Do I need contraceptives during breastfeeding?
“Oh no, it’s positive! How did this happen? Am I not still nursing my baby?” Aina thought to herself while holding the pregnancy test kit. She is worried as her first baby is only 4 months old. This scenario may have been or may be experienced by mothers who are still nursing their babies. Surely...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ministry Of Health Malaysia
2019
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/70294/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/70294/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/70294/1/70294_Do%20I%20Need%20Contraceptives%20During%20Breastfeeding.pdf |
| Summary: | “Oh no, it’s positive! How did this happen? Am I not still nursing my baby?” Aina thought to herself while holding the pregnancy test kit. She is worried as her first baby is only 4 months old.
This scenario may have been or may be experienced by mothers who are still nursing their babies. Surely a lot of assumptions will be running through their minds.
As is generally known, breastfeeding greatly benefits the growth and health of babies. Breastfeeding also helps to create gaps between pregnancies as an effective contraceptive. However, there are nursing mothers who find themselves pregnant. How does this happen and do nursing mums require contraceptives?
Breastfeeding as an effective contraceptive
Most mothers are aware that one of the benefits of breastfeeding is as a natural contraceptive. The medical term for it is ‘Lactational Amenorrhea Method’ (LAM). However, there are 3 main conditions that needs to be fulfilled for mothers to use breastfeeding as an effective contraceptive. The conditions are:
Baby is less than 6 months’ old
The mum has not had her period after giving birth
Practice exclusive breastfeeding regularly during night and day
Therefore, if the mother does not adhere to the conditions stated above, such as the baby is more than 6 months old, she has had her period, and is not able to breastfeed her baby exclusively and frequently, she will need to think of other contraceptive methods that would be more effective. This is important to preserve her physical, mental, and emotional health.
How does Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) perform among working women? Does it help? In a study involving working women who pump breast milk to supply to their babies, it is found that 5.2% of them became pregnant within six months. Therefore, women who are working and are temporarily separated from their babies during the day must keep in mind that the chances of them becoming pregnant is higher. |
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