How Can Breast-Feeding Protect Me from Becoming Pregnant Again?
When you are breast-feeding nature can protect you from becoming pregnant. This appears to be an ancient inborn mechanism that protects nursing mothers from becoming pregnant before their current baby has a chance to become old enough to fully survive. Hormones stimulated by breast-feeding, the production of milk and suck on the nipples acts to turn of menstrual periods and prevent ovulation. Often menstrual periods may not return for the entire time that the woman breast feeds but in many cases menstrual periods are only delayed for a number of months during the early process of breast-feeding a new born.
Generally, most women who are breast-feeding are much less likely to become pregnant during the first 6 months of breast-feeding their newborn baby. After 6 months the baby is now old enough o survive on feeding methods other than breast milk and the contraceptive effect of breast-feeding begins to decrease. This is especially if you are already having menstrual periods. The contraceptive effect of breast-feeding decreases rapidly after your menstrual periods return and when you start giving your baby formula or foods other than breast milk.
What Are Some of the Advantages of Using Breast-feeding as a Means of Birth Control?
Breast-feeding doesn't cost anything and can be convenient in itself and satisfying to you and your baby.
Breast-feeding is the best way to feed your baby. It encourages bonding between you and your baby. Breast milk is also very nutritious, and it gives your baby greater immunity against infection because it contains antibodies.
Breast-feeding is about 98% effective as a birth control method for the first 6 months.
Breast-feeding helps your womb return to normal and helps you return to your normal weight.
There are many breast-feeding support groups to educate and help women who want to breast-feeding. To get information regarding breast-feeding, call the La Leche League for more information at 1-800-LA LECHE.
What If Any Disadvantages Are There to Using Breast-Feeding as a Birth Control Method?
Breast-feeding does not keep all women from having their periods, and therefore is not an entirely effective method of birth control once your menstrual periods return. Also, it is often difficult to tell when breast-feeding stops working as birth control method except by becoming pregnant.
This method works best only when you feed your baby your breast milk and nothing else. If are feeding your baby formula or foods other than breast milk, be sure that use a spoon rather than a bottle. This is especially important if you are relying breast-feeding as your sole method of birth control. If you work, pumping milk from your breasts often helps improve the effectiveness of breast-feeding as a birth control method.
Some women are bothered by having a dry vagina while breast-feeding. This is normal. Intercourse may be more comfortable if you use a lubricant for sex, such as Astroglide, Aqua Lube, or KY jelly rather then relying on natural lubrication.
If you are breast-feeding, you must be willing and able to eat lots of healthy foods.
What If My Period Returns and I Have Unprotected Sex?
For 72 hours after unprotected sex, you can take advantage of an emergency contraceptive method to avoid becoming pregnant. For up to 7 days after unprotected sex you can have an IUD inserted. Talk with your doctor about emergency contraception in advance to make sure that it is available to you.
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