Susan wrote: <<<Sorry if I posted something confusing...I DID NOT say with what I would suggest a mom supplement if her supply dips in relation to menses. That is, of course, up to the mom. My experience is...if that option is not at least explored with the mom experiencing cyclical variations in supply...she will wean, because she thinks it is too much to go through several days of hungry baby every month.>>>> This is my experience too. Mothers call me or email me, very stressed, already supplementing and already on their way with weaning. Their baby is hungry and nursing more often doesn't help. I tell them to relax and wait a couple of days untill this period has breaked through. And ensure them the milksupply will be back then. I encourage them to at least don't cut back on nursing. Till then some mothers choose to supplement, and after that they are back to exclusive breastfeeding. i hate it to see them supplementing, but I know that if they hadn't, they had completely weaned their baby's. The last 5 years the bf rates have dropped dramatically in the netherlands. 70% of the women start nursing but the majority wean during the first couple fo weeks. So, when i meet a woman who is nursing for 3 months I'm already very happy! Now If these mothers start nursing more often in the early days in most cases this wouldn't have happened. Annelies Bon bf counsellor of the Dutch bf organization *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html