I was talking to my cousin a few weeks ago and he and his wife are expecting their first child in late July. She got pregnant after only being off the pill for a month. We were talking about birth control after the baby is born and he told me that they are just going to use breast feeding as birth control. Is that not the dumbest thing you have ever heard? I know that exclusively breast feeding can cause your cycle to delay for a while, but to rely on it for birth control, give me a break. I have heard some pretty stupid pregnancy things, but this one is up there with the best.
2007-03-18 16:34:58 · 34 answers · asked by redpeach_mi 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Yikes. Tell your cousin that's incorrect and that if he won't believe you, he needs to have his wife ask her OB/GYN on her next visit. While it is true as you said that it can delay your cycle, what works for some people will not work for everyone. I know that my period came within the second month. Unless they're comfortable having another baby this close to the first one, they should really be made aware of this. I don't think they are dumb though - just misinformed by someone. Some people speak total nonsense - but with great authority. I've known plenty of people like that.
2007-03-18 16:42:37 · answer #1 · answered by pookiemct07 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not dumb, it's actually a well recognised and well known form of birth control, if practiced effectively.
The reason why it tends to fail for some people is that they don't practice it properly.
Breastfeeding releases prolactin into the body which supresses ovulation (a natural excess of prolactin in women with conditions such as PCOS causes infertility - no ovulation).
As a contraceptive it can be 98% effective but only if the woman breastfeeds frequently (and that includes at night), avoids supplementary feeding (formula), ideally avoids giving the baby a dummy or pacificier, and delays giving solid foods until the baby is 6-7 months old, after which she should keep in breastfeeding as much as before with the solid food in addition to the breastfeeding, not instead of.
In times before contraceptives were available, and before alternative foods for babies were available, and women breastfed generally because there was no alternative, then breastfeeding was actually pretty effective.
Maybe you should have a talk to a doctor or nurse before dismissing this notion as "dumb".
2007-03-18 18:29:33 · answer #2 · answered by SydneyMum101 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, my second daughter if proof of that being false. But then, I was also on the mini-pill too. Apparently, it didn't work for me. Breastfeeding is NOT a reliable form of birth control at all!! I get my first period usually 8-10 weeks after my babies are born, so for me, it really doesn't work!! Some women don't get their first period until breastfeeding slows once the baby starts to eat food, but you never know where you will fall in that. I hope they want another one soon!! My two are 14 months apart. Yup, really close, and I wouldn't recommend it to most people!! I have known women who have a baby 10 months after their other baby, so apparently they went against doctors orders on not having sex before your 6 week postpartum check. I know women who go for their 6 week check and are told they are pregnant again!! I have seen it more then once. Tell them that breastfeeding isn't a reliable form of birth control, and if they don't believe you, tell them to ask her doctor about it.
2007-03-18 17:12:11 · answer #3 · answered by odd duck 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a 6 week old daughter and I breastfeed her. I just had my 6 week checkup and my doc asked what form of birth control I wanted on. I got pregnant on the pill and would never rely on breastfeeding as my birth control.
2007-03-18 18:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by Mom to Isobelle 2, & Gavyn 8mths 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dumb no. Misguided yes. Wonder if they got that idea from a breastfeeding nazi lol I mean lactician consultant or maybe from a la leche league group member. Breastfeeding as birth control isn't reliable. I've heard of the method but you have to be EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding for that to work as the breastfeeding experts claim. The withdrawal method or rithym method works better than that and even those two aren't that realiable. Plus if you're not menstruating while breastfeeding you could be pregnant and not even know. I wouldn't want to take that chance. If they don't mind having another one the bf would delay it only for a few months at best.
2007-03-18 17:12:12 · answer #5 · answered by Janet R 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
So who died and made you some kind of (ill-informed) pregnancy expert?
For quite a lot of women breastfeeding causing what's called lactational amennorhoea. It causes you to not ovulate or menstruate and makes it impossible for you to fall pregnant. Not all women get it, but if you're breastfeeding and your period hasn't returned, you probably have it.
I had it with both of my kids and it was great. What makes you so sure it's not going to work for your cousin? And if it doesn't, so what? Are you the "family police"? Do you have some kind of control over how many babies they're allowed to have?
No, so get your facts straight and leave the happy couple alone.
2007-03-18 16:40:12 · answer #6 · answered by RIffRaffMama 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Breastfeeding can certainly decrease your chances of getting pregnant but it's not foolproof. Backup protection should still be used.
That being said, I don't think it's "dumb" to not want to use birth control. Some families don't believe in it and if theirs is the case, they aren't being "dumb"...it's just a conviction of theirs.
But it is a little uneducated to assume that breastfeeding will keep you from getting pregnant.
2007-03-18 16:44:46 · answer #7 · answered by Jen 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I have seen you posting answers on this site for a while, after reading all the questions in this section, that statement still flabergasted you?? LoL, I gotta admit though, thats a pretty stupid thing to say. You should buy them some condoms as a after baby is born present. HAHAHA
2007-03-18 16:52:02 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ღαмαиdα♥ღ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know 2 different women who relied only on breast feeding to prevent pregnancy.. one had children 10 months apart and the other had children 11 months apart. It does NOT work.
If they want to stay off chemical hormones, then suggest Conceptrol inserts to them.
2007-03-18 16:47:37 · answer #9 · answered by sassydontpm 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is way retarted! I understand your concern though because you love these people but you hate watching them make stupid decisions. My little sister is kinda the same way. They make stupid decisions about their lives and and never listen to us and then wonder why it back fires. Well all you can do is tell them that they are wrong and then when she gets pregnant, tell them the whole I told you so thing. Im sorry that you have to deal with Wack Jobs, But I guess there is always one or 2 in every family. lol
2007-03-18 17:05:40 · answer #10 · answered by I love my kids! 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