Well I did it.  If I left out something important someone else can write
another one.  That way they will know we are out there.

Sarah

---------- Forwarded message ----------

To the editor:
        I was rather surprised by Rose E. Frish's letter,
in the December/January issue, stating that
using breastfeeding as a natural method of family planning is a
"dangerous myth".  Lactational Amenorrhea is an effective method of
family planning for up to six months after birth. According to the
Bellagio Consensus Conference a woman is more than 98
percent protected against pregnancy when she is less than six months
postpartum, amenorrheic, and fully or nearly fully breastfeeding.
Physiologically the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is based on the
hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian
feedback system.  Obviously no non-hormonal method is totally
effective but when babies are breastfed for
more than 85% of their feedings, with no daytime intervals
exceeding 4 hours, or six hours at night, ovulation is suppressed and
pregnancy delayed to allow a healthy interval between pregnancies and births.
("Guidelines- Breastfeeding, Family Planning, and the Lactational
Amenorrhea Method- LAM" by Miriam Labbok, Kristin Cooney, and Shirley
Coly (1994). Ruth A. Lawrence writing in" Breastfeeding: A Guide for the
Medical Profession" (1994) writes that nutritional status has virtually
no effect on amenorrhea.  She also states that exclusive breastfeeding
delays the return of menses to 180 days in approximately 53% of women.  I
fail to see where all of this information can be interpreted as a "myth".

Sarah Friend Barnett  M.A.,
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Bronx (New York City), NY
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