Unfortunately, LAM is not well-known, nor much practiced, nor recommended by
hcp's in my area.
However, I think it is a great method of contraception/child spacing.
Please remember that if something is 99% effective or 97% effective it means
that some women will become pregnant using the method even if they meet and
follow the criteria. I believe 99% means 1 per 100 per year become
pregnant?? Well other methods like birth control pills, IUD, even tubal
ligations (surgical sterilizations) are also NOT 100% effective.
The criteria (as I learned it) needs to be met for LAM to be considered
effective (albeit less than 100%) :
--less than 6 mos old **
--exclusive or very nearly excl bf
--no solids or pacifier use
--no return of menses
Therefore, if a particular woman happens to have an early return of menses
(through no fault of her own, but just because there is a variability among
humans in such things) then said woman should not consider the LAM method to
be reliable at that time. She should assume that her fertility has returned
at that time. She could add on other methods then. My understanding is
that, also, once solids are begun regularly and even if menses have not
returned, the method should be considered unreliable and other methods added
on. Same thing once baby reaches 6 mos.** More studies have been done and I
believe showing that the method is still reliable (less than 100%, remember)
if the other criteria are still intact.
Please do not think that I am against this method, I am just sharing my
understanding and interpretation of the criteria. If a woman absolutely does
not wish to become pregnant or for a medical reason should not become
pregnant, this should be taken into consideration about using LAM, as well
as using any other method of contraception.
Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|