In a message dated 97-02-09 23:47:08 EST, you write:

>I want to know because breastfeeding is on that altar of ignorance, =
>knife poised: a mom breastfeeding a two-month-old has leg and hip pain.  =
>She is undergoing PT, and was told that this pain is due to the "fact" =
>(?) that the loosening effect continues throughout lactation, and will =
>not improve until she weans.
>If I know what the *real* facts are, then I may be able to prevent the =
>planned sacrifice.
>TIA, Willow

First, Relaxin is the hormone that you are thinking about.  It is produced in
the corpus luteum during pregnancy (Tabor's cyclopedic medical dictionary),
therefore, it is physiologically not possible for this hormone to be
circulating in a postpartum woman.

Second, ask her about her delivery.  Did she have an epidural?  If so, did
she have someone lifting her legs for her?  Could they have pushed her legs
into severe flexion and strained all manner of muscles, ligaments and
nerves??  When mama is numb, she doesn't feel the "protective" pain that
would keep her from doing this to herself.  She only has unexplainable back,
hip, or leg pain following .   (We have an anesthesiologist who swears women
don't have backaches from epidurals>>>>>>)
She could also be experiencing radiating pain from a strained muscle from
simply lifting the wrong way or sitting in a poor position for a long time.
  You might check on her posture when she's sitting to nurse.  Low back
strain from sitting bent over the baby could also be exaserbating the
problem.
Liz Flight, RN,CLE, IBCLC