Breastfeeding and Birth Control Methods

There are a number of ways to ensure your family is spaced and insure the birth control method you choose doesn’t pass through to breast milk.

The first and most often used it to allow breastfeeding to be the natural method of birth control. Studies show this is a method that is 98% effective and equal to any other means of birth control. However for this to be effective the baby must nurse often and breastfeeding should be his only means of nourishment. That means no pacifiers if at all possible as well. It’s an effective method and almost sure-fire until the infant begins to take his first solid foods then it becomes less reliable.

Still, many women choose other means while breastfeeding and below are listed some safe methods of birth control as added insurance in your family planning endeavors.

•    Condoms
•    IUD (intrauterine device)
•    Diaphragms
•    Spermicidal Jellies and Creams
•    Rhythm Method

Less desirable and not proven 100% safe are the hormonal treatments such as birth control pills or hormonal implants.  Recent studies tend to show hormonal implants and birth control pills pass only minute amounts of the hormone through the breast milk. However, we as a society are finding even minute amounts of any substance sometimes are not without consequences.

Condoms both the male and female sort can help a nursing mother space the family. However condoms in conjunction with a spermicidal jelly or cream are found to be most effective and with no effect on  the quality of the breast milk.

IUDs or a copper device inserted in the uterus are also considered to be very effective in helping to plan a family. There are also no problems or hormones attached with this birth control method.

Diaphragms or foam inserts are also a means of family planning and are felt to have no effect on the quality of breast milk. Often these devices are used in conjunction with a spermicidal jelly or cream.

The rhythm method depends on learning the body rhythms and then abstaining from sex during periods of fertility.  This means is considered natural, however it also can fail if signs are misread.

No means of family planning is 100% effective and the choice of which to use in family planning is personal and usually best undertaken with the advice of a family physician to take into account any health considerations.

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