Most of the breastfeeding research before the 1970s dealt with exclusive or mixed breastfeeding. Several researchers noted that breastfeeding amenorrhea means ovulation is suppressed. The research done by Dr. Leonard Remfry and Dr. Konald Prem showed that the breastfeeding mother has only a 5-6% chance of pregnancy during breastfeeding amenorrhea. In such cases, ovulation occurred before a first menstruation. Their research papers are at the NFP International website.
In the early Sixties, La Leche League International taught that mothers who exclusively breastfed had a 1% chance of pregnancy before their first period occurred during those first 6 months. Rose Gioiosa also taught through La Leche League, her research, and her Boston ministry that couples could space their babies by offering only breast milk via direct breastfeeding for the first 9 months of life and only start to offer solids when the baby was 6 months old. Currently the Lactational Amenorrhea Method is taught and has been researched in many sites throughout the world. It claims at least a 98% effectiveness when mothers exclusively breastfeed, remain in amenorrhea, and the baby has not yet reached 6 months of age. This method is similar to what La Leche League taught in the Sixties.
What is often missing in the research are behaviors that the mothers can do to space their babies naturally. That is the purpose of teaching the Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding. These standards involve behaviors that encourage frequent and unrestricted nursing. Research shows that American mothers who ecologically breastfeed their babies will experience, on average, 14 to 15 months of breastfeeding amenorrhea. The Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding are the following:
- Exclusively Breastfeed for the First Six Months
- Pacify Your Baby at Your Breasts
- Don’t Use Bottles or Pacifiers
- Sleep with Your Baby for Night Feedings
- Sleep with Your Baby for a Daily-Nap Feeding
- Nurse Frequently Day and Night
- Avoid Any Practice That Restricts Nursing or Separates You from Your Baby
My book, The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor, has a chapter on each Standard. These chapters explain why each Standard is important. Probably the most controversial is the Fourth Standard dealing with night feedings. That chapter has the research showing the importance of night feedings AND the safe-sleeping rules. In addition, that chapter lists at least 20 benefits for the mother and baby co-sharing sleep.
Tomorrow: Research on mother and baby co-sharing sleep.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding