Breastfeeding-Related Vaginal Symptoms

Dear Editor:

As a practicing registered nurse for three decades and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for the past decade, I am overjoyed to see a professional journal acknowledge an article about menopause-like symptoms in breastfeeding women.

After the birth of my second child and while working in obstetrics part-time, I was motivated to breastfeed despite any latching difficulties this baby could possibly have. At 3 months postpartum I visited my obstetrician with what I thought was a vaginal yeast infection. She told me that my “vagina looked like I was in full blown menopause and that the bad bacteria and yeast was growing because I did not have the normal flora and an imbalance was going on inside. The walls of my vagina were paper thin.” She told me that I would continue to have the copious discharge and dry vagina until I stopped breastfeeding, and she recommended that I switch to formula feeding. I went home and discussed her advice with my spouse and reluctantly stopped breastfeeding the next day, and thus all my symptoms cleared within 10 days. All but the symptom of guilt for not doing what I desperately thought was an important part of my motherhood remained.

That was in 1984, and I have had repeated dreams that allowed me to seek alternative treatments to the vaginal condition while breastfeeding, but upon awakening quickly realize that my goals never came to fruition.

I thank you for your article and hope that if you are able to share my story, that it will inspire other women to seek the guidance of a professional who will keep breastfeeding going. It is the norm, and a matter of wellness for both a mother and her baby.