nd 16.7 months respectively.Median nursing bout length as a function of the time since childbirth. 40 35"Bout 30Length" (min) 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 "Months post-partum"FIG. 2. No direct relationship between the length of individual nursing bouts and ovulation susceptibility could be established. Median of interbout interval as a function of the time since childbirth. 6 5"Inter-bout 4interval" 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 "Months post-partum"FIG. 2. Hazard analysis of ovulation-time data showed that the length of time between nursing bouts is the single most significant measure of breastfeeding behaviour influencing the timing of a mother's first post-partum ovulation.Lactaional Amenorrhea Method The use of lactational amenorrhea during the first six months post-partum by fully or nearly fully breastfeeding women is referred to as the lactational amenorrhea method or LAM. It is important to understand the difference between using only breastfeeding and the use of LAM for fertility regulation as the contraceptive effectiveness is substantially different. LAM is an efficient short-term method of family planning, based on WHO sponsored research. At a conference held in Bellagio, Italy in 1988 , a consensus document was produced which concluded that a woman is 98% protected from pregnancy when:h She is fully or almost fully breastfeeding.h The baby is less than six months old.h Menstruation has not returned. When these criteria no longer apply, the chances of pregnancy are increased and the woman has to consider another family planni...
