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Does anyone use NFP or LAM for birth control?

stoneycakesstoneycakes member
in Breastfeeding
I used NFP both for avoidance and TTC prior to this pregnancy.  I am now 6 weeks postpartum and would like to rely on LAM for birth control, but I occasionally go more than six hours between feedings at night (blessed with a good sleeper).  Technically this does not fit the requirements and I've noticed my CM has some fertile qualities.  I am wondering if this is an indication of fertility returning early or just a change from my normal infertile pattern since I am breastfeeding now.  Any insight?
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Re: Does anyone use NFP or LAM for birth control?

  • Bethbsn06Bethbsn06
    Could be either. I started having periods at 6 weeks pp, despite ebf. It was tricky as I couldn't chart with feeding every two hours and heavy long periods made cm difficult to monitor. We resorted to condoms (bought in bulk online to get them cheaper). :(
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  • 021anne021anne
    yay - I am glad you are asking. I am not fully aware of the LAM night 'rules' 'cause I used stricter 'eco-breastfeeding' + did chart NFP for 20 years.  I would go over a year w/o cycles while nursing, + began charting when I saw mucus or spotting. To me, if you see fertile CM + this is a 'change' from THIS infertile pattern, it may be a sign of fertility + abstaining while you chart for a couple weeks can tell better what is going on - you can try nursing more + see if the mucus clears up. Taking temps adds data, too. You did not mention how often you nurse, if both sides, if using bottles or pacifiers or using swings/distractions to schedule feedings.  All these practices, and others, do reduce time @ the breast and tell the body that fertility can return.  Many women using LAM will have fertility back by 6 months but 75% of women eco-BF will have 9-20 months w/o cycles { I am new - I need to set up my profile more}. I cannot tell what you are doing yet - maybe this helps? so happy you are nursing!
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  • 021anne021anne
    I am new here / need to learn the abbreviations - what defines "ebf" for you?  Maybe you mean exclusive BF? True "eco"-BFeed and LAM  { your "ebf" ? ) both say that any bleeding - during the 1st 8 weeks can be ignored ( see Bellagio Consensus ) .
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  • pepomntpatpepomntpat member
    The rules for LAM are pretty strict and the chance of pregnancy increases greatly the longer you go between feedings. If you are noticing FCM, then I would definitely rely on a back up method. I am using FAM at this point, though it is still challenging when temping because DD's wake ups are still all over the place. Poor DH uses condoms way more often than he'd like to.
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  • stoneycakesstoneycakes member
    021anne,  I meant exclusively breastfeeding by EBF. I don't really know what the definition of eco-breastfeeding is, but I don't use pacifiers or schedules.  I feed on demand every time.  My LO just happens to go longer between some feedings at night and honestly, my sleep is more important to me than birth control right now, LOL.  I would start taking my temp again, but my sleeping pattern is so erratic, I don't think it would help. I wouldn't worry about it expect for the fact that I am seeing somewhat fertile looking CM now that my initial bleeding has stopped.  Sorry if this is TMI, but I've always been a somewhat "wet" person so I'm not sure if this is truly fertile or just my new infertile CM.
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  • easjer05easjer05 member
    We use FAM & condoms (and I'm using up fertility monitor sticks as well).  I don't meet the requirements for LAM because I EP.  That said, she's 10 weeks, and I've had some random fertile cm but nothing on the test sticks. Temps been unreliable,but now that I'm headed back to work, we'll be more scheduled and I should be more regular with temping again.

    Gabriel Ross - August 24, 2009 * Vivienne Rose - May 1, 2012

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  • pepomntpatpepomntpat member
    imagemananana:

    DS JUST started having consistent six hour stretches in the last 4-6 weeks (sometimes during the day but not at night, but oh well)  I had two weeks of fertile-seeming CM and now my cycle is back. Up until that I was really dry, which is typical while BF.

    FWIW, there are TONS of surprise pregnancies on my BMB right now.  I wouldn't trust LAM, but that's just me.  Some people's cycles return while BF around the clock. 

    The key is to follow all the rules which most people don't. It isn't LAM that is the issue, but that people bend the rules.  I see that your LO is 11 months. LAM is only good for 6 months or until your cycle returns (whichever comes first), or until you are no longer BFing every 2 hours, etc, etc. It isn't just BFing, it is BFing under very specific circumstances.

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  • easjer05easjer05 member
    imagemananana:
    imagepepomntpat:
    imagemananana:

    DS JUST started having consistent six hour stretches in the last 4-6 weeks (sometimes during the day but not at night, but oh well)  I had two weeks of fertile-seeming CM and now my cycle is back. Up until that I was really dry, which is typical while BF.

    FWIW, there are TONS of surprise pregnancies on my BMB right now.  I wouldn't trust LAM, but that's just me.  Some people's cycles return while BF around the clock. 

    The key is to follow all the rules which most people don't. It isn't LAM that is the issue, but that people bend the rules.  I see that your LO is 11 months. LAM is only good for 6 months or until your cycle returns (whichever comes first), or until you are no longer BFing every 2 hours, etc, etc. It isn't just BFing, it is BFing under very specific circumstances.

    That is so very true.  I've seen too many people say, "I was breastfeeding, so I was totally shocked."  I just think it's something many people aren't well enough informed about. 

    That is true of FAM/NFP generally, and one reason it gets such bad user ratings - people bend the rules or don't temp correctly or decide they are 'probably' ok, and user failure rates also count people who are 'not trying/not preventing' and know they are fertile but have unprotected sex anyway because they are comfortable with the potential outcome (akin to having condoms, but choosing not to use them).


    Gabriel Ross - August 24, 2009 * Vivienne Rose - May 1, 2012

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    My Blog

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  • runrinserepeatrunrinserepeat member

    I really wanted to use LAM, but dd started STTN at about 6 weeks so she was going for much longer between feedings than the rules said, even though I was EBF. AF returned last month, so IMO, you should've careful if you're going more than six hours, and especially if you've noticed fertile CM.

    On the plus side, I can start charting to avoid now, which very comfortable with.  

    Pass the sheet cake.

    BabyGaga
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