Breastfeeding: A natural way to prevent pregnancy.

Breastfeeding is known to be one of the most natural method of contraception which means that a mother who is breastfeeding cannot get pregnant again. This contraceptive method is also well known as Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) for women to maintain a natural gap in between child births.

What does breastfeeding do?

When the child suckles on the breast, this suckling sends some signals to the brain that slow down the hormones needed for ovulation. What happens here is - suckling releases endorphins which block other hormones that trigger ovulation. And hence, this acts as a contraceptive.

Till how long breastfeeding acts as a contraceptive?

Breastfeeding works as a contraceptive only under these simultaneous conditions:

1. The baby is less than 6 months old
2. The mother is still amenorrheic (not menstruating)
3. The mother practices exclusive on demand breastfeeding day and night.

This is the most natural way of contraception and as under this method any kind of chemicals or medicines are not required. So, it has no potential health risk. It is also free of cost and does not require any doctor’s appointment or procedures.