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| Yes | 15% | 36 votes | Total: 237 votes | |
| No | 85% | 201 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI suppose I could write for the other side of this debate because I'll admit that breastfeeding will not necessarily prevent pregnancy. Why I'm not is because it can do so and I believe that is where the heart of this debate lies.
I'm going to begin by explaining how it won't work. If you supplement with formula, you will not be able to use the fact that you are nursing to prevent pregnancy. You would be fooling yourself to think so. If you have your child on a regimented feeding schedule, you may not be able to either. If your child is old enough to be eating solids in addition to breastfeeding, it won't work either.
The reasons why lie in how it does work. When a woman breast feeds exclusively her body delays ovulation for a period of time. This works best when you breastfeed on demand and often, at least every two hours.
This period of time does not have any set limit. The less often you feed, if you begin to supplement with formula for example, the sooner ovulation may begin. It is also possible to begin ovulating while you are still exclusively breastfeeding. Because of this, a woman who wishes to utilize this method needs to watch for the signs that ovulation is returning. This can be done several ways. I will not get into the details of Natural Family Planning, but if a couple follows NFP combined with breastfeeding they can successfully prevent pregnancy as long as the mother is breastfeeding and even longer if they continue to practice NFP strictly.
Breastfeedi ng is a very natural way of spacing children. In and of itself it may not work 100%, but when done correctly is a very effective aid. Best of all it doesn't have the side effects of other forms of birth control.
Learn more about this author, Kris Mery.
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No
It was 4th of July, 2007. I could hear the whispers of our friends and family behind my back, "Is she pregnant again?". When we arrived back home I had to ask my husband if he thought I looked like I had gained weight. He reluctantly answered, "Yeah, maybe a little, but just in your stomach."
I couldn't believe it! I had been working so hard to take off the baby weight. Cooper, our 4th child, was almost 9 months old and I was finally starting to feel like myself again. Sure, I was packing on a few pounds, but at almost 40 years old, I knew it would be harder to shed the baby weight this time around. I went to bed feeling a little sad, but vowed to wake up early and hit the gym - determined to focus on those abs!
I hate to admit it, but I too had noticed a bump starting to develop. Perhaps I had a tumor? "Maybe you are pregant," my husband said a few days later as he watched me struggle into my favorite jeans. "I am NOT pregnant! You can not get pregant while you are nursing. It's a well known fact. Besides, we've only done it once or twice in the past year anyway."
Fast forward to August, my husband and I sitting in the doctor's office. A place that had become all too familiar. "Do tumors move?" He looked totally puzzled by this question. I repeated myself, this time saying it slower, as if he were the stupid one. "Do... tumors... move? I mean if I have a tumor, could I feel it kicking me?"
"When was your last period?"
"February 2006. I still haven't gotten my periods back from the last baby."
"Any chance you might be pregnant now."
"Nope. I've been breastfeeding."
"Let' s take a look shall we?", grinning at me as if he already knew the answer.
The good doctor turned on the ultra sound machine, and before I even had a chance to look up at the screen, I could hear the familiar sound of that sweet little heart beat. "I'm pregnant?"
"Yes. Very. I'd say about seven months."
The room went completely quiet, my head was spinning, my ears ringing, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I thought you said seven months."
"Yes, give or a take a couple of days."
I will take this moment to point out that on the day we conceived, Cooper was only 3 months old. He was breast fed exclusively and about every two hours.
Baby number 5 came that October, just 12 months and one week after his brother. Luke was unexpected, a huge surprise actually, and the biggest blessing of our lives. I learned a few things to be true that day. Facts, if you will.
Number 1: TUMORS DO NOT KICK 2. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND MORE LOVE TO GIVE, even when you thought couldn't possibly. 3. HOSPITAL FOOD GETS A LITTLE BETTER EVERY YEAR.
And last but not least... BREAST FEEDING IS NOT A RELIABLE FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL!
Learn more about this author, Cheryl Oliver.
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