Diane poses an interesting theory:
<<Does anyone else have the sense that new moms who were themselves 
> breastfed tend to have ample milk supplies?>>

I don't know that I've noticed this in my practice as far as impacting milk
supplies.  Of course I'm a brand new grandma, but my dd's milk supply
mirrors my own, "just enough"!  I do notice far less problems *usually*, and
more willingness to work through any problems when mom was, herself,
breastfed.  (Of course, my dd didn't hold with the "less problems" part of
that statement!)  It is an interesting theory and does make a certain amount
of sense, I'm just not sure that I've seen evidence of it.  Perhaps such
moms worry less about having enough milk, so the effect is more a matter of
perceived good milk supply than a real difference in adequacy.  I'm sure
many factors would affect this perception, such as the way a mother who was
herself breastfed puts the baby to breast whenever it's hungry without
questioning whether that means her supply is inadequate and therefore likely
develops a more plentiful supply.  When mothers who have no recent family
history of breastfeeding, attempt to breastfeed, it is rather like finding
their way in the dark.  In fact I think of it like when I was learning to be
a nurse.  In the beginning, every task took careful thought and planning and
I questioned whether or not I did it right or if I might have done something
horribly wrong that would produce catastrophic consequences!  Then, after
I'd been a nurse for a year or so, it became automatic.  In fact, I'd have
to think about what I actually did at the end of the day to chart it,
because I just did things without really having to think about checking the
med and signing the chart and crossing my "i's" and dotting my "t's"!  The
ease with which a person does something can often belie the complicated
nature of what they do.  That is how "practice makes perfect"!  

Anyway, an interesting theory and I'd love to hear other peoples'
observations!

Marsha, still dreaming of warm tropical breezes and gentle waves!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations
as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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