Breast feeding and smaller family size

[FrancescaMaria]

This is inspired by previous thread on low birthrates, where I noticed that a lot of people lament that Catholic families in the US are not as large as they used to be. I wonder, if people take into account that in previous couple of generations breastfeeding was not nearly as common and as promoted as vital to the baby’s health as it is today, so when women did not breastfeed, it was easier for them to get pregnant soon after recovering from the previous pregnancy and could get pregnant sometimes every other year. Nowadays, when a baby is breastfeed for 1-2 years, it is very hard to get pregnant during that time and sometimes even afterwards, because the body needs time to recover, so the spacing between children tends to be more like 3-4 years, sometimes even 5 years (if the body takes longer to bounce back to start ovulating again after two years of continuous breastfeeding), hence less opportunity to become pregnant. So if a woman with average fertility gets married in her mid or late twenties, she probably has time to have no more than 3-5 children by the time she turns 40, unless she has an extraordinary luck of getting pregnant very easily or even while breastfeeding. So sometimes we have less children because we are committed to give them the best nutrition, which takes a toll on our bodies, and hence we are not as fertile as previous generations. And I wonder, do people who lament the reduction in family size realize that?

 

[Lea101]

I do know people here that point this out
Some even breastfeed longer just so they can space out pregnancies

 

[heidi_storage]

Interesting hypothesis, but given that most women who breastfeed aren’t doing so for all that long–less than a year–and given that many women eventually do return to fertility even while lactating (like me)–I’m not sure you can consider that a major reason for the average reduction of family size. Increasing age, perceived expensiveness of children, and greater demands for what it means to be a good parent (preschool! Music lessons! Sports) seem much more likely to be driving the decrease in family size.

 

[bitterhope]

Breastfeeding hasn’t spaced my children. I’ve nursed all my kids. My mom nursed all of us. Not all women stop cycling due to breastfeeding.

 

[Padres1969]

Interesting hypothesis, but given that most women who breastfeed aren’t doing so for all that long–less than a year–and given that many women eventually do return to fertility even while lactating (like me)–I’m not sure you can consider that a major reason for the average reduction of family size. Increasing age, perceived expensiveness of children, and greater demands for what it means to be a good parent (preschool! Music lessons! Sports) seem much more likely to be driving the decrease in family size.

Actually these days many women breastfeed up to two years. The World Health Organization actually recommends supplemental breastfeeding to 2 years of age and exclusively breastfeeding to 6 months. Talking on mommy message boards it does seem most of the women try to breastfeed as long as possible.

 

[lax16]

Breastfeeding hasn’t spaced my children. I’ve nursed all my kids. My mom nursed all of us. Not all women stop cycling due to breastfeeding.

I breastfed all of my children for a long time and had three children and one miscarriage in four years. It certainly didn’t space mine either.

 

[pensmama87]

I breastfed all of my children for a long time and had three children and one miscarriage in four years. It certainly didn’t space mine either.

Yes, it can vary enormously from woman to woman. Simcha Fisher (a mom of 10 who wrote The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning) recently wrote on her blog or her Facebook page that if weren’t for NFP, she would likely have 18 children instead of 10, because of how quickly her cycles return despite round-the-clock breastfeeding.

I do think the OP might be on to something, though. Most women throughout human history have not had a baby every year. When we remember the family sizes a generation or two ago, I think that might be something to take into account. At the rate my husband and I are going, we probably would have eight at the absolute most, and I had my first at 24.

Kendra Tierney has a good blog post about this called “Dear Newlywed, You’re Probably Worried About the Wrong Thing.” It’s not about breastfeeding in particular, but about fertility in general. Infertility has always existed, and the total fertility rate has never been super high. I would guess among practicing Catholic families the rates were probably the highest when breastfeeding was not common, because then more people were having early cycle returns (even though there are some that do regardless.)

 

[lax16]

Yes, it can vary enormously from woman to woman. Simcha Fisher (a mom of 10 who wrote The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning) recently wrote on her blog or her Facebook page that if weren’t for NFP, she would likely have 18 children instead of 10, because of how quickly her cycles return despite round-the-clock breastfeeding.

I do think the OP might be on to something, though. Most women throughout human history have not had a baby every year. When we remember the family sizes a generation or two ago, I think that might be something to take into account. At the rate my husband and I are going, we probably would have eight at the absolute most, and I had my first at 24.

Kendra Tierney has a good blog post about this called “Dear Newlywed, You’re Probably Worried About the Wrong Thing.” It’s not about breastfeeding in particular, but about fertility in general. Infertility has always existed, and the total fertility rate has never been super high. I would guess among practicing Catholic families the rates were probably the highest when breastfeeding was not common, because then more people were having early cycle returns (even though there are some that do regardless.)

I find that more women are not breastfeeding today because they return to work fairly soon after the baby is born. It would be interesting to know exactly when, and if, women ever supplemented breast milk with anything else. Baby formula is a rather new invention I believe. Well, my mom gave it to me and I am 51.

