On Sat, 26 Mar 2005, Rachel Myr wrote:
> As I understand it, menopause is pretty much a one-way street, and once
> you have entered perimenopause, you don't turn around and go back to
> pre-menopause. It is also well established that perimenopause can last
> for years. Further, there is no risk to the child or to the mother from
> continuing to breastfeed during this time. I'm with the mother on this
> one. There isn't much to support the doctor's theory that breastfeeding
> is causing her symptoms, and certainly nothing at all to support weaning
> as a strategy to deal with them or the underlying cause. If she indeed
> is in perimenopause, she is unlikely to get a lot more chances to
> breastfeed either, so if she and her child are still enjoying it, why
> stop?
OH! I did intend to add to my anecdotes that I think this doctor is way
off-base to suggest that this mother wean her baby. I think every child
should breastfeed as long as s/he wants to breastfeed, and, even if this
doc is right and the mother is perimenopausal, that is *certainly* not a
justification for weaning that baby!
My family physician noted that I was still 5 pounds over my pre-pregnancy
weight when my son was 18 months old, and she strongly recommended that I
wean him so I could "get rid of that last five pounds" because
"breastfeeding isn't really providing any benefit at this point." She
said, "Some change is good, you know." I agreed... so I changed doctors.
Cee
.
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Cecilia Mitchell Miller
Certified Bradley Childbirth Educator
Certified Birth Doula (DONA)
Distributor, Maya Wrap Slings
http://www.kjsl.net/~cee
Jacksonville, FL USA
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