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Abstract
The influence of the breastfeeding pattern and several clinical variables upon the
duration of postpartum amenorrhea was assessed in a group of healthy women selected
for having had a normal pregnancy and delivery and being highly motivated for prolonged
breastfeeding on demand. 676 women who were fully nursing at the second month postpartum
entered the study. Supplements were administered to 11% and 48% of the infants by
the end of the 3rd and 6th month, respectively. The first bleeding was experienced
before the end of the sixth month postpartum by 57% of the cases. Supplementation
had a strong negative influence while nursing frequency had a significant positive
influence upon the length of amenorrhea. Notwithstanding, a frequency of 8 + suckling
episodes per 24 h could not maintain amenorrhea in around half of the subjects. Age
and parity had a moderate negative influence upon the risk of experiencing the first
postpartum bleeding. Maternal weight and ponderal index, infant sex, birth weight
and growth rate showed no significant influence upon the length of amenorrhea.
In this urban population selected for having the highest motivation and best breastfeeding
performance, the association of breastfeeding with amenorrhea was weak in comparison
with what has been described for other populations. The risk of experiencing the first
bleeding was reduced while fully breastfeeding with a high number of nursing episodes
per day and night, particularly in older women with higher parity. But even in such
situation 25% and 50% of the women had started to cycle by the end of the fifth and
eigth postpartum month.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 20,
1988
Received:
November 11,
1987
Identification
Copyright
© 1988 Published by Elsevier Inc.
