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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 21 Nov 1998 21:24:43 -0600
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  Thank you to all the many people who were kind enough to respond to my
>request for assistance.  To review: Baby was four months old gaining weight,
>mom's milk supply dropped dramatically and baby is not happy.
>        Guess What- She got her period yesterday.

It is not uncommon for a woman to have a drop in milk supply before a
menstrual period.  I had this problem until I read about the lowered blood
calcium levels for many women from mid-cycle until about day 2 or 3 of
their periods. So, what I did was, from mid-cycle until day 3, I increased
my calcium/magnesium supplement to total 1500 mg of calcium with the
accomanying 750 mg of magnesium. ( I was not using dairy products, so was
already taking a  ca/mag. supplement) And I no longer experienced the dip
in supply.

If a mom is using dairy as her major calcium/magnesium source, I suggest
that she take 500 -700 mg additional calcium (which would be accompanied by
magnesium at half the ca. amount) from mid-cycle on.  My clients have had
good outcomes with this. I discourage the use of the antacid TUMS, because
it is not an adequate supplement.

Of course, not everyone has this problem surrounding menses.  But I deal
with it every couple of months or so, and always explore it as a
possibility in a sudden drop in milk supply, along with the factors that
have been suggested here.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Upper Midwest, USA
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