Visit our Canada siteBy Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura
Since August is World Breastfeeding Month, it is more than fitting for nursing moms to celebrate and promote the importance and value of breastfeeding. And it is also necessary to educate new moms about breastfeeding as a contraceptive.
According to the book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway, it is best not to rely on breastfeeding for contraception.
A big question posted by new moms is “Can you get pregnant while you’re breastfeeding?” And their answer is “YES.” The Whattoexpect.com website also shares, “Although breastfeeding offers some protection from ovulation, the monthly occurrence where you release a mature egg from one of your ovaries, it is possible to ovulate and become pregnant prior to getting your first period.”
Avigail V. Bordon, M.D. a Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Hospital Affiliations, works in the following hospitals: Ramos General Hospital, Loving Mother General Hospital, Tarlac Medical Center, and Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital.
She understands that many Filipina mothers have many questions about the relationship between breastfeeding and family planning. She explains how it can be effective, and when it can be effective.
Here are often-asked questions about Breastfeeding and Contraception, and Dra. Avigail’s answers:
Is Breastfeeding an effective form of birth control? How does it prevent pregnancy? What are the benefits and disadvantages? How does the first six months of pure breastfeeding guarantee full protection against pregnancy?
Yes. Breastfeeding is an effective form of birth control. With full or nearly full breastfeeding mothers (breastfeeding on demand, 10-12x a day with daytime feeding no more than 4 hours apart or night time feedings no more than 6 hours apart), the production of natural hormones that cause ovulation is inhibited, thereby preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries.
Breastfeeding is important to infant health and child spacing. It promotes mother and child bonding and it strengthens the baby’s immunity. It is a natural form of contraception since it doesn’t involve taking pills.
However, it is NOT a reliable method of family planning for women whose infants are on a daytime-only feeding schedule and since it causes amenorrhea, waiting for menses involves a risk of pregnancy because ovulation antedates menstruation.
What are the common recommended birth control methods for a breastfeeding mom?
Progesterone only contraceptives which includes progestogen only subdermal implants, injectables and pills are highly effective contraceptives for breastfeeding mothers. These are prescribed to breastfeeding mothers because they do not affect the amount of milk production.
Does weak suckling of a baby affect breastfeeding as birth control? What other factors can affect breastfeeding as birth control?
The number of feedings in a day affects the effectivity of breastfeeding as a form of contraception. If a baby doesn’t feed as frequently as expected, breastfeeding will not be effective.
There are other criteria to be met for breastfeeding to be used as a family planning method such as menstruation hasn’t ensued yet, the mother is fully or nearly fully breastfeeding her baby and the baby is less than six months old.
What are hormonal contraceptives, and what are the effects of hormonal contraceptives on a breast Mom’s body? What are its effects on the breastmilk produced in the nursing mother’s body? What do these contraceptives contain for these to be safe for breastfeeding moms?
There are many types of hormonal contraceptives. As mentioned earlier Progesterone only contraceptives are recommended for breastfeeding mothers because they do not affect the amount of milk production however, mothers are hesitant to use these contraceptives because of their side effects such as amenorrhea, edema, bloating and acne.
The more popular type of contraceptives are the combined hormonal contraceptives because they contain hormones similar to the woman’s natural hormones estrogen and progesterone.
They also come in several forms: tablets, injectables, patch and ring. They are more popular because they have lesser side effects however they are not the first choice of contraception for breastfeeding mothers because of they may reduce both the rate and duration of milk production.
Are there any updated studies regarding contraceptives and breastfeeding? And are there any non-hormonal methods a nursing mom can use for planned parenthood?
Progestin only contraceptives are still the contraceptive of choice for breastfeeding moms. However, for those who are more than 6 months postpartum the recommendations on the use of POCs and Combined hormonal contraceptives becomes the same.
Non-hormonal contraceptives include barrier methods, such as male and female condoms, intrauterine devices and sterilization(tubal ligations for females, vasectomy for males) for those who have completed family size.
It is still best to consult your friendly neighborhood obstetrician to discuss which contraceptive method is best and convenient for breastfeeding mothers.
I have also provided my Sources:
Philippine Obstetrical and Gyencological Society and Philippine Society of Resposible Parenthood Clinical Practice Guidelines on Family Planning second edition, November 2017, and Williams Obstetrics, 25th edition.
New breastfeeding moms should take a cue from Dra. Avigail and have consistent consultations with their trusted obstetricians and healthcare providers to give them the best advice regarding what contraceptive methods or options are available.
About the author
Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura is a freelance writer and singer-songwriter, with two professional albums as a recording artist. She is a staunch advocate of Original Filipino Music and hands-on parenthood. She sings with her band WINK* and is a worship leader at church. She loves creative collaboration, quirky vintage finds, poetry, a well-prepared meal, and traveling with her husband and two children. When asked what she does for a living, she says, “I use my authentic voice to supply interesting and insightful content that influences and inspires people to get excited, think and move. I ask the right questions and make use of my unique resources, and I do this with focus, passion, and integrity.”
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