Part 2: Research on the Spacing Effects of Breastfeeding
If you look at the research studies that have been done, it is clear that breastfeeding, especially ecological breastfeeding, spaces babies.
The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is 98% effective in avoiding pregnancy. The three guidelines of LAM are: 1) the mother has not had her period return, 2) she nurses her baby on demand and does not go more than about 3-4 hours between nursing sessions during the day and no longer than 6 hours at night, and 3) the baby is under six months of age.
According to Sheila Kippley and her extensive review of the literature plus her own research, about 70% of mothers who practice ecological breastfeeding experience their first menstruation between 9 and 20 months postpartum. The average return of menstruation in North American mothers is about 14-15 months postpartum. Here is a summary of the seven standards of ecological breastfeeding.
Below is just a sampling of the research studies that have been done on the spacing effects of breastfeeding. For more information, you can also see Sheila Kippley’s two books on the topic: Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing and The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor. Both are available as gifts from the Catholic Nursing Mothers League.
Continuously Recorded Suckling Behavior and its Effect on Lactational Amenorrhoea
Clinical study of the Lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning
Ecological Breastfeeding and Child Spacing
Breastfeeding and Family Planning
Breastfeeding and Postpartum Ovulation
Postpartum Contraception: the Lactational Amenorrhea Method
A study of effectiveness of Lactational amenorrhea as a method of contraception
An Assessment of the Nine Month Lactational Amenorrhea Method in Rwanda - this study suggests that the guidelines of LAM can be possibly be extended to nine months
Nursing frequency and birth spacing in Kung hunter gatherers
Multicenter study of LAM - this study also suggests that LAM can be extended past six months
NFP International’s list of breastfeeding infertility studies
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