>Does anyone have any ideas what would cause the milk supply to decrease each
>month right before her menses?  Any ideas as what to do to prevent this from
>occuring?

I am re-sending a post that I sent to Lactnet last year.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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 additional supplement. 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.

Hey, I wonder if the 4-month supply drop, or those illusive "growth
spurts," could be related to calcium levels in the blood? I'll try ca/mag
supplementation the next time a client calls with a sudden drop in supply.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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