Lactation amenorrhea method, prevents pregnancy by means of breastfeeding

There are a variety of contraceptive or birth control options for breastfeeding mothers that are safe to use. In addition to birth control pills and other contraceptives, breastfeeding mothers can also use the lactation amenorrhea method. Yes, lactational amenorrhea is a method of preventing pregnancy in the early stages of breastfeeding. Curious and want to know more clearly about the lactation amenorrhea method? Please refer to the following explanation.

What is the lactational amenorrhea method?

Lactational amenorrhea is a natural method of contraception based on the belief that lactation or breastfeeding can cause the mother to experience amenorrhea.

Amenorrhea is the period when you don't have your period. On the other hand, lactational amenorrhea can also be said to be a time when breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding can suppress menstruation and fertility.

This is one of the many benefits of breast milk, namely preventing pregnancy while breastfeeding.

It's just that, according to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, the lactation amenorrhea method can be very effective in several conditions, such as:

Have not experienced menstruation again after giving birth
Babies are always exclusively breastfed and do not get other food or drinks
Infants younger than six months

If the mother and baby meet the above conditions, the chances of getting pregnant quickly after giving birth are usually very low.

When at the beginning of the time you breastfeed your baby after birth you do not have a period, it means that the body does not release eggs (ovulation).

This automatically makes you unable to get pregnant during intercourse. On this basis, breastfeeding is said to help prevent pregnancy.

Only after the mother stops breastfeeding and the baby starts getting food from other sources does the body begin to prepare again for ovulation.

In other words, when the baby's breastmilk is no longer given you can start to get pregnant again.

Now, if one of the several factors of the effectiveness of the lactation amenorrhea method above changes, you might consider using other contraceptives.

This method of breastfeeding in preventing pregnancy might be an option, especially for those of you who really want to postpone pregnancy for a while.

The reason is, one of the challenges of breastfeeding that mothers often face is getting pregnant again while breastfeeding. This may make the mother choose to postpone pregnancy for a while.

How does the lactational amenorrhea method work?

In order for lactational amenorrhea to be successful in delaying pregnancy, this method cannot be done carelessly.

There are three points that you must fulfill properly to help the success of this method, namely:

Give your baby exclusive breastfeeding

It is recommended that you give your baby food and drink from breast milk for the full six months. In addition, you also have to breastfeed your little one according to his wishes or whenever the baby asks for it.

You will probably breastfeed your baby every four hours or less during the day and every six hours or less during the night.

Launching from Planned Parenthood, this method will cause the body to ovulate naturally, thereby reducing the chances of pregnancy.

Mother hasn't had her period since giving birth

When menstruation has returned, this is a sign that your body can release eggs again and have a chance to get pregnant again.

On this basis, lactation amenorrhea is believed to be more effective in mothers who have not had menstruation since childbirth.

The mother gave birth in less than six months

Yes, the lactation amenorrhea method can only work to prevent pregnancy about six months after you give birth.

Even so, no one knows when you will start menstruating again during the lactation amenorrhea method or after.

Indeed, this method of breastfeeding in preventing pregnancy is usually said to be successful when the combination of the three factors above goes well.

But again, menstruation can actually come at any time, even beyond your predictions.

Therefore, lactational amenorrhea is basically not completely effective at preventing pregnancy. It's just that, at least your body does not produce as many eggs as usual for the six months after giving birth to your little one.

If any of the above method points cannot be fulfilled, you may need another contraceptive to delay the onset of pregnancy.

How effective does the lactational amenorrhea method work?

Lactation amenorrhea method can be one way to help delay pregnancy after childbirth.

The effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea in preventing pregnancy actually depends on how you apply it.

If you apply it properly, the lactation amenorrhea method may be very accurate for delaying pregnancy.

Do not rule out, this method can reduce your chances of getting pregnant by less than two percent.

The following are examples of possible effectiveness of breastfeeding methods in preventing pregnancy:

Fewer than 1 in 100 women who breastfeed continuously correctly can become pregnant. That is, the chances of getting pregnant are very small if the mother actually applies the lactation amenorrhea method.
About 2 in 100 mothers who breastfeed continuously can become pregnant within the first six months if they are not breastfeeding properly.

You need to remember that lactational amenorrhea can prevent pregnancy because of the help of the breastfeeding hormone which suppresses the ovulation hormone. However, these methods cannot protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Therefore, you still need a condom during sexual intercourse to prevent the transmission of infection.

When is this method no longer effective for delaying pregnancy?

The lactation amenorrhea method has the optimal length of time during which the baby is exclusively breastfed. That is why, this method is not always effective for delaying pregnancy.

The lactational amenorrhea method is generally only reliable during the first six months after birth to delay pregnancy.

The first six months is a breastfeeding schedule, aka the time when the baby is still exclusively breastfed.

The rest, you should start using contraception if you are not planning to have more children.

The lactation amenorrhea method is no longer effective in delaying pregnancy if you experience one or more of the following conditions:

1. Menstrual period is back

Menstruation is an important indicator of fertility. So, if a breastfeeding mother has returned to menstruation, it means that her fertility has returned and there is another chance for her to get pregnant.

When the menstrual period returns, it means that the breastfeeding method to prevent pregnancy is no longer working properly.

2. Babies are given food and drink other than breast milk

You need to remember that suppression of ovulation occurs because the baby continues to be fed on the mother's breast.

So, if the baby rarely feeds on the mother's breast, the hormone that suppresses ovulation for a long time will automatically decrease.

This condition makes ovulation can happen again so that thwart the process of this method. As a result, you have the possibility to get pregnant again.

3. The baby is more than 6 months old

Babies who are six months old must be given complementary foods (solids) to meet their nutritional needs.

Therefore, this method is no longer effective because of course the baby becomes less frequent or does not want to breastfeed.

In short, when you are no longer breastfeeding your baby and using formula milk as a substitute, it means that the lactation amenorrhea method is no longer effective to rely on.

Although different, breast milk and formula (sufor) are both okay to give to babies.

In fact, this contraceptive method also does not work optimally for those of you who use breast milk more often than breastfeeding directly to the baby.

If the milk production is low, you can regularly eat breastfeeding mother's food to help increase it.

If you are pumping breast milk to encourage production, always try to apply the right way to store breast milk so that its quality is maintained.