Pam Easterday <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Mothers of 4-month-olds who think they are drying up need a
> pep talk.  All of their friends and relatives reported
> drying up at four months.  For them it is sad, but true. (SNIP)

Jan and I discussed this subject a tad bit earlier.  She mentioned that
by 2-3 weeks we need to have laid down our prolactin receptors.  Once
this has happened moms are more likely to be able to recover from
subsequent drops and dips in breastmilk production.

What I tried to share with her but failed to do (due to computer
foul-ups) was my theory that women have triphasic milk production.
Within 2-3 weeks it is important to lay down prolactin receptors.  Then
many woman shift into the 24 hour, all day, all milk production which
often means leaking breasts and very heavy, possible hard, firmness when
a BFing session is missed or delayed - postpartum hormonal milk
production.  The third phase happens about 3-4 months postpartum when
milk production *appears* to fall off.  Breasts frequently don't leak
(at least as much as the initially did) and seem to not be quite so full
and heavy between feeds.  Milk is mostly made on a supply and demand
basis.

This has at least been my minimal experience with about 30 BFing moms.
I think it is VERY important to keep moms informed of the changes over
time - sort of forewarned is forearmed.  If they expect it as normal it
isn't so worrisome.  If they are taught over and over again what to look
for in a happy and health BF infant they feel better about the changes
in their breasts and milk production.

Of course not everyone gets to work almost daily and certainly weekly
with the same BFing mom/baby pairs like I do over the course of months.
--
Monique
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