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Breastfeeding
gives a mother 98% protection against pregnancy
for six months after giving birth - if her baby
breastfeeds frequently, day and night, if the
baby is not regularly given other food and drink,
and if the mother's periods have not returned.
Supporting Information
It is now known that the sucking of the baby
on the mother's breast causes a delay in the
return of the mother's fertility. For some women,
breastfeeding delays the return of menstrual
periods for up to 12 months - or even longer.
For other mothers, menstrual periods return
only three or four months after giving birth.
How
often the baby sucks at the mother's breast
is the most important fact in deciding how long
it will be before the mother's periods return.
If
a baby sucks very frequently at the breast (whenever
the baby wants to, including at night) then
the return of the mother's periods will be delayed
for much longer. But if breastfeeding is restricted
to a regular routine, then the mother's periods
will return much more quickly. Or if a mother
gives other food or drink to a baby who is less
than six months old, then the baby may suck
less often at the breast and the mother's periods
are likely to return much sooner.
The
return of menstrual periods lets the mother
know that she can become pregnant again.
It
is possible for a mother to become pregnant
again before her monthly period returns. This
becomes more likely when six months have passed
since the birth of the baby. A woman who wants
to be protected against another pregnancy should
choose another method of family planning if
any of the following apply :
A) her baby has reached the age of six months
B) her monthly periods have returned
C) the baby is starting to take other food and
drink in addition to breastmilk.
Whether
or not a mother intends to breastfeed a newborn
child, parents should be provided with advice
on family planning at the maternity unit or
hospital where  their
child has been born. If the child is born at
home, trained birth attendants can also give
advice on family planning.
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