Breast-feeding and Post Partum Amenorrhoea in Central Africa: 3. Milk production in an urban area

Abstract

The milk output of 167 lactating women living in urban areas in the eastern part of the Republic of Zaire was studied. The quantity of milk produced in 24 hours varied between 600 and 800 g during the first year; it then decreased rapidly with the age of the child. Lactating women in urban areas were found to have a better nutritional status than women in rural areas. Under these nutritional conditions there is an association between the frequency of feeding and the amount of milk produced.