Ecological breastfeeding as birth control. What is it? Does breastfeeding really work as a form of birth control? The simple answer is its complicated. Back 1000 years ago when all of the principles of ecological breastfeeding as birth control were followed simply because the way of life was different, yes, it would have worked well in most cases to prevent pregnancy.
However, in today’s society, ecological breastfeeding as birth control is not as easy to achieve. While exclusive breastfeeding can hold back the body’s attempts at ovulation a little longer than if a mother were bottle feeding, it does not work the same way to prevent pregnancy as following the principles of ecological breastfeeding.
If you are truly interested in learning the principles of ecological breastfeeding as birth control, know you are not alone. There are many women out there, myself included, that fascinated by its principles and willing to give it a try.
So let’s talk about it! We will discuss the hormonal mechanisms of breastfeeding (aka how breastfeeding works), what exactly ecological breastfeeding is and its effectiveness, how it can be used as birth control, why exclusive breastfeeding alone probably cannot be relied on as birth control, and my #1 recommendation for birth control postpartum.
For those of you who do not know me, hello! My name is McKenna and I am a doula who has received extensive training in breastfeeding as well as extensive training in Fertility Awareness Method, a natural family planning method. I am so excited to guide you along as we discuss this fascinating topic.
How Breastfeeding Works Hormonally
In order to understand how ecological breastfeeding works, we first need to take a step back and first understand how breastfeeding works, and how the hormones at play can work to suppress ovulation.
Now there are several different hormones involved in the breastfeeding process, but for today we are going to focus on 2 main ones: Oxytocin and Prolaction
Oxytocin and Breastfeeding
Oxytocin is known for many things in the body, but it is most commonly know as the “love” or “cuddle” hormone. During breastfeeding it is released through this mechanism:
- Baby suckles at the breast
- A signal is sent to the brain to release oxytocin through the pituitary gland
- This oxytocin signal is sent to the mammary glands, which are signaled to contract and squeeze breast milk into milk ducts
- Breastmilk flows and oxytocin continues to increase in a positive feedback loop as baby continues suckling
Prolactin and Breastfeeding
Prolactin works alongside oxytocin in pregnancy to produce the milk, and is actually the hormone that suppresses ovulation. Here is how it works:
- Baby suckles at the breast
- A signal is sent to the brain to release prolactin through the pituitary gland
- Prolactin binds to receptors in the mammary glands to trigger the synthesis of milk
- The more a baby suckles, the more prolactin will be secreted to build milk supply
How Breastfeeding Can Technically Suppress Ovulation
Alrighty, now you understand the basic mechanisms of breastfeeding. Now, let’s talk about how this prevents ovulation from occurring. Simply put, prolactin inhibits FSH production. If you read this post you will learn that FSH is key to triggering the entire feedback loop of hormones that work together for ovulation to occur on a monthly cycle. If FSH cannot rise high enough to trigger estrogen, then ovulation cannot occur.
It is important to note that prolactin is not released in high enough levels to suppress these hormones in the case of pumping, but ONLY in breastfeeding. Thus, pumping does not trigger the same hormonal cascade high enough to suppress ovulation.
Interested in learning about more hormones involved in pregnancy? Check out my complete guide here.
What is Ecological Breastfeeding?
Simply put ecological breastfeeding is a lifestyle in which a mother is guided by 7 main principles, in order to use ecological breastfeeding as birth control. As you will see from the principles, it is a very big lifestyle commitment, but it can pay off well in the form of natural child spacing.
If a mother wants to fully embrace the rhythms of her and her baby’s bodies, ecological breastfeeding is a good option to follow, though it can be extremely difficult with the way our society is set up, so please give yourself grace if this looks like too much. There are other really good natural birth control options, like Fertility Awareness Method!
How Effective is Ecological Breastfeeding as Birth Control?
Based on the statistics compiled by Natural Family Planning International, the chances of pregnancy occurring within the first 3 months postpartum are 0%. I will stress that this is by following the 7 principles to a tee, and should not be relied upon otherwise.
In the first 6 months, chances of conception are 1%, meaning that 99% of mothers who practice ecological breastfeeding as birth control will not conceive.
After 6 months of practicing Ecological Breastfeeding as birth control, chances of conception occurring rise to 6%, if completely unrestricted intercourse is occurring without using any Fertility Awarenss Based Methods of birth control.
If using Fertility Awareness Method alongside ecological breastfeeding as birth control, the chances of conceiving within the first year remain at 1%.
For most mothers using Ecological Breastfeeding as birth control, their period will return between 9 and 20 months postpartum.
The 7 Standards to Use Ecological Breastfeeding as Birth Control
- Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life; don’t use other liquids and solids, not even water.
- Pacify or comfort your baby at your breasts.
- Don’t use bottles and don’t use pacifiers.
- Sleep with your baby for night feedings.
- Sleep with your baby for a daily-nap feeding.
- Nurse frequently day and night, and avoid schedules.
- Avoid any practice that restricts nursing or separates you from your baby.
If you want to dive deeper into these principles, you can check out Sheila Kippley’s book, The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding.
Why Exclusive Breastfeeding Alone Is Not Enough to Use as Birth Control
As you can see, its not that breastfeeding cannot be used as birth control, its that it is oversimplified. There is a lot more that goes into it than just breastfeeding instead of pumping or bottle feeding.
This is because oxytocin and prolactin need to be produced at higher levels in order to sufficiently suppress ovulation from occurring. These levels will not remain high enough if the seven principles are not followed.
However, while the 7 principles may sound like heaven to some, too many women they just seem impossible. This is why I want to tell you, you can take what you want from the 7 principles, and leave the rest behind, along with any guilt you might feel in doing so.
That’s because I am going to let you in on a secret, you can be just as effective in preventing pregnancy by using the Fertility Awareness Method as you can by practicing Ecological Breastfeeding as Birth Control.
My #1 Recommendation for Birth Control After Pregnancy
If you know me, you probably know exactly what I am going to recommend for birth control after pregnancy. Yep, you guessed it right! That method is the Fertility Awareness Method, and is an incredible method to use as birth control after pregnancy.
It can take so much of the guess work out of knowing when fertility is rising, and allows mothers to be more in tune with their own personal rhythms. It will not mess with the natural flow of their postpartum hormones, and allows for ease of transition into this new stage of family planning. It is also 98% effective with typical use.
It can seem overwhelming when you first look into it, but it is super simple and empowering once you learn the method, which truly is not that complicated to learn.
As I am a doula who understands the ins and outs of both pregnancy hormones and postpartum hormones, and as someone who spent a year of her life becoming specially trained to teach this method, I am fully equipped to teach you how to use the Fertility Awareness Method as birth control after pregnancy.
If you are interested in learning more about it please do not hesitate to contact me. Learning this method changed my life, and it has changed the life of many of the women that I have worked with.
