Re: Breastfeeding and Perimenopause

[Guest guest]

It is my experience that low thyroid can mimic or bring on menopausal symptoms.

My mom had a very early menopause, but has a not-very-well-treated hypothyroid.

I thought I was following in her footsteps in my mid thirties, but each

adjustment I've made to my armor thyroid has made me more fertile---more mucus,

higher quality, and for more days.

So it's something to consider in a mom who is " too young " for menopause or

perimenopause.

Lynn in MO

[Guest guest]

Judy may I ask what natural hormone replacement you used. My dear friend is having a hard time finding options and the research to back them r/t how young she is. She prefers a natural route and has started acupuncture which has help with the s & s of menopause.

Kim Guelig

From:

Judith L. Gutowski ;

To:

< >;

Subject:

Re: Breastfeeding and Perimenopause

Sent:

Wed, Apr 25, 2012 11:38:14 AM

Case

study of 1: I effectively

used compounded natural hormone replacement for osteoporosis while

breastfeeding. I was 40 at the time and had 50% bone loss in the spine. I saw

very good improvement in bone density during this time, 4.5% per year. I began

this treatment when my nursing daughter was 15 months old and she nursed until

she was about 5. It was determined that I had hormonal imbalance eventually. I

continued to have menstrual cycles with the use of these hormones, but did not

have them when I ceased using them after about 10 years. If she has other

questions I can help with please feel free to ask. Judy Judith

L. Gutowski, BA, IBCLC, RLC

[Guest guest]

What has your experience been with moms getting tubal ligations? I was just curious. I had a tubal at 36 and have had so many problems since. I nursed my last daughter till 3 and as soon as i stopped I began to have irregular periods and so many other issues. I went to so many Docs that told me so many diff things! I am now 46 and have been without a period for 3 years-so they say I'm post menopausal. I always believed it was due to my tubal. I always try ti discourage my clients from having this done.Liz Brown,IBCLC, RLC, CLCPeer HelperColumbiana County WIC

Subject: Re: Re: Breastfeeding and PerimenopauseTo: " " < >Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 12:18 PM

It is my experience that low thyroid can mimic or bring on menopausal symptoms. My mom had a very early menopause, but has a not-very-well-treated hypothyroid. I thought I was following in her footsteps in my mid thirties, but each adjustment I've made to my armor thyroid has made me more fertile---more mucus, higher quality, and for more days.So it's something to consider in a mom who is "too young" for menopause or perimenopause.Lynn in MO

[Guest guest]

Personal experience here.... breastfed twins through perimenopause and on through menopause.... Had great difficulty with adequate milk supply early on and I will never know if it was in fact, my age, the fact that I had to produce enough milk for TWO babies, my first traumatic c-section, or the fact that these babies were tongue tied and no one ever picked up on it (13 years ago!). However, I DID go on to produce an adequate supply to breastfeed them for years. It was odd not getting my period back afterwards as I had with previous babies. It came and went with the waxing and waning of my ovaries, but not much at all and in fact I feel I went directly from lactating to menopause in one smooth move! Ann

Ann Conlon-, IBCLCTriangle Lactation Consultants

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

What sort of adjustments have you made?

Thanks

>

> It is my experience that low thyroid can mimic or bring on menopausal

symptoms. My mom had a very early menopause, but has a not-very-well-treated

hypothyroid. I thought I was following in her footsteps in my mid thirties, but

each adjustment I've made to my armor thyroid has made me more fertile---more

mucus, higher quality, and for more days.

>

> So it's something to consider in a mom who is " too young " for menopause or

perimenopause.

>

> Lynn in MO

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Judith,

Actually, there had been bleeding on an off for several months presumably from a

rise in estrogen (theorized her obgyn) and upon advice from a naturopath, she

began seed cycling and vitex instead of the recommended hormone treatment. The

natural approaches have apparently helped some, but there is still a mystery of

how breastfeeding caused this.

I am really curious if any other studies have been done about this, like what

percentage of women in their 30's went into peri-menopause or had perimenopausal

symptoms from extended breastfeeding, and why.

I wonder why no books or even sections of books address this topic

>

> Case study of 1:

>

> I effectively used compounded natural hormone replacement for osteoporosis

> while breastfeeding. I was 40 at the time and had 50% bone loss in the

> spine. I saw very good improvement in bone density during this time, 4.5%

> per year. I began this treatment when my nursing daughter was 15 months old

> and she nursed until she was about 5. It was determined that I had hormonal

> imbalance eventually. I continued to have menstrual cycles with the use of

> these hormones, but did not have them when I ceased using them after about

> 10 years. If she has other questions I can help with please feel free to

> ask.

>

>

>

> Judy

>

> Judith L. Gutowski, BA, IBCLC, RLC

>