After reading the very interesting discussion on decrease in milk supply among grand multips, I called a colleague in Jerusalem (who very unfortunately cannot afford email, and her hospital doesn't have). Batya works at a maternity hospital and sees very many very religious women who have very large families. (People, she doesn't bat an eye when she talks about 10-15 children being common.) Yes, she has seen decreased milk supply quite frequently. Interestingly, though, she tends to think heavily in terms of culture and stress. Culture: although it is strongly recommended to *exclusively* bf for 2 years (and we also know about LAM, not just the Jewish sages!), Batya says that these women across the board simply do not do it. Why? It seems that another cultural imperative is stronger - that to have many, many children to "replace" the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust. How can one counsel in this case? Batya herself is religious, and altho I am not, as a Jew who is very sensitive to our history, I am certainly compromised. And I have a feeling that there are other cultures and ethnic groups who have the same cultural imperatives, altho for different reasons. Stress: Batya brought up the very good point that these mothers of very large families not only have a LOT of kids to take care of, but very often have a wedding to prepare for, a bar mitzva, a sister or sister-in-law to help out after SHE has given birth, there's always a holiday to prepare for just around the corner, not to mention Sabbath once a week to get ready (everything, including all cooking, has to be done by sunset Friday, and no work done until 1 hr after sunset Saturday). When I brought up the point mentioned in the post about the "meaty" nipples, Batya kind of drawled "Yeeaaah". (She's originally from DC...if this explains anything.) If anybody has anything interesting further to grand multips, Batya would be very grateful for input. TIA from both of us. Judy Knopf in Beer Sheva, Israel (getting ready for Sabbath myself...) [log in to unmask]