Lactnetters,
while I was trawling Medline one Summer's eve, I came across the
following which I thought might be of interest:-

Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 1991;376:1-27

STUDIES ON PERCEIVED BREAST MILK INSUFFICIENCY A prospective study in a
group of Swedish women.

Hillervik-Lindquist C Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital,
Uppsala, Sweden.

A prospective investigation of the course of breast-feeding was carried
out in a group of 51 healthy, well educated Swedish women during the
period three days to 18 months after delivery. The aims were to
investigate the incidence, causes and consequences of perceived breast
milk insufficiency (transient lactation crises), by relating this
phenomenon to the infant's breast milk consumption and growth, and to
the course of breast-feeding.

It was found that every second mother experienced transient lactation
crises on at least one occasion (the crisis group). The crises were
mostly caused by emotional disturbances in the mothers (e.g. anxiety,
stress and discomfort), or by the infant's refusal to suckle, by
unmotivated crying, or by illness. Within the crisis group no
significant difference was found between the infants' intake of breast
milk during the crises compared with control measurements one week
later. Nor had the crises any immediate impact on the growth of the
infants.

A comparison between the mothers with crises and those who did not
experience any crises, revealed that the breast milk consumption among
the infants in the crisis group was lower throughout with significant
differences at three and five months. The infants in the crisis group
also had a significantly lower weight at two, three, four and nine
months, although both groups were above the NCHS mean. The reasons for
initiating breast-feeding differed between the two groups. The crisis
group tended to give infant-related reasons to a higher degree than the
mothers in the non-crisis group who more frequently mentioned mother-
related motives. The mothers with crises also showed a greater
ambivalence during the lactation period and terminated the breast-
feeding somewhat earlier. Consequently they also introduced taste
portions and started the weaning significantly earlier.

Some general findings revealed a wide variation in breast milk
consumption, not only between infants but also in the same infant from
one occasion to another. The total energy intake was almost the same for
the partially breast-fed infants, receiving breast milk plus
supplementary food, and those who were exclusively breast-fed. Although
most mothers in both groups initiated the weaning in accordance with
general recommendations, a wide variation was also found in the length
of the weaning period. In some cases it lasted for more than five
months.
--
Anna H., Breastfeeding advocate and writer
http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/

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