In todays Albuquerque Journal, there is an article about a study that is
taking place in Las Vegas, New Mexico (betcha didn't know we had one too) at
New Mexico Highlands University called the Mom's Study by Dr Bill Taylor
(biomedical engineer).  It's a study that's trying to figure out how
breastfeeding affects the return of a woman's fertility.  Funding from the
National Institues of Health Minority and Biomedical Research Support
Program, a program intended to expose minority students to careers in health
sciences and research.  The study is in the second phase of funding lasting
through 2000.  The study has recruited women in New Mexico and Cameroon and
is opening a site in Puerto Rico.  (We got approval from LLLI for our LLL
members to be included if the mom is interested, we just display the
brochure to pregnant and new moms at our Group meetings).  The following is
my editing for space:
    The article states that WHO has found that a women who fully breastfeeds
her child during the first six months and whose period has not returned
during that time, has almost no chance of getting pregnant.
    Data from the first 144 mothers in the study showed the median return of
menstruation after birth was 12.9 months, but the time varied for
individuals from 3 months to 33 months.
    Fertility takes longer to return the more frequently a woman breastfeeds
each day.  It also is delayed if she and her baby sleep in the same bed.
    In addition to tracking feeding patterns and pinpointing when
menstruation returns in new mothers, researchers also are developing hormone
profiles on participants.  The pattern of estrogen and progesterone levels
can indicate when a woman ovulates.
    He traces the hormone levels from filter paper squares that the women
dip in their urine .  Participants also log feeding patterns and menstrual
history into a graphing calculator.
    Of the women who initially sign up, 40% drop out of the study.  The
others integrate the recordkeeping into their lifestyles and stick it out
until they have gone through 2 complete menstrual cycles after giving birth.
    Taylor is looking for more participants from the New Mexico region.
Women who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant soon or who have given birth
within 2 weeks can sign up.  All info is confidential.
    Call 505+454-3458 or write Mom's Study, c/o Dr Bill Taylor, NM Highlands
Univ, Las Vegas, NM 87701