|
Breastfeeding
What is the contraceptive effect of
breastfeeding my baby?
If you are feeding your baby only milk from your breasts, it is quite
likely that your periods will not return for a number of months. If your
periods do not return, then you may not get pregnant during the first
six months of breastfeeding. After your baby is six months old, the
contraceptive effect of breastfeeding decreases, especially if you start
having periods again. The contraceptive effect of breastfeeding
decreases when your periods return or you start giving your baby formula
or foods other than breast milk. At this point, you need to add
additional methods to protect against pregnancy. Complete information
about using breastfeeding as a contraceptive is available through your
clinician.
What are the advantages?
-
Breastfeeding doesn't cost
anything and can be convenient. It is about 98 percent effective as a
contraceptive for six months.
-
Breastfeeding helps the mother's womb return to normal and helps her
return to her normal weight.
-
Breastfeeding is simply the best way to feed your baby. It encourages
bonding between mother and baby and helps your baby have more immunity
against infection.
-
The uterus returns to normal more rapidly than when using other methods
that affect the menstrual cycle.
-
Monthly periods are suppressed.
-
Breastfeeding generally does not interfere with sex, and breastfeeding may
be pleasurable (physically and emotionally) for some women.
-
There is a slight protective effect against ovarian and pre-menopausal
breast cancer in the mother.
-
Breastfeeding helps protect the baby against asthma, diarrhea and ear
infections because the mother's immunities are passed through breast
milk.
What are the disadvantages?
-
Breastfeeding does not keep
all women from having their periods, and is not an effective
contraceptive after your periods return. It is difficult to tell when
breastfeeding stops working as birth control. The effectiveness of
breastfeeding after six months is greatly reduced.
-
This method works best if you feed your baby only your breast milk. If you
are away from your baby for periods of time, pumping milk from your
breasts often helps improve the effectiveness of breastfeeding as a
contraceptive.
-
Some women are bothered by a dry vagina while breastfeeding. This is
normal. Intercourse may be more comfortable if you use a lubricant for
sex, such as Astroglide, Aqua Lube or KY jelly.
-
Breastfeeding women must be willing and able to eat lots of healthy foods.
-
If the mother is HIV-positive, there is a 14 percent to 29 percent chance
that HIV will be passed to her baby. Breastfeeding is not recommended
for HIV-positive mothers who have other safe and healthy food available
for their babies.
-
Some women have an inadequate milk supply.
-
Breastfeeding can cause sore nipples and breasts, as well as a risk of
mastitis (breast infection).
What if I have sex and don't use birth control?
Did you know that for 72 hours after sex, you can take emergency
contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant? Did you know that for
five to seven days after sex, you can have an IUD inserted so you won't
become pregnant? Not all clinicians know about these options.
If you want more information or would like the phone
numbers of clinicians near you who prescribe emergency birth control,
call the toll-free number 888.NOT2.LATE or 800.584.9911. Some of these
sources of help are free.
The North Dakota Department
of Health, Division of Family Health, does not assume responsibility for
the content obtained from external hyperlinks accessed from this website.
Any links to external sources are outside of our domain. Information on
external websites does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of
the North Dakota Department of Health or the Division of Family Health.
|
