Can Exclusive Breastfeeding Help Prevent Pregnancy?

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Aug 8, 1999

In late pregnancy and the early postpartum period, the new mother is often told that she must begin some type of family planning soon after birth to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. But what method should she choose? Research substantiates that breastfeeding is associated with fertility reduction, but the question remains: How to use it effectively?

The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is based on using infertility from breastfeeding during the first six months postpartum for protection from pregnancy. LAM provides optimal infant nutrition, enhances immunity, prevents formula-related illness, and physiologically promotes mother-child interaction while simultaneously providing safe and effective temporary child spacing. It may be used for up to six months postpartum during full or nearly full breastfeeding and amenorrhea, and has been shown in clinical trials to be 99 percent effective.

How does it work? A mother is asked these three questions:

1. Is your infant less than six months old?

2. Are you not having periods?

3. Are you fully or nearly fully breastfeeding?

If she can answer yes to all three, she is counseled that her risk of pregnancy is less than two percent and she does not yet need a complementary family-planning method. She is also told that if the answer to any of these three questions changes, she should introduce another method of family planning to achieve this same low risk of pregnancy.

Much work remains to fully educate health care providers on the use of the method, especially those who doubt women's ability to monitor their own behavior. LAM may be offered to women who prefer to postpone introducing another family planning method postpartum. LAM is a viable option in countries or cultures where family planning is not widely accepted. LAM is also useful for populations who have no experience with family planning and may be hesitant to accept a so-called "modern" approach.

A mother's postpartum family planning choices now include a reliable interim method based on the behavior that is healthiest for her and her newborn. When it comes time to discuss family planning, why not ask your health care provider for more information about LAM?

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has an excellent article that describes even more about this method of family planning at http://www.waba.org.br/lam.htm

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