Sarah writes,

<< Over the last year or so I have several women tell me that they were
 going to wean by a year because they wanted to become pregnant again.
 These are all older (38-40) first time mothers.  >>

Sarah, Sarah -- don't you remember basic OB lectures by the basic OBs?  "You
can get pregnant while you are breastfeeding, so make sure you use some sort
of birth control.  Breastfeeding is NOT a contraceptive...." and so on and so
on -- which is why moms end up getting Depo or the pill at 4 weeks or whenever
they walk out the door of the hospital, whichever comes first...  Of course,
these are the same docs that tell the mom to STOP breastfeeding so she can get
pregnant.  Why can't they make up their minds?

If the woman has resumed her periods, then her estrogen/progesterone levels
are probably about where they should be to get pregnant.  Since prolactin is
back to normal levels, what is inhibiting pregnancy while moms are bf past 6
months?

Jan