What You Should Know About LAM as a Birth Control Method

Adult human female anatomy diagram chart

Many expectant mothers have encountered the common belief that breastfeeding can prevent pregnancy. I certainly believed it, thinking I’d get a break from my menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, that wasn’t my experience. While there’s some truth to the claim that breastfeeding can serve as a birth control method, it’s not infallible. Here’s what you need to know.

Using Breastfeeding as Birth Control

After giving birth, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for your body to regain its fertility. However, breastfeeding can help postpone the return of your period and fertility through a natural method known as the Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM). To effectively utilize LAM, you must meet all of the following conditions:

Your baby is exclusively and frequently breastfed, meaning they should not be given bottles or pacifiers, ensuring all their sucking needs are met at the breast.
Your menstrual cycles have not resumed. Spotting can indicate that you may be ovulating, signaling a return to fertility.
Your baby is under six months old. The likelihood of ovulation increases as your child grows older. Although it can take longer for some mothers to resume their cycles, the risk of ovulating and getting pregnant before your first postpartum period is higher after six months.

It’s crucial to understand that LAM is not a guaranteed method of birth control. If you want to avoid becoming pregnant while breastfeeding, it’s wise to consider an additional form of contraception. Experts generally recommend waiting at least a year, ideally 18 months, before trying for another baby.

How Breastfeeding Helps Prevent Pregnancy

Your body is quite remarkable. After childbirth, it releases a hormone called oxytocin, known for enhancing feelings of well-being. This hormone not only aids in the contraction of your uterus but also plays a role in the milk let-down reflex. If you’ve already had a child, you know how easily this reflex can be triggered.

Additionally, prolactin, released during breastfeeding, increases the more frequently you nurse. Prolactin regulates milk production and plays a vital role in suppressing ovulation by signaling your brain to inhibit the hormones that trigger ovulation. Without ovulation, pregnancy cannot occur.

Important Considerations About Breastfeeding and Fertility

According to AskDrSears.com, LAM can be more than 98% effective in preventing pregnancy if all rules are followed (which can be challenging to maintain). However, it’s essential to remain vigilant, as ovulation can occur before your first postpartum period. Most women ovulate approximately two weeks prior to their period.

You can also breastfeed while attempting to conceive another child. Depending on your treatment plan, the age of your breastfeeding child, and how often you nurse, you may be able to continue breastfeeding during fertility treatments.

In summary, while breastfeeding can help delay pregnancy, it is not a reliable form of birth control. If avoiding pregnancy is your goal, make sure to explore other effective contraceptive methods with your healthcare provider. For more information on this topic, check out this other blog post. You can also learn from experts at intracervicalinsemination.com and find valuable resources at Mount Sinai.

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Summary:

The Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM) can delay fertility while breastfeeding, but it is not a failproof method of contraception. To effectively use LAM, mothers must meet specific criteria regarding exclusive breastfeeding and the age of their baby. It’s crucial to consider additional birth control options if pregnancy is not desired.