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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 17 Jul 2005 17:52:00 -0500
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At 10:07 AM 7/17/2005, you wrote:
>I have a client  I have been working with on and off over the past few 
>months. Her baby is now 6 months old. Mother working, pumping, has had 
>problems in past maintaining her supply - is taking fenugreek, Blessed 
>Thistle and eats oatmeal every day (which she swears by), she knows to 
>pump or nurse more frequently. This is her third period and about five 
>days before she notices a serious deterioration in the amt. she pumps.
>She has two pumps and thinks one of them is not functioning correctly but 
>has changed to using the other one exclusively. This by the way, was a 
>mother who in the early stages was able to pump 10 ozs easily in the 
>mornings. Any suggestions for her - she is determined to continue nursing.
>  Looking forward to your suggestions. Susan Brewer
>
>

This is a repeat post. I apologize to those of you who have read it many 
times through the years.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
____________________________________________________________________

For some women (I was one) there is a drop in milk supply beginning about a 
week before a menstrual period and continuing a few days into the period. I 
researched this when my babies were feeding and found that from mid-cycle 
until a couple of days into the period, there is a steady decrease in blood 
calcium levels.  Obviously the decrease varies among women, as some women 
never experience this drop in milk. This lower blood calcium level is also 
the cause of uterine cramping before and in the first days of the period.

I began to take a calcium/magnesium supplement from mid-cycle until 3 days 
into my period. The milk supply was maintained. When my daughters began 
menstruating, I had them follow the same plan and they were able to have 
little or no uterine cramping.

I recommend supplementation for mothers who call me with this supply 
problem. The amount of added ca/mag is variable, of course.  I suggest that 
she add 500mg-1000mg. The more meat that we eat the more Ca/Mag we need. 
Usually it takes the higher doses to accomplish the desired goal. The added 
ca/mag has resolved the problem in all of my clients who have tried it.

It can even be effective if they call me with the decrease in supply and 
say that a period is due.  I suggest that they begin immediately with 
1000mg of ca/mag. and there is usually an increase in supply within 24 hours.

One problem is to determine when "mid-cycle" is with a mother just resuming 
menses.  I suggest that she take the supplement throughout the month until 
she sees a pattern of cycling.

One shouldn't take calcium without magnesium in a 2/1 ratio (the ratio that 
is found in foods and is usually found in supplements). And disuade 
someone's taking Tums for their calcium.  It is not an adequate dietary 
supplement and it is an antacid, while calcium needs an acidic gastric 
environment for assimilation.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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