Before I type this, let me begin by saying that I have my yearly pap-smear scheduled for July 23rd and I plan to discuss this with my ob-gyn then, I'm looking for input here so I'll have an idea of questions I may need to ask at my appointment.

Now, on with the show :

I had my last period in May of 2007. I had been off of my birth control pills "solidly" for around 2 months. I found out I was pregnant with Jake on July 1st and as of July 10th I was 5 weeks pregnant, according to the vaginal ultrasound.

I had Jake on February 7th and have been expressing milk for him since around February 16th. At present, I manage to express around 18-24 oz. of milk per day.

He was 5 months old on Monday and I still haven't had a period. Is this on par with any of you?

The reason I'm "worried" (I'm really not worried, per se, but I can't think of a better word right now) about this is that sometime in the near (very near) future I'd like to try to conceive again BUT I don't want to have to give up on providing Jake with breast milk until he's ready to be weaned from the bottle completely. Do I have to choose?

Like I said, I plan to discuss this with my ob-gyn, but I'd like some input from some mothers who may have been in the same/similar situation as me.

TIA
Cheryl

Hey Cheryl,

If you are expressing often enough, you can maintain amenorrhea just as women who are directly breastfeeding do. As far as I know, I hold the world's record for lactational amenorrhea--30 months. I was very pleased with that, however! As Jake is getting older and beginning solids, you might consider reducing pumping frequency in order to increase your chances of ovulation. This might decrease your supply, might not. Ovulation might decrease your supply, might not. Pregnancy....will likely decrease your supply, but again, if he is taking some solids, that might be acceptable to you.

How often are you pumping? Do you pump at night? I find that when women cease the middle of the night breast stimulation, that increases the chance of ovulation.

Anyway, it is perfectly normal to not have a menses yet. Great job providing Jake with your fabulous, amazing, perfect milk!

Thanks, Jenn. You'd be surprised at the lack of support there is (esp. from family) for expressing milk! My MIL has something to say almost everytime I see her! I will do what's best for my child (hopefully childREN someday), though--no questions asked, no excuses offered!

Midwife, I pump three-four times daily, generally at 5:00 a.m., 12:30-3:00 p.m. and 8:00-9:00 p.m. (different times, I just try to stay within those hours) and I almost always get enough from one pumping to fill a 7.5 oz. bottle for Jake. I have to supplement any other feedings throughout the day either with formula or previously frozen milk. I quit pumping at night around the middle of May, so I guess around 7-8 weeks ago? When I was pumping 4 times daily I pumped at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00-6:30 p.m. and then around 11:30-1:00 a.m.

Can you ovulate without a period?

You can ovulate before you have a period. So it is also possible to get pregnant without even having a period following a previous birth.

I am so impressed with your milk supply!

I have 10 kids and for most of them only had one period between kids. I thought not getting your period was great! Do you express because you work? I used to get my period when I got below 4 breast feedings a day. Most of my kids slept through the night pretty early. After my 10th, I menstruated just before my 43rd birthday and went right into menopause, never getting pg again but having quite heavy irregular periods. I think that was for about 10 yr. I am 59 now and it seems so long ago.

Are you currently on any birth control? Some may cause you not to menstruate. I know that the higher dose progesterone only BCs can do that (I was on them for years and never had a period). I've also heard that doctors usually prescribe progesterone only BC after delivery.

I'm not on any kind of birth control at all! I decided a long time ago that once I started having babies I'd be (chemically) birth-control-free for the rest of my life.

I do express because of work, but I actually enjoy expressing because I can see how much milk Jake is getting. I will probably breastfeed all of my future children only until I begin working and then express for them, too.

CAROL--did you have any multiples in your kids? I've read that conceiving while breastfeeding increases the chance of having multiples.