The study done by Kathleen Rasmussen and Chris L. Kjolhede entitled,
"Prepregnant Overweight and Obesity Diminish the Prolactin Response to Suckling in the
First Week Postpartum,"  is available at
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/113/5/e465

Is this a study worth our time and consideration?  No, I think not.  It was a
small study--40 women participating (23 normal weight, 17 overweight/obese).
According to Riordan and Auerbach (Bfing and Human Lactation), "Plasma
prolactin levels rise and fall in proportion to the frequency, intensity, and
duration of nipple stimulation and suckling stimulus."  This study shows no data in
regard to how soon (averages) each group had access to their infants and how
often they were feeding prior to the prolactin measurements at about 48 hours
postpartum.  In this article, they mention that overweight/obese women are more
likely to have c-sections.  Impairment of prolactin in the early days might
have more to do with access to infants and levels of comfort to breastfeed.
The numbers mean nothing without knowing how often babies were nursed in the
first 48 hours.  By 7 days postpartum the prolactin response of the
overweight/obese group was similiar to the normal weight group.

How helpful is this study in regard to furthering our knowledge about
breastfeeding?  I see it as another nail in the coffin of breastfeeding.  Assumptions
will be made based on this small study that overweight/obese women are
naturally at risk for early milk compromise.  Is that true?  Or is this just showing
that overweight/obese women have limited access to their infants in the early
days?  We don't know because the researchers did not explore this issue nor
account for this possibility.  Why?

One of the authors of this study, Kathleen M. Rassmussen is the president of
the ISRHML (International Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation).
She is also on the scientific council for the Dannon Institute. Dannon in the
USA is a yogurt/dairy company and part of  the Danone Groupe, maker of infant
formula in Europe.  The Dannon Institute states at its website that it is an
educational institution and not involved in the selling of products.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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