EFFECT OF SKIM MILK SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE MATERNAL DIET ON LACTATIONAL AMENORRHEA, MATERNAL PROLACTIN, AND LACTATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Effect of skim milk supplementation of the maternal diet on lactationa l amenorrhea was studied in 30 pairs of healthy lactating women matche d for parity, body mass index, and previous experience of lactational amenorrhea. Supplementation of the maternal diet had no significant ef fect on the time of resumption of regular menstruation or ovulation, m aternal prolactin concentrations, breast-feeding pattern, maternal bod y mass index, or infant weight. However, the supplemented group breast -fed nearly exclusively (supplemental feeds were introduced but did no t exceed 20% of total feeds) for a significantly longer duration (P < 0.05) than did the control group. Previous experience of lactational a menorrhea was significantly positively correlated with the time of res umption of menstruation in the supplemented (P < 0.01) and control (P < 0.05) groups when frequency of breast-feeding, maternal body mass in dex, and supplementary feeds to the infant were controlled for. Thus, maternal nutritional supplementation does not appear to affect the con traceptive benefit of lactation when the frequency of breast-feeding i s not compromised but apparently lengthens the duration of nearly full breast-feeding.