Breastfeeding provides a natural delay for the mother's return to fertility, but it should not be a woman's sole contraception method. Other methods are safe and allow women control in family spacing. Barriers and synthetic hormones aid in the prevention of pregnancy.
Benefits
Breastfeeding delays a mother's menstrual cycle. According to La Leche League International, a baby's sucking inhibits the release of hormones that cause "monthly preparation for a new pregnancy."
Considerations
The way a mother breastfeeds affects breastfeeding's reliability in preventing the start of menstrual cycles. La Leche League International suggests mothers breastfeed exclusively with no pacifiers or bottles and avoid schedules.
Types
La Leche League International suggests a breastfeeding mother's safest choice of contraception would be one of the non-hormonal barrier methods, such as condoms or a diaphragm. Health professionals agree that a mother's use of spermicide does not present any problems for her nursing baby. The IUD (intrauterine device) is also thought to be safe for breastfeeding mothers.
Warning
When babies begin eating other foods and nursing less, mothers must be aware of bodily changes. Understanding natural body changes, such as cervical firmness and quantity of discharge, helps women identify the return of menstrual cycles.
Function
Mothers may prefer birth control pill. Pills only containing progestin will not decrease milk supply, but pills also containing estrogen likely will. La Leche League International suggests mothers take progestin only pills after mother and baby establish a strong nursing relationship.
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