Karen,
You ask "I'm trying to figure out why this [perimenopause or the starting of
menopause] should be an issue when early lactation is
a time of lower estrogen... which is why some "young" moms experience night
sweats, hot flashes, vag dryness, etc.?" in response to my query about older
moms who are "perimenopausal" would effect supply.

I pulled out Ruth Lawrence text and read the chapter the Physiology of
Lactation; this is a very complex subject indeed. So I don't have an answer,
Karen, it was just my musing about why the "older" say 41+ moms MIGHT have
supply problems. All I can say is that there is a very complex interplay of
hormones from the pituitary, ovary, thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas, and
then placenta as well during pg. Some statements from Lawrence "the growth
of the duct system seems to depend on estrogen and does not occur in absence
of ovaries" and "complete growth of alveoli depends on progesterone as
well." Granted, she is speaking prepubertal and pubertal growth here. Also
that the role of prostaglandins is still not clear. All I have gleaned from
this is that I sure need to read and understand this a whole lot more. Would
love to see a session on all this at a conference.

Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC
Violet Louisiana, s.e. USA

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