Oestrogens levels and breastfeeding

[Helen GV]

Just wondering if anyone knows how many times a day one needs to breastfeed in order to have lowered levels of oestrogen? Is lowered oestrogen something that lasts say for two hours after a feed? (for example)

If a breastfeeding mother needed to increase her levels of oestrogen (not to conceive) but didn't want to give up breastfeeding completely would this be possible? Or would she need to give up completely?

[Fuschia]

Interesting question

found this:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/543647-do-estrogen-levels-return-to-normal-after-breastfeeding/

[Helen GV]

Great thanks, I guess the answer to both questions is that it depends on the woman!

[Fuschia]

Looks like it

Isn't diet a factor too?

[Saffron]

My midwife told me that once feeds are consistently more than three hours apart, ovulation was more more likely. (I don't know on what she was basing that, maybe just experience.) I would infer from this that there is a threshold level for prolactin production in order supress oestrogen, but that's likely to differ greatly among women b/c every mother-baby dyad is different.

I've no idea about oestrogen kinetics immediately post-breastfeed, but judging by how hormones systems run in general, I would guess there are small, acute cycles of rising and falling oestrogen on a background of very low, slowly rising oestrogen over a period of many months when babies are demand-fed and slowly weaned. This could possibly be very different in the case of scheduled feeding or abrupt weaning.

You could increase oestrogen by consuming a diet high in natural oestrogens, but the result might be that you interfer with prolactin to the extent that breastfeeding is compromised.

Is it the symptoms of low eostrogen that you're trying to address (fatigue, insomnia, night sweats)?

[Saffron]

This is more about b/fing than oestrogen, but it's very interesting.

http://www.breastfeedingclinic.com/pdf/Breastfeeding%20Kinetics.pdf

[Saffron]

Also:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/387162

[Helen GV]

A friend needs to increase her Oestrogen levels prior to an operation, is already on oestrogen supplements but is worried that if she is still breast feeding when the call up for the op comes they'll refuse to do in on the grounds that it's success is unlikely if oestrogen levels are low

[Helen GV]

Op is for re-doing stitches following discovery at six week check that there was something not quite right

[Saffron]

I think she really needs to have interim blood work done to check hormone levels, if there is a real likelihood that she might be refused on grounds of low oestrogen. Is the surgery to correct uterine prolapse (increased oestrogen thought to help this) or similar? Would a pessary hormone ring provide better local uptake of oestrogen w/o excessive systemic exposure, thereby limiting the likelihood of interfering with b/fing?

[Helen GV]

Stitches were done well according to doc but there may have been grazes that were missed and have healed with the stitches, so in effect she has been stitched up too much! Needs re-cutting and stitching..:(

She has localised cream to apply apparently but I will suggest she discuss the bloods with whoever she is dealing with, thanks a lot for the links too Saffron

[Smiler]

Ouch, your poor friend! Maybe if she's using king's the breastfeeding advisors there can help?

[Helen GV]

Yes possibly, I'll see if she's asked them about it, thanks :)