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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------