I agreed to post this to LACTNET for a colleague who is unable to access
LACTNET herself at the moment. Hopefully, some of you will know much more
about the relationship between bone-density, oestrogen and breastfeeding
than we do. Is this situation just a case of doctors again blaming
breastfeeding, or is weaning truely necessary?
"I could do with some help on this one, if anyone has any ideas/suggestions
or experience.
I received a call from Julie, who is 39 and currently breastfeeding her 20
month
daughter. This is baby number 3, all have been breastfed for sometime but
this is
the longest. The elder two are 10 and 12. She is currently breastfeeding a
minimum of 6 feeds a day, more on a day at home!
She saw on orthopaedic surgeon last week who thought breastfeeding was the
cause of her bone density problems, due to lack of oestrogen. Her bone scan
puts her in a "high risk" group, he felt that within 10 years she would need
a hip replacement. Her periods have yet to return, which he wanted to try
and "remedy". He felt that she needed to stop breastfeeding but to wait to
see
the gynaecologist. The gynaecologist has said she must now stop. He wants
her periods to return and her oestrogen levels to increase.
Julie is now trying to stop, but is in a lot of physical discomfort aswell
as emotional anguish. I advised her to at least slow down the weaning
process, and how to relieve the discomfort. I told her about the 5 feeds/65
mins research, and she felt that she could reasonably have 3 to 4 feeds a
day. She won't see the surgeon again till January so has a bit of time for
her periods to return. However she is worried that if she doesn't do as
they say she won't be treated!
I told her I would ask others for their help and I would get back to her,
hopefully with good news!!!!
6 days later:
I spoke to Julie today, she is feeling much better about life, though
regrets that her breastfeeding relationship isn't as easy as it was. She is
down
to 2 feeds a day most days. Physically she is much better. However she
would like to get to the bottom of this. I gave her the National
Osteoporosis Society's number and she wouldn't mind her details being posted
on Lactnet. "
(The reference to 5 feeds per day/65 mins was suggested within our voluntary
organisation as being a level of breastfeeding which is not enough to cause
lactational ammenhorrea and having this many feeds per day would not stop
periods returning.)
Kath Monkhouse
BFC, ABM (Association of Breastfeeding Mothers), Hampshire, UK
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