(( VaginaPagina ))

I've been curious about this and don't know who I can ask since not everyone is as open about stuff like this as I am.

I'm curious whether those who do not breastfeed after having a baby end up with the same changes in their breasts as those who do. I'm talking about them feeling super empty and being more floppy than they were before, as well as some sagging (I know that varies between people and can happen without breastfeeding as well). I guess I'm curious if it's the changes that happen during pregnancy and the initial engorgement before the milk goes away that causes them, or if it's the constant filling and emptying of breastfeeding that does. If it's the former, and your milk never comes in, are they the same as they were before being pregnant?

(this is not intended to be a discussion on the merits of either method of feeding, I'm just curious on a purely physical standpoint)

Bit of background: I have a history of infertility. It took us 4 years to get pregnant and keep it and it happened naturally after treatments we tried didn't work.

I am currently 4 1/2 weeks postpartum. I was told by my MW today that I can resume having intercourse whenever I feel ready for it. Exciting, because I haven't had sex in a long time and terrifying because I'm so afraid of how it's going to feel.

She said that we should use birth control because I could be ovulating even though I am exclusively breastfeeding. We had decided before I gave birth that we wouldn't bother protecting because we know we want another child and it took us so long to get the one we finally have that it seemed dumb to protect when it might happen without all the heartache and stress. That was unless having another one was out of the question at the time. Which naturally, it is.

I am not going back on pills because they made me really depressed for months when I came off of them and I didn't ovulate for over a year and while I can't prove it was them, I'm pretty sure they were at least responsible for the depression. I don't like the idea of an IUD. I hate condoms. Which leaves me with...?

My questions are:

1) I used FAM for TTC. Will it work if I am BFing exclusively? I know it can dry up your fluids, so I'm not sure if it would be as obvious if I were ovulating. I also know that it can prevent you from ovulating at all, which would be ideal, but I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to take that chance and end up pregnant by accident. (not the end of the world, but not ideal right at this moment - such a strange feeling after trying for so long to get pregnant in the first place!)

2) I know there are some really thin condoms that feel a lot less like you're wearing one. Does anyone know what those are? We've used the thinnest Trojan ones for when we've needed to but we both hate them.

3) If I'm not getting a period, does that mean I'm not ovulating? (assuming it's impossible that I'm pregnant). Obviously it varies, but how long did it take for your cycles to return when you were exclusively breastfeeding?

Thanks so much in advance!