That’s hilarious - 18 instead of 10. If I didn’t have to have c-sections every time I would have had more than four. I definitely have no problem conceiving despite round the clock breastfeeding sessions!

I agree about the fertility thing. My sister was unable to conceive on her own due to various issues and I had no issues. (love Catholic all year and Kendra Tierney!)

 

[ThePCWife]

Breastfeeding is on the increase, including longer than a year. But a lot of women pump, which does nothing to slow or stop cycling.

 

[pensmama87]

I find that more women are not breastfeeding today because they return to work fairly soon after the baby is born. It would be interesting to know exactly when, and if, women ever supplemented breast milk with anything else. Baby formula is a rather new invention I believe. Well, my mom gave it to me and I am 51.

That’s hilarious - 18 instead of 10. If I didn’t have to have c-sections every time I would have had more than four. I definitely have no problem conceiving despite round the clock breastfeeding sessions!

I agree about the fertility thing. My sister was unable to conceive on her own due to various issues and I had no issues. (love Catholic all year and Kendra Tierney!)

It is. Wealthy women employed wet nurses in centuries past, but formula wasn’t commonly used until the 50s and 60s, I don’t think. My mother and her mother breastfed all of their children until a year or so at least, but they were basically alone in that, even though both stayed at home before all their children were school-aged.

There is a dropoff in breastfeeding after women return to work. My SIL is the breadwinner in her family and she was able to pump for several months, but it’s just not the same as nursing a baby and so her supply dwindled fast. She breastfed longer than any of her female relatives - until her daughter was 9 months old. She returned to work when baby was 6 months old or so (she’s a nurse.)

I used to work part-time when my second was born and I pumped for him, but only once because I was gone for only a couple hours and it was for my “relief” more than anything else. He rarely drank anything I pumped and I ended up giving most of it away to a mom with twins who couldn’t breastfeed at all. A few weeks ago I was away from home for an entire day and leaving and pumping was super, super annoying, as was carrying all of the stuff and storing it. Major props to all the working moms who do that every day!

ETA: Just to add my personal experience, I’ve had lactational amenhorrea 15 months after my first, 18 months after my second, and so far 10 months after my third. My kids are 25 and 30 months apart. So I’m at the outer bounds it seems anyway, though I know some women who have had to wean completely for their fertility to return. Fun story: I weaned right at a year, and my mother **still **didn’t have a cycle until around 15 months (immediately afterwards she got pregnant with my brother.) I suspect genetics play a really big role in it.

 

[pensmama87]

I also don’t think we can ignore that contraception use is almost universal and considered normal. Women are asked constantly, “What birth control are you using?” It’s assumed we’ll use something. Even though I have it on my chart that I don’t use contraception, I’ve been reminded when scheduling my 6 week postpartum checkups, “Let us know if you want an IUD so we’re ready to insert it for you when you come!” All I have to say is “No thanks,” because thankfully I have respectful health providers, but it’s definitely not their ordinary way of doing things.

 

[Usige]

Actually these days many women breastfeed up to two years. The World Health Organization actually recommends supplemental breastfeeding to 2 years of age and exclusively breastfeeding to 6 months. Talking on mommy message boards it does seem most of the women try to breastfeed as long as possible.

Supplemental breastfeeding generally does not result in lactational amenorrhea. The last data I saw was that on demand breastfeeding generally delayed the return of ovulation by 3 - 12 months. As far as I remember 18 months is considered the outer boundary. That assumes demand nursing and not supplemental nursing. I’d have to find the data again, but I think it was 6 - 12 weeks after regular feeding ceases that ovulation normally returns in a health woman. That also assumes that it did not return before that point. Some women will ovulate even while nursing full time.

That isn’t to say that some women might have 2 years of amenorrhea while exclusively breastfeeding, but I think it’s a stretch to say it is a major cause of lower birth rates. I would think 4 - 5 years between children is not strictly a matter of breastfeeding and postpartum recovery, but likely indicative of lower overall fertility.

 

[Usige]

I also don’t think we can ignore that contraception use is almost universal and considered normal. Women are asked constantly, “What birth control are you using?” It’s assumed we’ll use something. Even though I have it on my chart that I don’t use contraception, I’ve been reminded when scheduling my 6 week postpartum checkups, “Let us know if you want an IUD so we’re ready to insert it for you when you come!” All I have to say is “No thanks,” because thankfully I have respectful health providers, but it’s definitely not their ordinary way of doing things.

That is true. My wife knows several women that scheduled a tubal ligation to coincide with their 2nd c section. I think it was only after number 7 that our midwife finally remembered that we weren’t going to use birth control. Even one of our former OBs who was Catholic and had 10 kids just had it as a check mark on follow up. He’d tell her at discharge “no intimate contact until 6 week follow up; use a condom if you do”. He had the good graces to look embarrassed after saying it and realizing who he was talking to. I don’t think it was lack of respect so much as it is expected that you use birth control unless you are trying to get pregnant. That expectation is likely because it is the norm.

 

[MotherMurphy]

I have always gotten my cycle and full fertility back by the third month after my babies’ births, although I have breastfed for nearly 2 years after the birth of each child.

