In a message dated 99-09-01 21:59:57 EDT, you write:

<< If OB is concerned enough about release of oxytocin that he would recommend
 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?  >>

Everything I've ever found on breastfeeding during pregnancy indicates there
is no reason to wean in the absence of risk for preterm labor/birth, but
"risk" vs. "actual diagnosed episode" is used since prevention of prematurity
is the goal. I think Jeanette has made an excellent rec. One can get around
the infection issue by saying "no sex" related to risk specifically for
preterm labor and birth, e.g. multiple gestation (less than 14% make it to
full-term 38 weeks), previous preterm, recurrent miscarriages--esp. related
to incompetent cervix (can't we find a new term for that?!?), etc. (However,
some types of infection are related to preterm labor/birth, too.) As noted,
no sex is not just related to effect of oxytocin, although that's a big part
of it and "no sex" includes self-stimulation. It also is related to effect of
prostaglandins in ejaculate/semen.

In cases of definite risk for preterm labor & birth, a mother really must
think of the good of the fetus(es) she carries, and this is one situation in
which breastfeeding has a high potential to compromise optimal fetal
development and expose babies to NICU environment and interventions--more of
them and for a longer period. Re: multiple gestation, placental development
and related ongoing perfusion is a big issue and maternal physical resources
appear to be stressed to a high degree considering the much higher incidence
of several maternal complications, esp. PIH which often has perfusion
consequences for fetuses (or vice versa). Multiple gestation is a situation
in which continued breastfeeding definitely releases oxytocin that may
contribute to prematurity, but might it also strain maternal metabolic
processes to the point placental development and function is affected--no one
really knows. But these are things to also think about...

Karen Gromada

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