Jeanette postulates,

<< If OB is concerned enough about release of oxytocin that he would recomme=
 nd
 no sex, should that be the time that breastfeeding also needs to be
 stopped?  Could it be that some women do have more oxytocin receptors
 earlier in the pregnancy and therefore they DO need to stop breastfeeding=
 ? >>

I would absolutely agree that if the OB has said "no sex" because of the risk
of contractions, then the mom shouldn't breastfeed.  I would also agree that
she shouldn't have ANY nipple stimulation (so the no sex ban is just not no
intercourse).  At that point she is probably on absolute bedrest and
terbutaline or whatever passes for terbutaline these days.


 <<Trouble is, the "no sex" ban could also be for other reasons such as
 infection.  And the ejaculate has the ability to ripen the cervix -
 directly - something breastfeeding does not....>>

Well, I would certainly hope he/she would make it perfectly clear to the
mother WHY the ban on sex.

 <<Frankly, I don't remember having that much strong let-downs later on in
 breastfeeding...by the time my kids were eating other foods well, I either
 wasn't having as many, they weren't as strong, or perhaps I was just not
 feeling them??? >>

I just read in Lawrence that the reflex milk ejection involves the release of
50 to 100 mU oxytocin.  Does anyone remember how much Pitocin is used in
either induction or stimulation?  Keep in mind that the half life of Pit is
about 2 minutes which is why it has to be infused continuously -- oxytocin
release in breastfeeding is pulsile -- comes at different times, not
continuously.  I suspect there is much less released at that point than there
is when a mom is induced.  Think about the number of moms that come in for
induction when the cervix is NOT ripe and not ready--and how long it takes at
that point -- sometimes 2 days and they end up with a C/Section anyway.

L&D nurses? Docs?

Jan Barger -- where it is supposed to be nearly 90 in Chicago today.

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