Breastfeeding has an additional effect in many women. The hormones important for producing milk and causing milk to be released in reaction to suckling also inhibit pituitary gland from releasing the hormones needed for initiating ovulation in the ovaries. What might be a logical adaptive significance of this hormone feedback system?

a) The woman can signal the baby that she will take care of it adequately.
b) Breastfeeding is a signal to males that the woman is fertile.
c) Prevents too much estrogen from being released in the female over her lifetime to delay menopause.
d) Successful long term care of the offspring is maximized by not becoming pregnant again too soon.