Birth Control by Breastfeeding Dr.Sujnanendra Mishra MD (O&G)

The Lactational Amenorrhea Method It is a well known fact that breastfeeding suppresses a woman's fertility in the early months after delivery. However, many women do not feel comfortable relying on breastfeeding as a form of birth control because :----- (1) It is told to be unreliable, (2) Seen Someone who became pregnant while breastfeeding.

It is a well known fact that breastfeeding suppresses a woman's fertility in the early months after delivery. However, many women do not feel comfortable relying on breastfeeding as a form of birth control because :----- (1) It is told to be unreliable, (2) Seen Someone who became pregnant while breastfeeding.

Lactational Amenorrhea Method .(LAM) 1) the return of her menstrual period, 2) her patterns of breastfeeding, and 3) the time postpartum. Based on scientific research, the method uses three measures of a woman's fertility:

1) the return of her menstrual period, 2) her patterns of breastfeeding, and 3) the time postpartum.

Who can use LAM? A woman can use LAM if : 1. Her menstrual period has not returned since delivery . And. 2. She is breastfeeding her baby And.. 3. Her baby is less than six months old.

When all three of these conditions exist, she has less than a two percent chance of becoming pregnant.

The woman is encouraged to begin using a complementary family planning method when any of the three conditions changes, or whenever she chooses.

Scientific studies * Study conducted by the Institute for Reproductive Health. ** Study conducted by Family Health International. Study/Date N Efficacy (%) Pregnancies (#) Chile*/1989 422 99.5 1 Ecuador*/1993 330 99.8 2 Pakistan**/1995 391 99.4 1 Philippines**/1996 485 99.0 2 Multicenter*/1996 519 98.5 5

LAM is an effective, safe, convenient short-term way for breastfeeding women to delay pregnancy.