Abstract
This booklet for health care workers in developing countries reviews the fertility-controlling effects of breastfeeding its strengths and limitations as an element in family planning and how to provide modern methods of contraception to lactating women. Breastfeeding currently provides about 30% more protection against pregnancy in developing countries than all of the organized family planning programs. The recent trend toward a falling off in the practice of breastfeeding poses a threat to infant welfare and a danger of increased fertility. Health workers are urged to reach pregnant women in the community with knowledge about the value of breastfeeding versus bottle feeding. Each country must set its own policies concerning contraception for lactating women. It is preferable for lactating women to use nonhormonal methods but if selected they should not be used too early. Lowest-dose preparations especially progestogen-only pills are preferable. Determination of when to start contraception during lactation should be based on breastfeeding patterns in the community the age at which supplementary foods are introduced usual birth spacing intervals and the mean duration of lactation amenorrhea. If the usual time of resumption of menstruation in a given community is known a rough guide to the optimal time for starting contraception is returning menstruation minus 2 months.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
