I'm not sure of the physiology but my chiropractor told me as I was  
recovering from birth that breastfeeding does affect our joints and  
ligaments.  I found that until my periods returned, I had sympysis  
discomfort while nursing side lying, so maybe low estrogen levels  
contribute somewhat to return of normal "tighter" ligaments.

Cordelia Merritt  RN BSN IBCLC (hi from East Van)

> Subject: nursing mothers extra 'loose'?
>
> The post I just read about muscle relaxants reminded me of something  
> that a
> mother was told by her doctor:  the reason she was slow in healing  
> from a (I
> believe) ligament tear was that she was nursing and that nursing  
> hormones
> meant that her ligaments/muscles were extra loose and stretchy (this  
> was a
> while ago, so I am totally paraphrasing).
>
>
>
> I had understood that it was the hormones of pregnancy that had this  
> effect
> on us, to help as our baby grows and with childbirth, and my intuitive
> reaction was that the doctor's statement was nonsense.  I nursed non- 
> stop
> for six years and many other women nurse for longer periods of  
> time.  Why
> aren't we all just puddles on the ground, hardly able to move  
> because we're
> so darned loose?
>
>
>
> Love to hear from those of you with a wider perspective on this.
>
>
>
> Ingrid
>
> LLLL, IBCLC
>
> British Columbia
>
> Canada
>
>

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