This is a repeat post.

For some women (I was one) there is a drop in milk supply beginning about a
week before a menstrual period and continuing a few days into the period. I
researched this when my babies were feeding and found that from mid-cycle
until a couple of days into the period, there is a steady decrease in blood
calcium levels.  Obviously the decrease varies among women, as some women
never experience this drop in milk. This lower blood calcium level is also
the cause of uterine cramping before and in the first days of the period.

I began to take a calcium/magnesium supplement from mid-cycle until 3 days
into my period. The milk supply was maintained. When my daughters began
menstruating, I had them follow the same plan and they were able to have
little or no uterine cramping.

A breastfeeding mother needs 1500mg of calcium a day. There is calcium in
many foods so she doesn't have to take the entire amount in supplement even
if she is on a dairy-free diet.

I recommend supplementation for mothers who call me with a supply problem
before and in the early days of menses. The amount of added ca/mag is
variable, of course.  I suggest that she add 500mg-1000mg a day . The more
meat that we eat the more Ca/Mag we need. Usually it takes the higher doses
to accomplish the desired goal. Vegetarians could begin with the 500mg
dose. The added ca/mag has resolved the problem in all of my clients who
have tried it. I have had clients call and with adding the ca/mag their
milk supplies rebounded within a day.

It can even be effective if they call me with the decrease in supply and
say that a period is due.  I suggest that they begin immediately with
1000mg of ca/mag. and there is usually an increase in supply within 24 hours.

One problem is to determine when "mid-cycle" is with a mother just resuming
menses.  I suggest that she take the supplement throughout the month until
she sees a pattern of cycling.

One shouldn't take calcium without magnesium in a 2/1 ratio (the ratio that
is found in foods and is usually found in supplements). And disuade
someone's taking Tums for their calcium.  It is not an adequate dietary
supplement and it is an antacid, while calcium needs an acidic gastric
environment for assimilation. She could end up with less available calcium
than if she did nothing.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA


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