EBF as contraception?

[FoodieMum3]

I was reading that EBF a baby younger than 6 months (as long as several conditions are met) is as effective as taking the pill.

Any thoughts/experiences?

[MissMilbanke]

only If one of those conditions is abstinence then ebf works well as a contraceptive.

Otherwise it will not help - a jot !

[Lucky29]

I'm not risking it so on the pill as well. My dd hasn't fed in the night since about 8 weeks so I don't meet the criteria anyway but think if you really don't want to get pg you should use contraception.

[beccajoh]

I didn't have any periods whilst breastfeeding but I know some of my friends did, even whilst EBF! I wouldn't take the risk myself unless I was happy to fall pregnant again. Plenty of people get caught out by this.

[AuntieStella]

Why do you ask?

Would two PG in close succession be disastrous for you?

The WHO is pretty clear about the conditions that must be met (feeding round the clock, feeding on demand, no long intervals between feeds, periods not returned, baby age

[trixymalixy]

I know a couple of people who EBF and have age gaps of less than a year between kids. Wouldn't rely on it personally.

[BertieBotts]

I wouldn't rely on it if getting pregnant would be the end of the world.

The problem is that different people have different definitions. Exclusive breastfeeding for example means not only no formula, but no solids and no water. Some also say it means no bottles of expressed milk and no dummies.

Breastfeeding must be on demand but again this varies as to how it's interpreted. Some say that dummy use artificially lengthens gaps between feeds. Some say that the baby must be co sleeping. Some say it's a problem if the baby sleeps longer than a certain period at night, even if they are doing this naturally without any kind of sleep training. Some say that the baby must be carried in a sling skin to skin and allowed free access to the breast at all times.

Perhaps if you are very used to temping and charting your fertility in a natural family planning kind of way it would be reliable, but other than that I wouldn't risk it personally.

[ShadowFall]

I don't think it's wise to rely on ebf as a contraceptive, unless you'd be happy to get pregnant again.

I'm breastfeeding 10 month old DS2 and my periods still haven't returned (and have been using other contraception so pregnancy is unlikely), but I know that this isn't the case for everyone.

I know 2 women who fell pregnant on their first menstrual cycle after having a baby because they'd wrong assumed that breastfeeding was an effective contraception.

[FoodieMum3]

Interesting replies.


AuntieStella, I probably sound crazy because my baby isn't due for a few weeks yet! I am planning to EBF/feed on demand etc and hate and have always hated condoms and hormonal contraceptives. We haven't used either for a few years now; we have a 2.5 year old and this baby and spent about a year ttc the 2 year old so really it's been about 4 years since I've even had to think about it.

I definitely wouldn't be planning another pregnancy, but what if I did meet all those conditions you mentioned?

Oh and I also read that before baby is 6 months you get a period first, before you ovulate (like a warning)but with a baby older than 6 months you ovulate first, then period arrives if conception has not occurred. Do you know if this is true?

[AuntieStella]

"Oh and I also read that before baby is 6 months you get a period first, before you ovulate (like a warning)"

This is definitely utterly not true.

[ShadowFall]

I have no idea if it's normal to get a "warning" period if the baby's under 6 months.

It doesn't sound right though - I thought that ovulation was what triggered the whole menstrual bit off? So your hormone levels have to be enough for ovulation to at least be possible before you start having periods? Although I'm no expert so I could be talking bollocks.

[BertieBotts]

You can get a period without ovulating but do not rely on this as a sign. That's like the old "you can't get pregnant the first time".

[FoodieMum3]

From kellymom

It is possible to have one or (occasionally) more periods before you start ovulating. In this case, menstruation begins during the first stage of the return to fertility –before ovulation returns. Cycles without ovulation are most common during the first six months postpartum. For other mothers, the first menstruation is preceded by ovulation – a longer period of lactational amenorrhea increases the likelihood that you will ovulate before that first period.

[FoodieMum3]

So clearly not worth the risk.

But it does state that pregnancy is very unlikely when the (strict) EBF conditions are met.

[BertieBotts]

ie, you can, but there's no guarantee that you will if that makes sense.

[BertieBotts]

But most common doesn't mean exclusively.

It's really up to you - if you trust the sources and you feel happy with the risk then do it. I personally wouldn't unless I felt happy with the idea of two under one as a rare chance.

The pill isn't 100% either even with perfect use.

[AuntieStella]

"it is possible to have one or (occasionally) more periods before you start ovulating"

It is possible to have anovulatory cycles at any time

[Viviennemary]

I was told it was very possible to conceive even if you were EBF.

[AdoraBell]

When my DDs were small my HV told me of another family she saw who used EBF. The second pregnancy was twins so they had 3 babies under a year old. She told me you shouldn't get PG while BFing but that doesn't you can't.

[AdoraBell]

Doesn't mean you can't.

Please excuse sausage fingers.

[FoodieMum3]

Ladies, I thought I was going mad. I knew I read it somewhere (about the period before ovulation before 6 months) but I could not remember where.

Then a lightbulb went off and I remembered it was in a book I ordered on amazon a few weeks ago: 'The food of love' by Kate Evans. Maybe some of you know it?

On page 172 it says:

For the first 6 months of total breastfeeding it is unlikely but not impossible, that your fertility will return. If it does, then you'll get a warning period first, before you ovulate. So the rule is, as long as you haven't had a period yet, you're safe for first 6 months. If you do get a period, you have to use contraception from that point onwards. Lactation all amenorrhea, as this method is known, is 98% effective. That's as good as the pill

I am so, so glad I asked this question. What a serious mistake to publish, I really would have believed it and feel so silly now.

Thank you all.

[gamescompendium]

I EBF all three of mine (no formula, no food before 6 months, no dummy, no expressed milk) on demand. DD2 was an incredibly efficient feeder and had big gaps between feeds (3-4h, longer at night), my periods returned after 4 months. DD1 my periods returned after 7 months and I had 2 periods before I was pregnant again. DS (PNTC) I can't remember! 6-7 months probably.

I know several women who EBF and had a gap less than a year, including my MW who didn't realise she was pregnant until she was 5 months pregnant!

[FoodieMum3]

After 6 months, the picture changes. Your fertility could still return at any time but you could now sneakily ovulate before you get a period

[LaurieMarlow]

Friends of mine got caught out like this. She met the strict ebf conditions, no warning period - so pretty shocked to find herself pregnant again. Not the end of the world for them, but definitely a lot sooner than intended.

[squizita]

DH's mum BFed. He and DSIL are very close together in age... if you catch my drift.

No way in a million years would I rely on this method! Not that DMiL minded I think (she had a neat 'similar age' family) but a happy accident is an accident nonetheless...