Breast-feeding and natural family planning

The record of 50 postpartum women who intended to breast-feed for longer than 6 month were analyzed. Fifty percent of the women breast-feed longer than 12 month, and 50% resumed menses by 40 weeks after childbirth. Fifty-two women record of mucus and basal body temperature (BBT) fort at least 4 week before resumption of menses. Ovulation before menses while fully breast-feeding was probable in only one woman. Fifty percent of the first postpartum cycles had a short luteal phase Thirty-five women chose NFP to avoid pregnancy during the study period. Mucus and BBT proved to be a good marker of ovulation during postpartum cycles. Confidence in NFP during lactational amenorrhoea and first postpartum cycles in analyzed. Finally, research aimed at improving the teaching and use of NP for postpartum breast-feeding women is described.