Yesterday Dr. Nichols-Johnson said that lactational anovulation usually
lasts from 6-8 months.  I just wanted to point out that many women who nurse
frequently during the day and at night and whose children don't use
pacifiers often have much much longer lactational amenorrhea.  I had 23
blessed months of no menstrual periods after the birth of my first child,
and 2-3 years is common for women in traditional societies.  A lot depends
of the frequency and timing of nursing (night nursing has a greater effect),
the nutritional status of the mother, the amount of solids and pacifier use,
etc.  Plus, there is huge individual variation, even with all other things
being equal.  But many women experience much longer than 6-8 months of
lactational amenorrhea.  The fascinating links between breastfeeding and
fertility are explored in great detail in Peter Ellison's published works,
including a chapter from Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives.

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352