I'm Dawn Kersula, a childbirth educator (FACCE), IBCLC in private
practice with a pump depot, three wonderful bf'd kids (8, 11, 14) and a
nursing student (whew) also married to one of the most supportive men in
the world.  (He thinks smart women are sexy and I've been getting lots of
good grades and lots of -- well, never, mind.)
   I have only an anecdote to offer on the low body fat percentages and
milk supply question, but to this day one of my most enigmatic slow
weight gainers was a mom whose body fat percentages were about as low as
had been seen in a study she participated in at UVM.  Baby was always on
the bottom of the curves, good management absolutely essential to keep
him there.  So KA's study may be a beginning of the answer, but perhaps
only a portion of it.  (I am always at school when I get these messages
and can't fly to my files for anything else...)
   Jan Barger, your questions about pit certainly warrant follow-up.  I
worked last week with a multip 3-1/2 days after a pit-induced birth, and
when I felt her breast tissue my heart sank (we were dealing with other
hormonal questions/thyroid issues too). Barely a hint of any
milk-making breast changes and one fussy baby!  The hospital
where I teach classes (independent contractor) does what I would call
more-than-its-share of inductions. Maybe in my free time I could do a
survey of my last few classes...(free time??? what???) I long to have the
time to reasearch some of these issues properly!
   By the way, one of the issues I would think about with teen mothers
would be sexual abuse issues.  Based on my experience with teen moms and
breastfeeding moms who were sexually abused, there may be many different
issues to think about when counselling these moms.
   Best regards to all.  Dawn M. Kersula ([log in to unmask])