Eco-breastfeeding is the type of breastfeeding that spaces babies naturally. Mothers interested in natural child spacing should be following the maternal behaviors described in The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.
In 1967 scientists (Grosvenor, Mena and Schaefgen) stated the importance of suckling that is “applied periodically and at short intervals” for improved lactation. In 1991 Dr. William Taylor concluded in his research that mothers who nursed with “patterns of short, frequent bouts are less susceptible to early ovulation after childbirth that those who nurse for longer bouts associated with longer inter-bout intervals” ..even though the total amount of nursing in a 24-hour day was similar for both groups.
Dr. Taylor concluded in the same 1991 published study that “[1] scheduled nursing, [2] early introduction of liquid supplements, and [3] early leaving the baby alone all significantly increase the risk of ovulating.” Those following the Seven Standards would avoid these three behaviors which tend to increase the risk of early ovulation. Dr. Taylor in a 1999 study stated that “the relative risk of menstrual cycle recovery decreased by 55.6% if the mothers reported that they allowed their baby in bed with them at night.” This is the reason for Standard Four, “Sleep with your baby for night feedings.”
Dr. Otto Schaefer observed that the Canadian Eskimos kept their family size to three to four children…all due to traditional breastfeeding alone. Eskimo mothers who nursed traditionally conceived 20 to 30 months after childbirth while those Eskimo mothers who adopted the use of the baby bottle shortened their lactation and began conceiving 2 to 4 months after childbirth.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor