Abstract
The scepticism shown by many that breastfeeding suppresses fertility is not surprising when one considers that the major stimulus that governs the success of inhibiting reproduction is the suckling stimulus from the baby. This is a fickle controller, and it is not always, if ever, possible to control how much of a stimulus will be supplied. The rates at which babies suckle to achieve a satisfying intake of milk depends not only on the strength of the suckling stimulus, but also on the efficiency of milk let-down by the mother — the milk-ejection reflex related to the release of oxytocin (McNeilly et al., 1983). A further complication is a consistent definition of breastfeeding. We have shown over a number of studies that both frequency and duration of suckling play a major part in maintaining infertility. However, the parameters that we have observed, while adequate for many in the Western world, do not provide useful guidelines for others where the pattern of breastfeeding, and introduction of supplements varies from those commonly found in our study groups.
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McNeilly, A.S. (2002). Lactational Endocrinology: The Biology of LAM. In: Davis, M.K., Isaacs, C.E., Hanson, L.Å., Wright, A.L. (eds) Integrating Population Outcomes, Biological Mechanisms and Research Methods in the Study of Human Milk and Lactation. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 503. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0559-4_23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0559-4_23
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