Hello,
I have been off Lactnet awhile, too many commitments.  I have 2
questions that I am hoping someone can answer.  Please e mail the
answers if possible.

I had a call from a Mom breastfeeding a 10 month old baby the other
day.  She was asking for weaning advice.  After a little questioning, I
discovered that she had been having severe migraines for a few months.
Her OBGYN and her neurologist both concluded that the migraines were
due to "a menstruating woman breastfeeding".  I asked her what their
physiological basis for their findings was, and she didn't know.  She
is looking into this.

I racked my brains (and my resources) to find out if this was a
possibility.  My gut instincts say no, but I thought I would ask the
most experienced lactation people I know, my fellow Lactnetters.  The
only remote possibility I could think of was something to do with
oxytocin and constriction of blood vessels, but I don't even know if
this is a valid explanation.  I did not mention this to the mom.
I strongly suspected that she was experiencing stress in her life that
was causing the migraines, and suggested she look into this
possibility.

My other case is a simple mother with a cold who wants to use zinc
lossenges.  The literature I have says zinc intake by mom does not
affect zinc levels in breastmilk, but I wanted to be sure that the zinc
in the lossenges was not in some more available form that could pass
into the milk and cause problems for baby.  The baby is 16 months old.

Thanks for your help, don't forget to e mail me privately if you can
with answers (if this is appropriate).


Sharon A. Rapoza, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Works Lactation Consultant Service