Dear Kirsten

> What is the safest way to maintain / increase supply during pregnancy? The
> nursling involved is 19mo, and the mum about 8 weeks pregnant.
>
Nothing can be done to maintain a supply of mature milk during pregnancy,
the increases in placental progesterone and oestrogen suppress prolactin
levels and milk reverts to colostrum (although I don't think the mechanism
for this is known (??) I think it is believed to involve human placental
lactogen). As with the normal variation of colostrum quantity at birth the
amounts of colostrum available to a nursing toddler would also be subject to
individual variation. Many babies will opt to wean during pregnancy because
of the change in taste (high sodium) and volume however, others will hang in
there no matter what!

Regards
Cathy Fetherston
Perth Western Australia

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