may be
helpful to women inducing lactation because if they know that their child's
need for milk is going to decrease after 6 months or so it can give them
hope (if they haven't managed a full supply in the early months) that at
some stage their ability to produce milk may become equal to their child's
need for milk. Vwalla.... no more supplementation. A bit of a carrot to
carry on when it is hard.

Karleen



>
 However, the scientific evidence showed that
> the intake of breastmilk was constant for any single baby between one
> and six months (ie *may* be less before one month - but that wasn't
> measured).
I have thought about this and have concluded by simple logic (ie no
> proof ;-) that perhaps what is happening is that the baby temporarily
> increases his intake over a few days and then goes back to the
> original amount. The increased demand does not last long enough to
> actually raise the supply - this only happens with a more long-term
> and persistent increase in demand.

> I think this piece of information about the constancy of supply is
> very significant for mothers expressing their milk for their babies,
> eg while at work. There is the common expectation that they have to
> keep increasing he amount they express to keep up with their babies'
> increasing appetites. This shouldn't happen. Maybe the expectations
> of the carers are that the amount the child should eat increases and
> they are offered more and more over time.
>
> Joy

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