IIlene:

1) Can a person use hormonal birth control and still safely nurse.  If  so
what kind.- preferable is a progesterone only. ie: mini pill

2) How long is it normal to be able to express milk from a breast after
 weaning.  - there is not definative answer... it varies from woman to woman.
concern is appropriate with spontaneous discharge...the ability to express
can last, as many on line have discussed,. for many many years.

3)Has anyone heard about mucosal lining ( I think bacterial population) being
altered due to pacifier thus causing a predisposition to ear  infections and
would sucking thumb cause the same result? - i beleive that there is a an
article in pediatrics on this topic.
 --
                    Patricia