Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting to this list. I got a question from a mother
today about breastfeeding and perimenopause. A search of the LactNet
archives and other online sources didn't come up with the information I need
so I'd like to put it out to all of you for your take on things. I have the
mother's permission to post.

The mother is 37, mother of 2, and is currently breastfeeding her 2 year old
several times a day. Her cycles returned at 5 months post partum and were
regular (every 25 days) until she had a miscarriage when her son was 16
months old. Since the miscarriage her cycles are 30-40 days long and she's
experiencing severe sleeplessness just prior to menstruation and PMS around
both ovulation and menstruation. The mother has just been told by her doctor
that tests show she is in perimenopause, and that it is possible that her
extended breastfeeding is a CAUSE of this. He's told her to wean cold turkey
(and that it "won't kill him"!). The mother refused and was quite angry and
upset by the whole thing.

She'd like to confront the doctor with and wants to gather evidence to
support her case before doing so.

My gut tells me that the doctor is mistaken on this one, but I haven't
managed to turn up data which directly answers her question about
breastfeeding's affect on perimenopause. The only discussions I found were
on PERIMENOPAUSE's affect on BREASTFEEDING (i.e. if a mother in
perimenopause gets pregnant, how will this affect her lactation). This would
lead me to believe that extended breastfeeding does not effect perimenopause
and that the hormonal shifts encountered in perimenopause, specifically the
drop in estrogen, should not negatively impact supply.

I'd be grateful for any input. Thank you in advance.

Robin Epstein
Yehud, Israel
LLL Leader and studying towards the exam

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