> In our society, however, we see a rapid return of fertility because of how
> we manage the breastfeeding relationship. As a result, couples with a
> "traditional" approach to family planning are going to experience great
> hardship when they are not also practicing "traditional", unrestricted
> breastfeeding.

Don't forget that diet and excercise have a huge role to play in the return
of fertility.  In the land of abundance, where food is not scarce, fat
contents in diet run high, exercise is low and hormones abound in meat
products, it is not uncommon to hear women who practice "ecological"
breastfeeding/co-sleeping complain that they didn't even get a 6 mo.
repreive from their menstrual cycles.  Many LLL Leaders (as well as other
mothers) I know, who presumably practice ecological breastfeeding, complain
of regular periods 4 weeks postpartum.  It is very easy to assume that the
woman with 2 (or 3, or 4...) kids close in age didn't breastfeed "right" if
she breastfed at all, but so many other factors come into play in the return
of menses in our culture that many times this assumption is not accurate at
all.  Luckily, with my first, the return of menses was delayed until he was
19 mos. (while he was still nursing very similar to the description of
toddlers in Kathy D's research in Mali - every 40 minutes or so, 24/7).  I
have just experienced a return of menses at my dd's 17 mos. mark, and that
is while tandem nursing.  Needless to say, I had hoped to get much more of a
repreive, but it is *much* more than many moms enjoy.

Just something else to think about.

Carrie Otterson

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