Natural Family Planning International

            In 1988 an international group of scientists and others with expertise in the fields of breastfeeding and infertility met in Bellagio, Italy to see if they could agree on a common statement about breastfeeding infertility.  After reviewing the studies, they concluded that an exclusively breastfeeding mother can ignore any vaginal bleeding during the first 8 weeks postpartum.  Any bleeding, even that resembling a period, can be ignored during this time because she is infertile during this time, provided she is exclusively breastfeeding.  This is called the Bellagio Consensus. 

            In 1968 Dr. T. J. Cronin concluded that “provided full breastfeeding is in progress and menstruation has not returned, ovulation does not happen before the end of the 10^th postpartum week.”  This conclusion fits well with the Bellagio Consensus.

            This knowledge is helpful for all mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding and who are interested in natural child spacing.  They need to know it.  This is taught in the regular course and manual of NFPI.

Sheila Kippley

The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor

            In 1943, Dr. Paul Topkins concluded that during “the amenorrheic period of lactation, ovulation does not occur.”  Generally speaking, Dr. Topkins is correct since he did endometrial biopsies on 28 lactating mothers during amenorrhea repeatedly, mostly during the early months after childbirth.  But today we know that mothers can experience ovulation during amenorrhea, especially when the nursing is not frequent enough and there are long intervals between the feeding sessions. 

            In 1954, Dr. Thomas McKeown studied over 900 nursing mothers.  In his study, no mother conceived while exclusively breastfeeding and before they had their first period.

            Today the Lactational Amenorrhea Method has been studied scientifically many times.  This method provides an exclusively breastfeeding non-cycling mother with a baby under six months old with an effectiveness of at least 98%.  Once the baby turns six months old or the mother quits breastfeeding exclusively or the mother begins to have vaginal bleeding or menstruation after the 56^th postpartum day, this effectiveness no longer applies.  This exclusive breastfeeding rule is promoted throughout the world.

            Research since the 50s have shown that introduction of other liquids and solids during the early months after childbirth is associated with an early return of fertility.  However, if a mother is interested in natural child spacing, she should exclusively breastfeed her baby for the first six months and also follow the Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.

Sheila Kippley

The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor

Eco-breastfeeding is the type of breastfeeding that spaces babies naturally.  Mothers interested in natural child spacing should be following the maternal behaviors described in The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.

            In 1967 scientists (Grosvenor, Mena and Schaefgen) stated the importance of suckling that is “applied periodically and at short intervals” for improved lactation.  In 1991 Dr. William Taylor concluded in his research that mothers who nursed with “patterns of short, frequent bouts are less susceptible to early ovulation after childbirth that those who nurse for longer bouts associated with longer inter-bout intervals”  ..even though the total amount of nursing in a 24-hour day was similar for both groups.

            Dr. Taylor concluded in the same 1991 published study that “[1] scheduled nursing, [2] early introduction of liquid supplements, and [3] early leaving the baby alone all significantly increase the risk of ovulating.”  Those following the Seven Standards would avoid these three behaviors which tend to increase the risk of early ovulation.  Dr. Taylor in a 1999 study stated that “the relative risk of menstrual cycle recovery decreased by 55.6% if the mothers reported that they allowed their baby in bed with them at night.”  This is the reason for Standard Four, “Sleep with your baby for night feedings.”

            Dr. Otto Schaefer observed that the Canadian Eskimos kept their family size to three to four children…all due to traditional breastfeeding alone.  Eskimo mothers who nursed traditionally conceived 20 to 30 months after childbirth while those Eskimo mothers who adopted the use of the baby bottle shortened their lactation and began conceiving 2 to 4 months after childbirth. 

Sheila Kippley

The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor