Abstract
It is well accepted that breasteeding contributes significantly to child survival and child nutrition. Healthful child spacing is associated with improved birth outcomes and maternal recovery. On a population basis, breastfeeding may contribute more to birth spacing than all family planning use combined in many countries. However, while breastfeeding does provide a period of infertility, until recently, there was no reliable way for an individual woman to capitalize on this lactational infertility for her own efficatious child spacing. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a new introductory family planning method that simultaneously promotes child spacing and breastfeeding, with its optimal nutrition and disease preventive benefits for the infant. LAM, as it is called, is based on the utilization of lactational infertility for protection from pregnancy and indicates the time for the introduction of a complementary family planning method. LAM is recommended for up to six months postpartum for women who are fully or nearly fully breastfeeding and amenorrheic, and relies on the maintenance of appropriate brastfeeding practices to prolong lactational infertility, with the concomitant delay in menses return. A recent clinical trial confirmed the theoretical 98% or higher effectiveness of the method and field trials are demonstrating its aceptability. Nonetheless, some demographers and family planning organizations continue to debate its value. The development, efficacy, and sequelae of the method are presented using data from several studies by the authors.
Resumé
C'est un fait reconnu que l'allaitement naturel par la mère contribue de façon significative à la survie du nourrisson et à sa nutrition. L'espacement des naissances est associé à des accouchements et des retours de couches plus satisfaisants. Au niveau de la populations, l'allaitement au sein contribue sans doute davantage à l'espacement des naissances que toutes les autres méthodes de planning familial réunies. Il n'en reste pas moins que, si l'allaitement occasionne une période de stérilité, la femme n'avait jusqu'ici acun moyen fiabel de tourner à son avatae cte stérilité du temps de lactation pour espacer efficacement les naissances. La méthode de l'aménorrhée de la lactation (MAL) est une méthode de planning familial nouvellment introduite qui favorise simultanéument l'espacement des naissances et l'allaitement au sein, tout en assurant des conditions optimales de nutrition et la prévention de maladies pour l'enfant. Cette méthode fait appel à la stérilité de la lactation comme protection contre une nouvelle grossesse et permet de déceler le moment où il devient nécessaire de penser à une méthode supplémentaire de contaception. Il est recommandé aux femmes d'avoir recours à la MAL jusqu'à six mois après l'accouchement, tant qu'uelles allaitent entièrement, ou presque, et que les règles n'ont pas répparu. Cette méthode table sur la poursuite de l'allaitement pour prolonger la stérilité de la lactation et retarder le retour des menstruations. Une récente étude clinique a confirmé l'efficacité théorique à 98%, voire plus, de cette méthode et les essaid dans la population en démontrent l'acceptabilité. Néanmoins. certains démographes et certaines organisations de planning familial continuent d'en débattre la valuer. Le développement, l'utilité et les séqualles de cette méthode sont présentés en s'appuyant sur les résultats de pluisierrs études effectuées par les auteurs.
Resumen
Se acepta en general que el ammantamiento contribuye significantivamente a la superiviencia y nutrición de los niños. El espaciamente sano de los niños se asocia con mejores resultados de los nacimienetos y la recuperación materna. Tomando una base demográfica, es posible que el amamantamiento contribuya má al espaciamiento de los nacimientos que todo el uso combinado de la planificación familiar. Sin embargo, si bien el amamantamiento proporciona un período de infecundidad, hsta hace poco no había una forma segura que permitiera a las mujeres aprovechar esta infecundiada por amamantamiento para realizar su propio espaciamiento eficaz de los nacimientos. El Método de Amenorrea por Lactancia (LAM) es un nuevo método introductorio de la plaificación familiar que promueve similtáneamente el escpaciamiento de los nacimientos y el amamantamineto, con sus beneficios óptimos de nutrición y prvención de enfermedades prar el niño. El LAM se basa en la tulización de la infecundidad por lactancia como prevención del embarazo e indica el momento de introducción de un método complementario de planificación familiar. El LAM se recomienda durante un período máximo de seis meses con posterioridad al parto para las mujeres que amamantan plenamente o casi plenamente y están en amenorrea, y depende del mantenimiento de prácticas apropiadas de amamantamiento para prologar la infecundidad por lactancia, con la demora concomitante en le retorno de la menstruación. Un ensayo clínico reciente confirmó la eficacia teórica del 98% o superior del método y los ensayos de campo están demostrando su aceptabilida. Sin embargo, algunos demógrafos y organizaciones de planificación familiar continúan debatiendo su valor. Se presenta el desarrollo, la eficacia y las secuelas del método utilizando datos de diversos estudios de los autores.
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Labbok, M.H., Perez, A., Valdes, V. et al. The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM): A postpartum introductory family planning method with policy and program implications. Adv Contracept 10, 93–109 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01978103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01978103