Is Ecological Breastfeeding Contraceptive? By Sheila Kippley
To CNML moms:
I
don’t think you can find an informed Catholic moral theologian anywhere
in the world who will say that ecological breastfeeding is a
contraceptive behavior to be condemned as seriously sinful.
According
to Catholic Church teaching, couples need to have a sufficiently
serious reason to practice systematic natural family planning. Couples
do not need to have a reason to practice eco-breastfeeding because the
extended infertility of ecological breastfeeding is a normal, God-given
side effect of following God’s plan for baby care. It is not wrong to
hope for normal breastfeeding infertility along with all the other
normal good effects of breastfeeding.
Mother
and baby are one biological unit during pregnancy and after
childbirth. This concept of mother and baby being one biological unit
is taught by some representing the medical profession and is also stated
by the World Health Organization. The WHO said: “Mothers and babies
form an inseparable biological and social unit; the health and nutrition
of one group cannot be divorced from the health and nutrition of the
other.” (“Infant and young child nutrition,” Fifty-Fifth World Health
Assembly, April 16, 2002) The biological unit is the same except that
during childbirth the baby switches positions from the uterus to
mother’s arms.
Just a couple of points to consider about ecological breastfeeding.
First,
breastfeeding amenorrhea is a natural effect of Ecological
Breastfeeding. Biologically, the primary effect of breastfeeding is the
nourishment of the baby. Close secondary effects are the
anti-infection health benefits for the baby, the nurturing benefits for
the baby, and the health benefits for the mother. Breastfeeding
amenorrhea is another secondary effect.
Second,
there is nothing wrong to breastfeed with the hopes of experiencing
breastfeeding amenorrhea. In fact, the choice to do ecological
breastfeeding with the Seven Standards enhances the primary and other
secondary effects.
Third,
because Eco-breastfeeding is sometimes inconvenient, I think that
almost all mothers who chose to do Eco-Bf as their primary reason
initially will change later and will continue to do the Seven or Six
Standards primarily because of the effects of breastfeeding for the
baby.
The idea that Ecological Breastfeeding is contraceptive is common in a few Catholic
circles. They believe that teaching ecological breastfeeding is wrong
because it teaches mothers to have a lengthy breastfeeding
amenorrhea. And that means no baby or pregnancy during that
time. They believe that if moms nurse their babies, they should wean
early in order to conceive again. The important breastfeeding benefits
for both mother and baby are ignored. Saint Pope John Paul II told
mothers to nurse for two years at least and mentioned that breastfeeding
spaces babies.
Regarding those who say ecological breastfeeding does not space babies, all you have to
do is ask them about each of the Seven Standards or send them my
breastfeeding survey. I have sent surveys to some “it doesn’t work”
mothers but never had a survey returned. I think they realized they
were not doing eco-breastfeeding. I did a study on those
mothers in our NFP organization who said it did not work, but in no case
were all the Seven Standards followed. On page 113 of our manual, Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach, we list behaviors of breastfeeding mothers which interfere with natural infertility. This manual can be obtained at www.NFPandmore.org for a small donation. It is free for the truly poor.
And
most importantly, there are variations. Some nursing mothers have a
return of menstruation earlier than others with a rare few having a very
early return. Secondly, many of us who go one or two years without
menstruating are anxious for fertility to return because we are anxious
to have another baby. That desire to conceive again is a natural side
effect when the breastfeeding and the oneness with your baby are so
enjoyable.
What
we need is for the Church to promote the natural spacing of children
with eco-breastfeeding, for all NFP groups to teach the Seven Standards,
and get Gina on EWTN promoting CNML and her book!
Sheila Kippley
Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding
Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach
www.NFPandmore.org
Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding
Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach
www.NFPandmore.org
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