There are many misconceptions regarding breastfeeding, especially when it comes to preventing future pregnancy. It is well-known socially that one method of contraception is lactation, but how much does a mother have to produce and how often until it becomes an effective method of prevention of pregnancy? One study proved that…
Exclusive breastfeeding has a pregnancy rate of less than 2% during the first six months postpartum. (Kelsey, 1996)
Breastfeeding exclusively has been the best source of food for infants. Regardless of what is advertised on formula tins at the local food store, it does not substitute the quality of human milk. The contents of breastmilk include more than just nutrients, small traces of white blood cells called leukocytes have been discovered in breast milk. Leukocytes encourage healing and promote immunity. Breastmilk has also been known to decrease the risk of allergies and food sensitivities.
Along with the benefits of human breast milk for newborns, the act of breastfeeding is also highly beneficial, both to the mother and the child. Throughout the process of breastfeeding the hormone oxytocin, the love hormone is produced. It is synthesised in the hypothalamus and is released from the brain and spinal cord into the bloodstream, binding to oxytocin receptors around the body. For females, oxytocin receptors are present in peripheral tissues, such as the ovaries, adrenal glands, mammary glands, liver, uterus, and fat cells.
During the third stage of labour, oxytocin is responsible for the contraction of the uterus, aiding the expulsion of the placenta, and preventing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which is the most common cause of death for women during labour. Throughout the last few months of pregnancy and following birth, oxytocin is responsible for the let-down reflex, which allows milk to be expressed from the breast. Prolactin is another hormone that helps babies to feed. It is responsible for the growth of breasts and the production of milk during and after pregnancy.
Feeding formula to infants does not generally benefit the mother physiologically, unlike breastmilk, which provides more benefits than risks for both mother and child. Although, the choice of feeding formula to infants is generally considered a priority over breastfeeding when breastfeeding has little to no benefits for both the infant and or the mother. Mixed feeding methods also become more beneficial than exclusive breastfeeding when complications arise. Issues such as an infant’s difficulty latching to the breast may be one consideration to prioritise formula over breastfeeding, although, expressing breast milk using a pump can be a solution to consider, which also wouldn’t prevent oxytocin, as it is the stimulation of the nipple which encourages this release.
Another complication that affects whether or on the decision to cease or breastfeed is adequate milk production. Substituting the formula may be a more simple solution to the problem for some, but may also be more costly. The consumption of alcohol is another reason not to breastfeed while lactating. Allowing the infant or child to continue breastfeeding during or soon after the consumption of alcohol is ill-advised since alcohol can be transferred through breastmilk. It can also pass through the placental barrier during pregnancy, which is why pregnant mothers and breastfeeding mothers are both advised not to drink alcohol, as stunting the development of the neonate is at a much higher risk than being sober for the duration of pregnancy and early stages of motherhood.
Breastfeeding exclusively may or may not be possible for mothers. Being able to determine whether enough milk has been produced and expressed to prevent another pregnancy can be difficult, as each woman produces different amounts, and not all mothers have the right circumstances to maintain exclusive breastfeeding.
No form of contraception is 100% successful, even sterilizations. There are various different sterilization methods, but the only method of sterilization that is 100% successful is a hysterectomy which is a full removal of the uterus, which is only encouraged when there is risk of death to the mother or woman. Even with sterilization methods such as tubal ligation, which is a permanent contraception method, there is still a 99% risk of falling pregnant.
Although tubal sterilization is highly effective, the risk of sterilization failure is higher than generally reported. The risk persists for years after the procedure and varies by method of tubal occlusion and age. (Peterson et al., 1996)
One of the best methods of contraception would be mixed methods, such as the use of a condom, sterilization, a diaphragm, the pill, IUD, and many other alternative methods of prevention of pregnancy suggested by doctors and midwives. Since breastfeeding exclusively has a 98% effectiveness rate of contraception, using other methods of protection simultaneously would be the best suggestion while having a newborn or toddler. Even though exclusive breastfeeding may be effective as contraception for most women, it should not be assumed that breastfeeding infants prevent pregnancy for everyone, as intercourse increases the occurrence of pregnancy regardless of any contraception of choice. The safest method of contraception is having no sex at all. It is inexpensive, and 100% effective in preventing pregnancy.
Bibliography
Kelsey, J. J. (1996). Hormonal Contraception and Lactation. Journal of Human Lactation, 12(4), 315–318. https://doi.org/10.1177/089033449601200419
Peterson, H. B., Xia, Z., Hughesa, J. M., Wilcox, L. S., Tylora, L. R., & Trussell, J. (1996). The risk of pregnancy after tubal sterilization: Findings from the U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 174(4), 1161–1170. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(96)70658-0
