Hi Sam and all,
Thanks for answering.  They did check her thyroid levels and they are fine.
That it the first thing I thought of also.  By the way, at what point would
low levels begin to affect milk supply.  I am working with another mother
who seems to be unable to produce enough milk.  She was told that her
thyroid level is at the lowest end of normal. Is there some specific number
or something where we need to be concerned.
Thanks,
Chayn

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 5:29 PM, Sam Doak <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Did they check her thyroid panel, TSH and T4 in particular? Hyperthyroidism
> is highly associated with iron deficient anemia. Hyperthyroidism will cause
> tremendous weight loss, due to the body having a metabolism that is way too
> fast for healthy living.
>
> Does she find palpitations with her heart, increased heart rate,
> intolerance
> to high temps, gastro issues (either diarrhea or constipation)? If so, she
> might want to check into thyroid disturbances which are very frequent with
> post-partum women, and frequently temporary conditions. Oh, and a few women
> with whom I have worked have complained of extreme milk supply/overactive
> letdown which led them to have thyroid panels (at my suggestion...)
>
> Best wishes,
> Sam Doak
> Who wishes her thyroid were over active, instead of under...
>
> <<
>
>
> Dear Friends,
> A mother that I worked with months ago was hospitalized last week to
> undergo
> multiple tests to determine why she is losing so much weight.  She is
> exclusively nursing a 4 month old who has grown very well.  The mother put
> on about 12 kilos during the pregnancy.  She was quite thin to begin with.
> She has lost 20 kilos since the birth.  She claims to eat well and food
> with
> plenty of calories, like peanut butter and tehina.  She is losing a kilo a
> week and has been well underweight for a while.  Her iron levels are low
> too, 6-7, despite taking iron tablets.  All her tests came out fine.
> She was wondering if breastfeeding my be contributing to her falling weight
> and low iron.  I would love to hear from you all...
> by the way, isn't it refreshing, amazing even, that the doctors never
> blamed
> the breastfeeding and actually checked out the mother, who was pumping the
> whole time.
> Thanks in advance,
> Chayn in Israel IBCLC>>
>
>             ***********************************************
>
> Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
> COMMANDS:
> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set
> lactnet nomail
> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
>

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome