Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
LAM is a contraceptive that relies on giving babies breast milk exclusively, meaning they only give them breast milk without any additional food or drink. The lactation amenorrhea method is a natural way to prevent pregnancy. Apart from being safe and effective, this method is also more practical and very easy to do, especially for mothers who have just given birth.
After giving birth or going through the postpartum period, the menstrual cycle will be late or stop temporarily due to obstruction of the release of eggs (ovulation). This natural occurrence is caused by the release of the hormone prolactin, a hormone whose job is to stimulate the production of breast milk in the mother’s body. When the amount of this hormone increases, the release of egg cells will be inhibited. Therefore, the more often a mother breastfeeds her baby, the less likely she is to get pregnant immediately after giving birth.
Mothers who can use the LAM method are mothers who breastfeed exclusively, whose babies are less than 6 months old and who have not menstruated after giving birth. Meanwhile, those who cannot use the LAM method are mothers who have menstruated after giving birth, are not breastfeeding exclusively, their babies are more than 6 months old and mothers who work apart from their babies for longer than 6 hours.
The lactation amenorrhea method is believed to be able to prevent pregnancy naturally. However, this method will only be effective if you meet certain requirements or conditions.
The following are several conditions that can make breastfeeding prevent pregnancy:
- Have not menstruated again after giving birth or after the postpartum period. If menstruation returns, it is a sign that your body has started ovulating and you have the opportunity to get pregnant again. If you have menstruated, you are advised to use other contraceptives.
- Able to provide exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. Mothers should breastfeed their babies at least 8 times a day and every 2-3 hours. Breast milk must also be given directly from the mother’s breast, not using a pump and breast milk bottle.
- Do not give food, formula milk, or other drinks to babies before the baby is 6 months old.
Apart from menstruation, there are several other conditions that cause the lactational amenorrhea method to no longer be effective in preventing pregnancy, namely the frequency or duration of breastfeeding begins to decrease because the baby starts consuming other drinks and MPASI after he is 6 months or more.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
The following are some of the advantages or benefits of the Lactation Amenorrhea Method, including:
- High effectiveness (98% success at 6 months postpartum).
- Does not interfere with husband and wife relations.
- Has no systemic side effects.
- No need for medical supervision.
- No need for drugs or equipment.
- Convenient and doesn’t cost money.
- Does not affect the body’s natural hormonal balance.
- Can reduce bleeding after childbirth.
Apart from the advantages, of course this method also has disadvantages or limitations, including:
- You need good and correct preparation since pregnancy care so that you can breastfeed immediately within 30 minutes after giving birth.
- Does not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases. To prevent transmission of this disease, prevention needs to be done by practicing safe sex and using condoms.
- Can only be relied on for the first 6 months after giving birth.
- It can cause a reduction in natural vaginal lubrication, thereby risking causing vaginal dryness.
- Exclusive breastfeeding is not always possible for every mother. For example, mothers who have a small amount of breast milk, have hormonal disorders, or infectious diseases, such as HIV.
Basically, the results of applying the lactation amenorrhea method to prevent pregnancy can vary for each woman. Even though you have used the lactation amenorrhea method, you still have the opportunity to get pregnant after giving birth. Therefore, mothers still need to use other contraceptives to prevent postpartum pregnancy. To determine the choice of contraceptive device that is suitable for use after giving birth or while breastfeeding, mothers can consult further with a trusted midwife or obstetrician.
