Family Planning for the Breastfeeding Woman.

Family Planning for the Breastfeeding Woman

Breastfeeding has important health benefits:

* provides the best nutrition for the child

* protects the baby from life-threatening diarrhea that other foods or contaminated water might cause

* passes the mother's immunities to the child,  which helps protect the baby from life -threatening infectious diseases such as measles. 

* Helps develop a close relationship between mother and child. 

* May help protect the mother against breast cancer later in life. 

Breast milk is the best food for nearly all babies.  In some situations the baby's life depends on continuing to breastfeed. Therefore it is very important to delay another pregnancy. Delaying pregnancy avoids early weaning and the many health problems that often result. 

Breastfeeding itself helps to prevent pregnancy.  Breastfeeding alone,  without another family planning method,  can provide effective protection against pregnancy for the first six months after delivery.  It does so if :

*the woman has not had her first menstrual period since childbirth ( bleeding in the first 56 days - 8 weeks - after childbirth is not considered menstrual bleeding ),  and

*the woman is fully breastfeeding - at least 85% of the baby's feedings are breast milk

This is called LACTATIONAL AMENORRHEA METHOD (LAM). 

By definition,  A woman is not using LAM if the baby gets substantial food other than breast milk OR the mothers menstrual periods return OR the baby reaches 6months of age. TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM PREGNANCY. She should note :

*choose another effective family planning method that does not interfere with breastfeeding (not combined oral contraceptive before her baby is 6 months old). 

* continue to breastfeed her baby if possible,  even while beginning to give the baby other food.  Breast milk is the healthiest food for most babies during the first 2years of life.  She should breastfeed before giving other food,  if possible.  If the baby's hunger is satisfied first by breast milk,  this will help ensure good nutrition and will encourage production of breast milk. 

All breastfeeding women,  whether or not they are using LAM,  should be counseled on:

* when they can and should start particular family planning methods. 

* the advantages and disadvantages of each method,  including any effects on breastfeeding. 

If a breastfeeding woman needs or wants more protection from pregnancy,  She should first consider nonhormonal methods (IUDs,  condom,  female sterilization,  vasectomy,  or vaginal methods).  She also can consider fertility awareness - based methods,  although these may be hard to use.  None of theses methods affects breastfeeding or poses any danger to the baby. 

Women who are breastfeedin can start progestin - only methods - progestin-only oral contraceptives,  long- acting injectable,  or Norplant implants - as early as 6 weeks after childbirth. 

The estrogen hormone in combined oral contraceptives may reduce the quantity and quality of breast milk.  Therefore the World Health Organisation recommends that breastfeeding women wait at least 6months after childbirth to start using them.  Another method,  if needed,  can be used until then. 

Source: The Essentials of Contraceptive Technology