Sheila is the mother of 4 daughters. When her first daughter was born, her obstetrician very firmly discouraged her from breastfeeding and from relying on breastfeeding for child spacing. As a result, she never totally breastfed her first baby, and she introduced juices at 3 months and solids at 5 months. Her periods returned at 3 months postpartum. With her second baby, a different obstetrician listened sympathetically to her desire to breastfeed and her interest in natural child spacing. He encouraged her to nurse totally - no other liquids, even water - for as long as she desired. This time, Sheila's periods did not resume until the baby was a year old. Two more children, lots of experience, and many hours of research later, Sheila wrote her book to share with other parents what she had learned.
Quite simply, when a baby sucks at the breast, ovulation is suppressed in the mother. Therefore, the fundamental principle of natural child spacing is that a mother should encourage her baby to suckle as much as the baby needs to, and that the mother should avoid those common baby-care practices that discourage suckling. Here is my summary of the principles, each one of which receives an entire chapter in the book, of natural child spacing:
1. Total Breastfeeding - the baby should receive 100% nourishment from the mother's breast and no other liquids or solids. Any introduction of other foods may compromise natural infertility. Weaning should occur naturally and gradually, following the child's lead.
2. Pacification - the baby should receive the greater part of its non-nutritional sucking needs at the breast, as well. Sheila writes, "Truly, a mother is the best pacifier for her baby (p.25)." Anyone who has breastfed probably felt like a human pacifier at one point or another! This is the first book I've read that applauds that role and describes its benefits to the mother. Many women will not remain infertile without that extra suckling.
