I can't answer your direct question about the hormones of lactation and
pelvic floor weakness, but I have some other information that may help this
mother. I recently read a book, _Saving the Whole Woman: Natural
Alternatives to Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence_
by Christine Ann Kent addressing these issues. She makes a very strong case
that these surgeries are often ineffective and seldom lasting solutions.
She suggests some alternative strategies including pelvic floor
strengthening and the use of pessaries while working on it. I would tell
her that some chapters of the book are dedicated to the authors own
philosophy (feminist and new age), but those chapters may be skipped without
missing anything if they differ from the mother's philosophy.
I have personally used a pessary for incompetent cervix during pregnancy and
found that a well-fitted one cannot usually be felt while wearing it and are
very easy to take care of. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe them (I don't
know why - they are cheap, easy, and low tech). They cost about $70 and
there are different shapes for all sorts of prolapses.
Also, I am a little suspicious of doctors who say you must wean (or stop
having children) before they will do a procedure. When I was nursing my
second who was 17 mo. (he's 11 now :-), and went for my first prenatal exam,
the doctor said he felt a suspicious area in my breast and I needed to wean
right away so that he could check it out at the next appointment. At the
next appointment, he didn't even offer to do a breast exam until I mentioned
it, then did a very cursory exam and said, "It's just fine." When I pressed
for testing, etc, he seemed kind of embarassed and resisted. I later fired
him for other manipulative behavior. It opened my eyes to how doctors can
use medical "threats" to encourage behavior changes in us. :-(
I have also heard of other mothers of large families who were told they
couldn't have cystocele or rectocele surgery until they were "done" having
children. When one pressed her doctor about the time the surgery could be
expected to last if she kept having children, I think he said, two babies
would probably destroy it. She thought, "So, about 4 years." She asked how
long it would last if she had no more children: "About five years..."
Arrrggghhhh.
Hope that helps--
Melanie
Melanie Young, IBCLC
LLL of Johnston County, NC
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