In a message dated 96-07-24 19:25:05 EDT, Janet Simpson writes:

>*  When does the mature milk dry up?
Good question - it's never been researched. Most moms have a drop in volume
starting shortly after conception and really plummeting to nearly nil by
around 7 months.

>*  When does the colostrom come in, and how soon after the mature milk drys
>up?
Again, no research. It seems that as milk volume decreases, what's left is
the "colostrum layer" of mostly antibodies and protective protein. It's been
there all along, only diluted with lactose and high fluid volume.

>*  Will some kids BF even when there isn't any milk?  (We hope!)
Yup. And it may be uncomfortable for you.

>*  Will toddler taking colostrom possibly cause mature milk to come in
before
>the  birth of the baby? (Or is the body smarter than that? )
No. Lactogenesis II ("milk coming in") occurs 30-40 hours after the delivery
of the placenta. Lactose synthesis increases and draws water into the alveoli
- result is increased fluid volume of milk and changing composition (diluting
the colostrum layer). Many people think it's best to have the new baby nurse
first, but again there's no research to confirm or refute this idea.

>*  Can you answer any questions I might have that I didn't put down here?
> (Yes, I am asking you to be psychic!  :D )
Hormonally-based sore nipples are a big challenge for many moms. There's not
much you can do about them. Maybe your body is trying to tell you to wean the
older baby before the new one's born - that's a theory I've heard many times
and experienced myself. Ambivalence about tandem nursing is very common.  Go
to a LLL Toddler meeting if you haven't been to one yet!

Linda Smith, Dayton OH - Been there, done that, handled it differently both
times.