Dear Louise - I can only tell you from my experience of 1 that when he
stopped BF at 2 1/2 I didn't even get engorged the next day, so milk supply
must have been very minimal at that point.  When you experience baby led
weaning the supply drops as the child slowly stops nursing.

Actually I thought it was pretty neat (the supply/demand equation) and I
think many other US moms who wean super slowly would say the same.
Remember my toddler was nursing for comfort and contact and habit, not
nourishment per se.  In US br.milk is replaced with super abundant supply
of other foods.  I imagine in other places, where weaning foods aren't as
abundant or available, the breast milk remains a significant part of the
diet.

I've been a "dry" leader for a looonnng time too. ("Old leaders never die,
they just dry up").  But it has always been my mission to help young moms
avoid the difficulties I had with BF the first few kids.  I've gotten to
watch my daughters, nieces, sister, s-i-l's and family friends just  slip
into nursing so easily because they had the info and support.  That's what
keeps me actively leading.  Has anyone else ever noticed that moms who come
to a few meetings ahead of birth have sooo much less trouble than moms who
call from the hospital in a panic, after only READING about BF?  Not that
reading isn't good, but it's something in our U.S. culture about SEEING
babies nursed that makes a difference.

P.S. I don't remember that the late nursings were unpleasant.  There must
have been a little something there!

Just some thoughts. Pat in SNJ

----------
> From: Denhez Louise <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: Breast pain with breastfeeding of long duration
> Date: Friday, June 20, 1997 10:05 PM
>
> Bonjour, all,
> Tis is more curiosity than anyting else: the LLLL leader of the last
> group I attended decided to fold the group because she was done with
> breastfeeding, and, she said "I breastfed for two years, and the few last
> weeks, breastfeeding with empty breast is far from pleasant". Empty
> breast? after two years? What else could cause pain in the breast after
> years of bf (I got it too)?
>
> Louise Denhez, M.D., M.P.H
> Montreal, Quebec, Canada
>