This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
The probability of experiencing the first postpartum bleeding, the first ovulation
and the risk of pregnancy during exclusive breastfeeding was assessed in a selected
group of urban Chilean women. Admission criteria included having had a normal pregnancy
and a vaginal term delivery of a healthy infant and the desire to maintain breastfeeding
for as long as possible.
The risk of bleeding and the recovery of ovulation was assessed in 48 women selected
for being amenorrheic and fully nursing at day 75 postpartum and their willingness
to participate in the blood sampling protocol. The first bleeding and ovulation was
experienced while fully nursing by 28% and 26% of these subjects, respectively, at
day 180 postpartum.
The probability of experiencing the first bleeding and the probability of pregnancy
during full nursing were calculated for 236 women not contracepting who were enrolled
during the first month postpartum. The cumulative probability of bleeding and of pregnancy
was 52% and 9.4% at day 180 postpartum, respectively. The risk of pregnancy was less
than 2% in the subset of amenorrheic cases.
In this urban population selected for having the highest motivation and best breastfeeding
performance, the association of breastfeeding with infertility was too weak to serve
as an effective birth spacer, except for the period of lactational amenorrhea. When
the first postpartum bleeding took place before the sixth postpartum month in fully
nursing women, it had a good predictive value to indicate the onset of a higher risk
period.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to ContraceptionAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- The chance of conception during lactation.J. Biosoc. Sci. 1977; : 41-54
- Lactational amenorrhea and natural family planning.in: Hafez E.S.E. Human Ovulation. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press,, New York1979: 501-513
- Nursing frequency, gonadal function, and birth spacing among Kung Hunter-gatherers.Science. 1980; 207: 788-791
- Effect of breast-feeding patterns on human birth intervals.J. Reprod. Fert. 1982; 65: 545-557
- The effect of breastfeeding supplements on the return of fertility.Stud. Fam. Plann. 1982; 13: 293-296
- Effect of duration and frequency of breastfeeding on postpartum amenorrhea.Pediatrics. 1982; 69: 164-168
- Influence of breast-feeding pattern on pituitary-ovarian axis of women in an industrialized community.Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1982; 143: 673-677
- Effect of breast-feeding status on prolactin secretion and resumption of menstruation.Med. J. Aust. 1983; 1: 313-317
- Timing and sequence of resuming ovulation and menstruation after childbirth.Population Studies. 1971; 25: 491-503
- Effect of hormonal and nonhormonal contraceptives on lactation and incidence of pregnancy.Contraception. 1986; 33: 203-213
- Effect of supplementary food on suckling patterns and ovarian activity during lactation.Brit. Med. J. 1981; 283: 757-763
- Fertility after childbirth: Infant feeding patterns, basal PRL levels and post-partum ovulation.Clin. Endocrinol. 1982; 17: 315-322
- Breastfeeding pattern and the duration of lactational amenorrhea in urban Chilean women.Contraception. 1988; 38: 37-51
- Fertility regulation in nursing women: I. The probability of conception in full nursing women living in an urban setting.J. Biosoc. Sci. 1982; 14: 329-341
- 8th ed. Textbook of Pediatrics. W.B. Saunders Co.,, Philadelphia, PA1964: 42
- Who Special Programme of Research Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction.in: Programme for the Provision of Matched Assay Reagents for the RIA of Hormones in Reproductive Physiology. 11th Ed. Method Manual. 1987
- Studies on the duration of egg transport by the human oviduct. II. Ovum location at various intervals following LH peak.Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1978; 132: 629-634
- Preliminary observations on the return of ovarian function among breast-feeding and post-partum non-breastfeeding women in a rural area of Mexico.J. Biosoc. Sci. 1985; : 112-136
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 20,
1988
Received:
November 11,
1987
Identification
Copyright
© 1988 Published by Elsevier Inc.
