I personally didn't menstruate until my kids were about 14 months old (both times), and I've known lots of other women who have experienced similar or longer 'holidays'. Based on my observations and reading of the LAM research, the key is co-sleeping - contact at night (not necessarily nursing frequency at night) seems to be critical for many in keeping ovulation at bay. Ingrid Ingrid Tilstra La Leche League Canada Leader International Board Certified Lactation Consultant -----Original Message----- From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Vaughan Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 9:23 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: contraceptive cheat sheet On 04/04/2012 13:12, Lynn Carter wrote: > Do you all routinely include the various methods of natural family > planning when discussing birth control with clients? When I see fully breastfeeding women for the postnatal check and contraceptive discussion, I usually do tell them that the chances of them getting pregnant as long as their baby is getting nothing but breastmilk and their periods haven't restarted are about 1% in the first six months, but that we can't predict how effective breastfeeding will be after six months/if the baby starts any bottles before six months/their period restarts in that time, and I can offer them contraception to reduce the odds still lower. I've not yet had one who wanted to try LAM without anything else, but good to have the reminder that some do! To answer the OP's question - it's probably not as brief as you were hoping for, but the UK Faculty for Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care have got a good, detailed summary guidance with references at http://www.fsrh.org/pdfs/archive/breastfeeding04.pdf, if that's any help. Best wishes, Sarah Vaughan MBChB MRCGP *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome