What Is the Lactational Amenorrhea Method?
• A temporary family planning method based on the natural effect of breastfeeding on fertility. (“Lactational” means related to breastfeeding. “Amenorrhea” means not having monthly bleeding.) • The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) requires 3 conditions. All 3 must be met: • The mother’s monthly bleeding has not returned • The baby is fully or nearly fully breastfed and is fed often, day and night • The baby is less than 6 months old • “Fully breastfeeding” includes both exclusive breastfeeding (the infant receives no other liquid or food, not even water, in addition to breast milk) and almost-exclusive breastfeeding (the infant receives vitamins, water, juice, or other nutrients once in a while in addition to breast milk). • “Nearly fully breastfeeding” means that the infant receives some liquid or food in addition to breast milk, but the majority of feedings (more than three-fourths of all feeds) are breast milk. • Works primarily by preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries
