[socalfelicity2]

Can someone explain to me why EBF'ing is considered an effective form of birth control for only 6 months? What about people who don't introduce solids until a lot later?-- If it's good birth control at 6 months, why not at 9 months or a year if the babe still is nursing round the clock with no solids? Just don't get it. Thanks!!!

 

[colobus237]

It could continue to delay conception much longer than 6 months. But the studies that were done to validate the "lactational amenorrhea method" only proved efficacy at ~98% up to six months.<br>
The book "Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing" by Sheila Kippley has more info on this

 

[mommytomahmoud]

my son is 9 months and we were still just ebfing until his iron was low but i have not got my period yet thank god and it works as a great birth control for me and i nurse around the clock<br><br>
i think the key is to nurse as much as baby will not going longer than 4 hrs in between feedings and useing noo paci and nursing aton at night lol<br><br>
well that is what i doo soo it works on me but everyone is different<br><br>
ayah

 

[scrabblelover]

I was wondering the same thing, but unfortunately my period came right after her 6th month bday. She eats every 2 hrs during the day and every 3 at night. no bottles, no pacis. I'm just unlucky!

 

[shantimama]

Every mama's body is different and there are many women whose menstrual cycles return by 6 months postpartum, even if they are solely breastfeeding around the clock.<br><br>
None of my children received any solids until after 6 months and they nursed around the clock. With my first 2 babies, AF returned at 5 months and with my third baby - when I was not only nursing her around the clock but tandem nursing her sister around the clock too - AF returned at 6 months.<br><br>
If I had relied on bf'ing as contraception, I would have had children very closely spaced. It is a mystery to me why it works for some women and not others. I had a good friend who introduced solids at 4 months and whose baby when for long stretches at night without feeding and AF didn't return until 18 months for her - doesn't seem fair, but there it is.

 

[alegna]

Also, my understanding is that after 6 months it becomes more likely to ovulate BEFORE you have your first PP period.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[colobus237]

Yes, I believe "Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing" said that between 6 and 12 months, the likelihood of conceiving before your first period is around 6%, and after 12 months ~10%.<br>
Personally, it's been just about 12 months for me both times. Second time I did conceive before having a period. Have had one three-day period since I've been married...4.5 years <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">.<br>
Of course, one of the criteria for LAM is no period, so the 'failure rate' would always refer to conceiving before your first pp period.