Hey Jo,

I've read (sorry I can't reference to it but this has been in my own general 
research because of my interest in the subject) that one of the factors that 
could play a part in fertility returning when a women is breastfeeding is in 
fact their level of body fat.  It pinpointed those with a higher than average 
level of body fat were more likely to have a return of fertility despite fully 
breastfeeding and eliminating other supposed factors such as introducing solids.

But I think what you are saying is also very interesting.  My body fat levels 
increased from about the time baby was around 8 months onwards until I modified 
my diet and exercise programs back to what they were pre pregnancy/baby days.  
Hormones??  I think with two of my babies, there were actually feeding a lot 
more (fully breastfed until close to 11 months old)  when I noticed this 
happening than as younger infants.  But lucky you on the no period yet!

This is what I'm trying to caution over re breastfeeding as a contraception - 
there seems to not be a fixed set of rules that can be given out to each 
individual.  

Regards

Jayne



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jo Watson 
  To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au 
  Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 2:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] breastfeeding as contraception


  Hi Jayne,


  Are you saying that maternal fat levels increase when ovulation returns?  If 
so, in which way? ie fatter = earlier or later?  I have put on a significant 
amount of weight since having my bub almost 19 months ago, and we are still 
breastfeeding about 5 times in 24 hours, but for the last 3 months or so, he's 
been getting no milk between about 8pm and 4am (ish, give or take).  I still 
have no periods!


  Jo


  On 22/12/2006, at 12:43 PM, jayne/jesse wrote:


    Being 100% pro breastfeeding Barb, I'd like to go along with your 98%.  I 
have to agree with Janet though.  There are very real reasons why the 98% does 
not apply to all in our culture particularly.  Having 100% fully breastfed 
three babies from periods of 6 months to 11 months, not used bottles or dummies 
but did indeed co-sleep, sling baby and suckle on demand for the whole periods 
of time indicated, I became fertile at 4 months pp, 5 months pp and the last 
one was the shocker.....6 weeks pp!  I was fully aware of mucous signs before 
fertility returned and pinpointed them exactly except with the last one, I 
thought my eyes were playing tricks on me and I didn't believe it until it 
happened.  So because of my experiences, I'm reluctant to spout 98% success 
rates re breastfeeding as contraception

    I have also heard that maternal fat levels can play a part - higher levels. 
 Mine was actually average to low at the times when fertility returned.  There 
was one thing that I feel triggered fertility returning and that was the point 
when my babies started to sleep for periods of 4 to 6 hours at a stretch 
through the night.

    Regards

    Jayne




    ----- Original Message -----
      From: Janet Fraser
      To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
      Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 2:07 PM
      Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] breastfeeding as contraception


      I don't think it's risky or tricky, or silly for that matter. I was 
trying to be thorough in my reply and not make sweeping statements. Recently 
one of my moderators did some research on achieving fertility again while 
breastfeeding so she came up with a list which could equally be applied to 
Kylie's article. Obviously LA works a treat if you look at cultures which 
pursue child-led weaning but western culture just doesn't and therein can lie 
the problems for many people. Most people don't understand anything about bf in 
the first place, as we all know ; )
      Here's the list in case you're interested, Kylie. It was for a member 
with a 2 year old who'd like to ttc but hasn't bled in 2 years and with no 
signs of bfing slowing. It's a very mixed bag of refs  but some great ones : )

      * Feeding EBM by bottle 
(http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:1ilEf4An7dMJ:www.bfmed.org/ace-files/protocol/finalcontraceptionprotocolsent2.pdf+lactational+am
 enorrhea+fertility&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=30)
      * Supplementing feeds (formula or solids)
      * Increased use of pacifiers
      * Feeding on schedule instead of on demand
      * Increased intervals between feeds (4hrs during day, 6hrs at night)
      * Waiting until bub is 6mths or older 
      * Reduce time at the breast during a feed (shorter feeds, no comfort 
sucking)
      * Reduce total time at the breast per day to 65 min or less (McNeilly AS, 
Glasier AF, Howie PW, Houston MJ, Cook A,Boyle H. Fertility after childbirth: 
pregnancy associated with
      breast feeding. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1983 Aug;19(2):167-73., 
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/faq/lam.html)
      * Reduce night time feeds (Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA, Peerson JM, 
Dewey KG. Factors related to duration of postpartum amenorrhoea among USA women 
with prolonged lactation. J Biosoc Sci. 1994 
Oct;26(4):517-27.,http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/faq/lam.html)
      * Stop co-sleeping, including no naps with your child during the day 
(Kippley, Sheila. Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing: How Ecological 
Breastfeeding Spaces Babies. Cincinnati: Couple to Couple League International, 
1999,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactational_Amenorrhea_Method)
      * Be separated from your child for more than 3 hours a day (Kippley, 
Sheila. Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing: How Ecological Breastfeeding 
Spaces Babies. Cincinnati: Couple to Couple League International, 
1999,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactational_Amenorrhea_Method)

      And what if you're a co-sleeping, fully BFing, no pacifier, BF on demand 
mumma? How long will it be until your period returns? "Average return of menses 
for women following all [...] criteria is 14 months, with some reports as soon 
as 2 months and others as late as 42 months." 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactati...norrhea_Method

      Of course, once your period does return, continuing breastfeeding can 
still affect your chances of conception. 
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...t_uids=7761906)

      Reference pages - very eclectic mix some ok, some good
      http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/faq/lam.html
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactati...norrhea_Method
      http://www.fhi.org/training/en/modul...references.htm (lots of references 
for articles on lactational amenorrhea, if you want to do more research)
      http://www.fhi.org/training/en/modul...getstarted.htm 
      
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:1ilEf4An7dMJ:www.bfmed.org/ace-files/protocol/finalcontraceptionprotocolsent2.pdf+lactational+am
 enorrhea+fertility&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=30



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