Don't Use Breastfeeding as a Natural Birth Control Method

6.02.2012 | By: T. B.

Breastfeeding isn’t a natural family planning method. You aren’t infertile while breastfeeding, just less fertile!

breastfeeding natural birth control method

A lot of women wrongly assume that breastfeeding can be used as a natural birth control method. (PhotoXpress)

Join us on Facebook!

There are a lot of myths out there and many of them shouldn’t be taken seriously. However, some of these unfounded and firmly rooted beliefs may have grave consequences.

You CAN get pregnant if you are breastfeeding!

From now on Jamie Spears will probably ignore one of the myths that we will talk about in this article. She is reportedly pregnant for the second time because she believed that it’s impossible to get pregnant during breastfeeding. That’s a mistake! The general belief also has a scientific basis. The hormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in producing breast milk, is released during breastfeeding as well as childbirth. The hormone also reduces fertility, but isn't a completely reliable method – it just makes you less likely to get pregnant.

A lot of women determine the next baby’s birth by breastfeeding. Using this method is as effective as considering (un)safe or (in)fertile days in a menstrual cycle. Some people base the logic of this type of contraception by claiming Nature has ensured that a woman cannot get pregnant again in the first few months after the birth because she has to meet the baby’s needs. Although Nature has its rules, she also plays tricks on us from time to time. The presented line of thinking may work in the majority of cases – but don’t you think the risk is slightly too high?

What are the chances of getting pregnant during breastfeeding?

If you decide to use breastfeeding as contraception, there are certain guidelines you have to take into account. The periods between breastfeeding are important in considering the effectiveness of the method. If they are too long, the method is unreliable (if you don’t breastfeed your baby at all during one night, your protection will be less effective). The time between the periods of breastfeeding and the length of breastfeeding are important. If your periods of breastfeeding are short, protection is less effective. If you give the baby other food alongside your milk, the method becomes less reliable. If the baby sucks 85% of your breast milk, it means that you breastfeed the baby almost completely, and protection against pregnancy is therefore more effective. If there is more than 15% of the food added, your protection is at risk again.

When you stop breastfeeding or reduce it, your menstrual cycle is triggered. This is a very reliable sign of pregnancy. As useful information, ovulation is in fact triggered before your period starts, which means you are pregnant beforehand.

Although some people claim the method is 98% effective, reality shows a different picture. You should use additional protection beside breastfeeding unless you plan to have a baby.