Natural Birth Control

Breast Feeding

Process:

All the nutrients—including water, vitamins, minerals, fat, carbohydrates, and proteins—that a
baby needs in the first six months of life are present in breast milk. It can be absorbed quickly
and used effectively. In addition, bioactive components in breast milk help the baby's developing
immune system, enhancing its ability to fight infections, as well as other components that aid in
nutrient absorption and digestion. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method, a natural birth control
method, can be provided by breastfeeding (LAM). No other forms of feeding or pacifiers are
allowed during the process, and feedings must occur at least every four hours during the day and
every six hours at night.

Success Rate:

According to studies, when applied properly, as previously described, LAM can be roughly as
effective as hormonal contraceptives like the pill. In the first six months after the baby is born, it
is 98% effective. If the instructions are followed correctly, this means that only two out of every
100 people will become pregnant while using this method. Pregnancy is much more likely to
happen if not. The effectiveness of LAM as a method of birth control varies according to a
number of variables, such as how strictly the method is followed and the person's breastfeeding
habits.

Benefits:

LAM has many benefits, such as promoting mother-baby bonding through exclusive
breastfeeding and being a natural, non-invasive birth control method that doesn't call for any
additional hormones or contraceptives. Prolactin is a hormone that is released when babies nurse.
It ensures that the baby will always have access to milk while also suppressing other hormones,
such as those that cause ovulation. Your body will naturally stop ovulating if you are nursing and
exclusively providing breast milk to your child. When ovulation stops, menstruation also stops,
which causes a brief period of infertility for women,

Risk:

The main risk associated with this type of natural birth control is the possibility of unintended
pregnancy if the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is not strictly followed or if
breastfeeding patterns change. This is because LAM relies on the hormones produced during
breastfeeding to suppress ovulation. You can only rely on breastfeeding to prevent pregnancy for
the first six months after your newborn baby; it is not a long-term natural birth control method.
You might occasionally even experience an earlier start to your period. Once your period starts or
your child turns six months old, you must switch to another form of birth control.

Cost:

LAM is a cheap method of birth control because it doesn't call for any additional drugs or
devices. In the event that LAM proves ineffective or if breastfeeding habits change, it's crucial to
take the cost of potential backup methods concerning finance into account. However, for those
without insurance or with a limited insurance plan, breastfeeding costs can start the first time
they speak with a hospital lactation consultant. Many mothers do not feel this way. Breastfeeding
problems may necessitate several consultations. If nothing else, breastfeeding will take a lot of
time, especially when developing a consistent feeding schedule. It includes how much time they
have for themselves and how much time they can spend interacting with loved ones. Their ability
to devote time to work is also impacted. This may not be a big deal for some. But for others,
especially those who are the only source of income, this is an indirect cost they can't bear.
 Source of References:

Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez. (2018, October 8). Cost of Breastfeeding. Healthline; Healthline

Media.

https://www.healthline.com/health/cost-of-breastfeeding#breastfeeding-vs.-formula--feeding

Breastfeeding as Birth Control? The Benefits of Using Dual Methods | Power to Decide. (n.d.).

Powertodecide.org. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from

https://powertodecide.org/news/breastfeeding-birth-control-benefits-using-dual-methods

What are Disadvantages to Breastfeeding as Birth Control? (n.d.).

Www.plannedparenthood.org.

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/breastfeeding/what-are-disadvantages-us

ing-breastfeeding-birth-control

MD, R. A. B. (2022, March 2). Can breastfeeding really prevent pregnancy? Harvard Health.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-breastfeeding-really-prevent-pregnancy-20220302269

World Health Organization. (2009). The physiological basis of breastfeeding. Nih.gov; World

Health Organization. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148970/