Breast Feeding
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Breast Feeding
(Lactation Amenorrhea)
Breastfeeding can work for birth control when:
- a woman is breast-feeding exclusively (not adding formula or baby food to the baby's diet) AND
- her baby is less than 6 months old, AND
- her periods have not returned after giving birth.
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What is it? Breastfeeding stops egg development if the following three things are true: the baby feeds solely on mother’s breast milk, the mother hasn’t had a menstrual period since childbirth, and the baby is six months old or less.
How to use: If you infrequently give the baby small amounts of liquid or solid, the method is still effective as long as you breastfeed every four to six hours, including at night.
Health Impacts: Breast milk has positive health effects for the baby including protection from many different illnesses and allergies.
Note: If the mother has HIV, breastfeeding can pass the infection to her baby.
Access: If you need help, contact your local midwife, doula or lactation consultant. There are many online resources and hotlines you can call.
Effectiveness: 98%
Breastfeeding can be difficult at first. Women benefit from support of others. Here are some resources:
If a woman is currently breastfeeding and her baby is older than 6 months, she may prefer a birth control method that does not contain hormones because hormones can be passed to her baby through breast milk. Furthermore, some hormone methods decrease milk production. Learn about:
If the mother has HIV, breastfeeding can pass the infection to the baby.
Here's where you can learn useful info to when you want to get pregnant:
Emergency Contraception ("Morning After" Pill - "Plan B" - "EC" - "Ella")
You can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse by having a copper IUD inserted within one week of unprotected intercourse or by taking emergency Emergency Contraception pills. The pills work best in the first 24 to 48 hours but may work for several days. You can get one brand - Plan B - from your local pharmacy without a prescription if you are 17 years or older. If you are under 17 or if you want to use your insurance, you can get the prescription right at the pharmacy by talking with the pharmacist. Go to your local pharmacy to find out more, or call Cedar River Clinics at 800-572-4223 to get Plan B in Renton or Tacoma.
To find Emergency Contraception, see ec.princeton.edu. If you already have birth control pills in your possession, this page explains how to use them as emergency contraception.
In Washington State, you can get Plan B directly from your pharmacy. Call ahead to make sure they have it in stock. Some women are buying Plan B in advance (it costs around $35-50) so they will have it on hand if they need it.
If you are uninsured and live in Washington State, you may qualify for FREE birth control under the State sponsored program called Take Charge. Teens do not need parent's permission. Call 800-770-4334 to find out if you qualify for Take Charge. Then you can apply for Take Charge at Cedar River Clinics.
Cedar River Clinics in Renton and Tacoma, WA make birth control and abortion accessible so that women may decide their futures.
www.CedarRiverClinics.org or 800-572-4223
www.Birth-Control-Comparison.info
www.facebook.com/CedarRiverClinics
November 28, 2011
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