The standard belief that breastfeeding delays conception is not true for every woman, although it is true for some (like my mother).

Personally I suspect there are many Catholic families who would love to have children more frequently than they are but cannot because of financial constraints. Our economy in the U.S. is really geared toward both parents working and only having one or two children. Even with the tightest of budgets and a simple, minimalist lifestyle and higher-end careers, it’s difficult to support a large family. My husband is an attorney and I do contribute with some work from home – even so, we will likely never be able to have more than 5 children or so because feeding them and schooling them is, well, kind of important.

 

[MotherMurphy]

Supplemental breastfeeding generally does not result in lactational amenorrhea. The last data I saw was that on demand breastfeeding generally delayed the return of ovulation by 3 - 12 months. As far as I remember 18 months is considered the outer boundary. That assumes demand nursing and not supplemental nursing. I’d have to find the data again, but I think it was 6 - 12 weeks after regular feeding ceases that ovulation normally returns in a health woman. That also assumes that it did not return before that point. Some women will ovulate even while nursing full time.

That isn’t to say that some women might have 2 years of amenorrhea while exclusively breastfeeding, but I think it’s a stretch to say it is a major cause of lower birth rates. I would think 4 - 5 years between children is not strictly a matter of breastfeeding and postpartum recovery, but likely indicative of lower overall fertility.

Yes – I breastfed on demand, around the clock, but always regained fertility much sooner than I stopped breastfeeding on demand! As soon as my babies slept for a 5 hour stretch (even if only one night!), bam! AF was back.

 

[heidi_storage]

Actually these days many women breastfeed up to two years. The World Health Organization actually recommends supplemental breastfeeding to 2 years of age and exclusively breastfeeding to 6 months. Talking on mommy message boards it does seem most of the women try to breastfeed as long as possible.

Biased sample. In the US, according to the CDC, less than half of women are breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, and only about a quarter are breastfeeding at one year.

 

[heidi_storage]

Breastfeeding is on the increase, including longer than a year. But a lot of women pump, which does nothing to slow or stop cycling.

Well–not nothing; it stops my cycles altogether for about 6 months pp, and makes them wonky a few months after that.

 

[FrancescaMaria]

Thank you everyone for your replies, I guess fertility during lactation is not as rare as I thought. I was judging by my own experience, we were able to conceive a maximum of 4 children in 17 years of marriage. Long sessions of breastfeedig left me drained and underweigt and lack of body fat often means no ovulation. Oh and by the way, menstruation may occur without ovulation. It usually took me a couple of additional years to get pregnant again. I consider myself very fortunate to have 4 children in tbe end and I understand why people would like to brag about larger families, but I wish people were more compassionate towards families with only one or two, because we never know how hard they might have been trying and how much they might wish to have more and what sacrifices they had to make.

 

[bitterhope]

Thank you everyone for your replies, I guess fertility during lactation is not as rare as I thought. I was judging by my own experience, we were able to conceive a maximum of 4 children in 17 years of marriage. Long sessions of breastfeedig left me drained and underweigt and lack of body fat often means no ovulation. Oh and by the way, menstruation may occur without ovulation. It usually took me a couple of additional years to get pregnant again. I consider myself very fortunate to have 4 children in tbe end and I understand why people would like to brag about larger families, but I wish people were more compassionate towards families with only one or two, because we never know how hard they might have been trying and how much they might wish to have more and what sacrifices they had to make.

How often do people really brag about large families? More often than not we are shamed for having so many. We are told it is selfish and irresponsible. We are often people’s “greatest fear” to quote my neighbor about my family size. I know I’ve been blessed to have the family I have. It’s pretty hereditary I think. That being said, my sister is infertile. It’s like a double whammy to her because she’s a nurse practitioner/midwife and teaches Creighton NFP. She helps women achieve and avoid something she’s prayed for her entire marriage, something she’s desired most her life. Even those of us with higher fertility rates often suffer losses and secondary fertility at some point in our lives. Fertility is a gift and a blessing that is do often looked more at as a curse. I’m sorry you’ve struggled to conceive. I don’t know why so many of us that have wanted to avoid keep having babies while others that want children struggle. It took me years to accept that this is the way God chose to bless me because I only wanted two. I felt guilty for having children when my sister can’t and wanted them desperately. I was tempted to use ABC or even get sterilized, but thankfully my sister and husband were able to help me see how wrong that would be. We all have struggles, and those struggles are the way God helps us grow in holiness. For me, it was a struggle to accept my kids coming no matter how much I tried to prevent them. For you it was a struggle to accept God’s timing and less than you desired. For my sister it was a struggle to accept never having children of her own. And for my husband it is a struggle to be a soldier and so often gone away from the family he longs so deeply to be with. Please forgive me if anything I have said has hurt you. It isn’t my intention. May God continue to bless your beautiful family.

 

[ThePCWife]

Biased sample. In the US, according to the CDC, less than half of women are breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, and only about a quarter are breastfeeding at one year.

This is twice as high as the numbers for Canada and I think the UK though.