Roni-

I don't have my cites at hand, but a medline search will pull up the
studies for you.  Breastfeeding (and *many* other pre-menepausal
activities) does cause loss in bone density but there is a rebound
effect after breastfeeding cessation that more than compensates for the
loss during breastfeeding.  The only time additional management is
critical (special attention paid to calcium intake and weight bearing
exercise) is when a woman with osteppenia breastfeeds for many years
without a break for the rebound.

I too am 38 and have been breastfeeding continuously for over 7 years.
I had osteopenia diagnosed 5 years ago and have been more recently been
diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Your mother probably has osteopenia because of other life factors
(genetics, poor childhood diet, little childhood exercise).  She did,
however, take a break between breastfeeding each of her children.  There
is no reason that she restrict her length of breastfeeding this child.

The above is anecdotal but somewhere in my file cabinet is a stack of
studies you will find with a medline search.  Docs don't have a clue
about osteoporosis and I have found few who have any experience with
pre-menepausal osteoporosis which is much more common than we all are
led to believe.

HTH.

Jake, LLL Leader and IBLCE-to-be

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