Many mothers believe that they will not get pregnant while exclusively breastfeeding their babies. This practice is called the Lactational Amerrorhea Method (LAM) of birth control because women who breastfeed exclusively usually do not menstruate after childbirth. This results in natural infertility. However, many mothers are confused about fertility and breastfeeding because of conflicting information they receive. These include myths like breastfeeding is an unreliable method of preventing pregnancy and breastfeeding will prevent pregnancies no matter how frequently they breastfeed or even if their period has resumed.
Can You Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?
Yes, women can get pregnant while they are breastfeeding because although they are less fertile during this time, they may not be infertile. You may not get your period for a few months after childbirth but your body will release an egg two weeks before you resume menstruating again. However, you will not know when you have ovulated or released the egg until after your first period begins.
This means that if you do not want to get pregnant soon after giving birth while nursing your newborn baby, you must use birth control methods when having sex. Doctors recommend using barrier methods such as diaphragms and condoms but others believe that low-dose oral contraceptives or mini-pills are safe even while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor about using these progestin pills, which do not contain estrogen hormone.
Mothers who exclusively breastfeed usually do not menstruate for up to a year after giving birth. However, when the baby feeds less at night, the mother may start having her periods sooner, within 3-8 months. Mothers who supplement their feedings with milk formula are ...
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... old or older. Solid foods should be given to provide added nutrition, not to substitute for breastfeeding.
It is important to remember that the key to successful use of breastfeeding for birth control is to maintain the frequency of breastfeeding. This ensures that the blood levels of the hormone called prolactin are high enough to suppress your ovulation. When the baby feeds less, prolactin levels decline and your reproductive hormones increase, causing fertility to return.
If these guidelines are followed, your lactation amenorrhea may last for 13-16 months, or an average of 14.5 period-free months after childbirth. However, it is also possible for menses to return after six months in a few women or as long as 2-3 years for others.
Works Cited
http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-i-get-pregnant-while-breastfeeding_7093.bc
http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/
Congratulations! Now that you have passed the stage of pregnancy, you now face the big question on whether to breast feed or bottle feed your child. According to The World Health Organization it’s highly recommended that mothers breastfeed their child until the age of two. (Berk 100) Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong in bottle feeding your child with formula milk. There are cases in which mothers aren’t always able to breast feed their children right after birth, for example, they might have medical issues that may prevent them from breast feeding. Or in some cases early childbirth.
Nutrition and breastfeeding are subjects that can relate greatly to each other. New mothers are in a need of information regarding breastfeeding. Mothers receive the information and instructions on how to breastfeed at the hospital where they bear their children. That information is essential in the decision making process of whether to breastfeed or not. Still the clear choice for mothers everywhere is breastfeeding for several important life affecting reasons. Breast milk is highly nutritional, protects from various diseases, ideal in growth, promotes bonding, and is beneficial for the mother in a recovery process after labor.
Procreation is basic to life and reality. Originally, mothers never had a choice of whether to breastfeed their infants or not. Mothers breastfed their infants. This gave moms the ability to care for and sustain their infants whenever nursing was needed. Advantages of breastfeeding are for the children, mothers, and the economy. Cultures differ from place to place because we live in a very diverse world. Indeed, a few cons to breastfeeding are generally sincere beliefs. One con about nursing in broad daylight is nursing can cause other individuals in the surrounding area to feel uncomfortable. Some think a woman showing cleavage during a nursing session can conjure up the same thoughts as a woman in a seductive outfit, while several assorted
Breastfeeding is when a woman feeds her child from her breast. Breastfeeding has been around since before the 15th century. In addition to strengthening the bond between a mother and her baby, breastfeeding offers a number of benefits for both a mother and her child. Babies who are breastfed have lower risk of meningitis, various cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, childhood leukemia, allergies and obesity. Mothers have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis. All mothers no matter where they are weather it be the mall, park, restaurant, or just out running errands need to have their right to breastfeed protected.
Seeing an infant choking while breastfeeding can be frightening, especially if she is coughing or sputtering. There are a few reasons why infants choke while breastfeeding, including problems with positioning and taking the nipple. Infants who are lying flat can choke but if you hold her in the right position breastfeeding can be a nice experience for the baby and you.
