Helping Lactating Mothers Use LAM

The Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is one of several effective methods breast-feeding mothers can use. Safe and easy to use, it can be effective for up to 6 months after the birth of the baby.

Breastfeeding increases the production of prolactin, a hormone, in the mother’s body. This elevated prolactin level prevents ovulation, thus protecting her against pregnancy.

Who can use LAM?

• If your client is pregnant now and interested in breastfeeding, you can tell her about LAM. She could use it as a birth control method.
• If your client has already given birth and is breastfeeding now, she may be able to use LAM as a method of birth control.

A woman would not be able to use LAM if any of these is true:

• She has been breastfeeding for more than 56 days in a way different from the LAM directions.
• She has already had her period after giving birth.
• Her baby is more than 6 months old.

Is LAM effective?

With perfect use LAM is 99% effective, meaning that if 100 women use LAM perfectly, only 1 of those women may get pregnant during the 6 months of LAM use.

With typical use, Lam is 95% effective. For women who don’t use LAM correctly, 5 women out of 100 may get pregnant during the 6 months of LAM use.

Women need to follow these easy rules.

To successfully use LAM as a birth control method, the breastfeeding mother should follow these rules:

• Start breastfeeding the day her baby is born.
• Breastfeed every time her baby wants to be fed.
• Feed the baby only breast milk -- nothing else.
• Breastfeed every time the baby wants the breast for comfort.
• Breastfeed at least every 4 hours during the day.
• Breastfeed at least every 6 hours during the night.

If these directions are followed, a breastfeeding woman can use this method until her baby is 6 months old.

A woman should not use LAM as a birth control method if:

• Her baby is more than 6 months old.
• She has already gotten her period, no matter the age of the baby.
• She does not breastfeed her baby at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night.
• She feeds her baby more than 2 mouthfuls a day of juice, water, or other foods.
• She uses a breast pump often.

LAM has many advantages.

There are many reasons women choose to use LAM. Explore with your client what she might like about the method.

• It’s free.
• She can have sex whenver she wants.
• She doesn’t have to use another birth control method.
• LAM is healthy for both the mom and the baby.

Need training on LAM?

Health care providers wanting to get their staff trained in this and other birth control methods should take advantage of California Family Health Council's upcoming Family Planning Health Worker Certification Course on November 5, 12 and 19, 2008. For more information about this training call 213-386-5614 ext. 4580, e-mail: training@cfhc.org or visit our training website: www.healthed.org/training/.

Register now for CFHC's Family Planning Health Worker Certification Course.

Have more questions?

If you have more questions about Breastfeeding and the Lactation Amenorrhea Method, contact La Leche League at www.llli.org.