In conjunction with the current poll on breastfeeding and the return of a woman’s menstrual cycle, I thought I would list some resources on the subject. The Kellymom.com breastfeeding and fertility page talks about using breastfeeding to prevent pregnancy, the transition to full fertility, and whether or not a mother needs to wean to get pregnant (hint: the answer generally is no). La Leche League offers several articles on breastfeeding and fertility, including one on whether or not it is normal not to have a period when breastfeeding.
I haven’t read these books, but La Leche League recommends Breastfeeding and Natural …read more

A Breastfeeding 1-2-3 reader suggested a great question for this next poll. She wanted to know when most breastfeeding women get their periods back after giving birth. (This would be a good question for mothers who are breastfeeding adopted newborns too but I think it might confuse the issue with different hormone changes and levels of milk supply, so if you are an adoptive mother, please do share your experience in the comments!)
Most women enjoy amenorrhea for a while, but it can be really frustrating for mothers who have not experienced a return of their menstrual cycles by the …read more