Breastfeeding

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Related Topics pages:

Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)

Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV

Family Health International has produced evidence-based strategies to help HIV-infected women carefully balance the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child with the well-known benefits of breastfeeding. Our reseachers also have contributed to studies showing the effectiveness of breastfeeding as a temporary contraceptive method.

Breast milk is often the primary, and sometimes sole, source of nutrition for infants in developing countries. Breastfeeding also can provide temporary contraception to women who practice the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). LAM is about 98% effective in protecting against pregnancy if the following criteria are met: the mother has not experienced the return of her menstrual periods; the mother is fully or nearly fully breast feeding; and the baby is less than six months old.