Breastfeeding is best for mom too. Increased levels of oxytocin stimulate postpartum uterine contractions, reducing blood loss and encouraging uterine contractions. From 3 months to 12 months postpartum, breastfeeding increases the rate of weight loss in most nursing mothers. Breastfeeding has even been found to lessen the severity of postpartum depression by keeping the hormonal levels more balanced. Breastfeeding also reduces the mother’s risk for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and osteoporosis, (Shinskie and Lauwers, 2002). It is important that the lactation consultant collaborate with the mother shortly after delivery to eliminate frustration and prevent the abandonment of br...
...he mothers who are capable to do so should at least try it for the baby’s well-being. Breast-feeding benefits the mother and child in many ways such as weight loss for the mother and the right supply of nutrients for the child. The mother can also reduce the likelihood of her developing cancer and diabetes. The child can gain a better immune system and will do better in academics. It creates a loving and supportive bond between the mother and child. Immune system, brain function, socialization, and overall long-term health is stabilized throughout the breast-feeding period (Godfrey 1307). Many organizations promote breastfeeding for atleast the first six months of the baby’s life and many studies show the increase in brain development and skills that breast-fed babies develop and formula fed babies lack. All mothers should breast-feed if she is capable of doing so.
Women do not breastfeed long enough. Although healthcare workers try to promote the breast method, many women do not continue with it. Breastfeeding does come with challenges; however, the phrase “breast is best” is the role of the nurse in conjunction with education. A mother a...
Pacifiers are usually used to calm a baby without feeding it, and babies who use pacifiers can breastfeed fewer times a day (Barros et al., 1995). By decreasing the stimulation of the breast women produce less milk, which may lead to early cessation of breastfeeding, although that link has not been incontrovertibly proven (Jaafar et al., 2011).
... is clear that there is a broad amount of benefits to both the child and mother through the act of breastfeeding. Not only does it provide extreme health and psychological benefits, but it is also known to be economically benfecial as well. Mothers are able to save hundreds of dollars without the need to buy formula, and since breastmilk provides an adequate amount of nutrition that ultimately decrease a babies chances of sickness and disease, it is also known to save money from hospital fees as well. Medical care bills have been reported to be 20% less for families who excluvisely breastfed, compared to those who didn’t. (Health, 2003) It is clear that there are a handful of nutrional, physical, and psychological benefits that breastfeeing offers to both the mother and infant, compared to non-breastfeeding families, making it safe to say the breast really is best.
To say nothing of a mother’s own personal preference in feeding technique breastfeeding is clearly the healthier and most beneficial option for mother and child. The positives of breastfeeding are astounding with its healthy traits not just for the child, but the mother as well (The Nemours Foundation). There is also the psychological stability and confidence that breastfeeding provides the mother with (Mezzacappa, Elizabeth Sibolboro, and Edward S. Katkin.). Not to mention its portability and cost free status (American Pregnancy Association). Overall, breastfeeding is the most effective option for mothers to feed their children.
Breastfeeding is beneficial for you and your baby. Breast milk is packed with essential nutrients, is easy to digest, and contains certain antibodies that protect your baby from illnesses. At the same time, breastfeeding is good for the mother because it promotes contraction of uterus, lowers the risk of breast cancer, and helps reduce weight. While infants have a suckling reflex, some babies may take some time to understand the process. Just do not panic if breastfeeding does not come naturally at first. It is completely normal, but you and your baby should keep practicing until both of you understand the mechanics of breastfeeding. Let's find out more about it.
Not enough women have the support or information they need to breastfeed. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it may not be as easy and natural as some might think. Breastfeeding can be hard, painful, and frustrating. I believe a lot of mothers switch to formula because of these simple reasons. A lot of the time when mothers switch to formula they think something isn’t right when breastfeeding and there isn’t support there to help them through their problem. More support through health care providers need to be available and more of an acceptance among our civilization in general. The only way there will be more women breastfeeding is if it’s more
Are you a pregnant mother or just recently had a baby? All mother’s want the best for their children. Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding should be highly considered. Although, breastfeeding and bottle feeding are both alike in few ways, the numerous benefits of breastfeeding make it the best optimal for many mothers. Mother’s breast milk partakes over 100 ingredients, which therefore formula milk does not partake. Breastfeeding is better because of the price, the convenience, and all the wonderful numerous health benefits.
Quintero, F. (July 24 2009). Nursing is good for babies-- and moms. Orlando Sentinel , p NA.