Yes. I am.

It's actually oversimplifying to say that there is a timepoint when 
there is only autocrine control vs. endocrine. Actually, the body uses a 
variety of local and hormonal methods to calibrate and maintain milk 
production. Prolactin is always important. While baseline prolactin 
levels fall to about 50-70 at about 6 months, they stay there for as 
long as mothers bf. If prolactin falls below 50, Tom Hale says, 
involution quickly begins. Every time the child bf's, prolactin and 
oxytocin release is stimulated to catalyze milk production (prolactin) 
and trigger milk ejection (oxytocin).

And even during the first few days after birth, when milk is made 
whether it is removed or not, early and increased frequency of milk 
removal greatly increases milk production later. /(Chen/, 
Nommsen-Rivers, /Dewey/, & Lonnerdal, 1998; Bystrova et al., 2007).  As 
does increased breast emptying. (Morton).

It's like the breast is primed to make milk, but it really gets going if 
the baby bf's in the first hour or two after birth (proof the baby 
lived!) and makes more if baby nurses more often in the first few days. 
That's evidence of autocrine control immediately postpartum, that milk 
removal increases milk production. And if prolactin levels drop too low 
at any time, lactation ceases (evidence of endocrine control as long as 
lactation lasts).

Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC  NYC  www.cwgenna.com

On 7/31/2014 3:11 AM, Nikki Lee wrote:
>
> .Are you saying that prolactin levels remain significant during the entire
> lactation, even 5 years?
>
> warmly,
> Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
> Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy*
> www.nikkileehealth.com
> https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth
>
> *Get my FREE webinar series *
>
>               ***********************************************
>
> Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
> COMMANDS:
> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome