Search Results for: blog the rules of natural child spacing

The Rules Of Natural Child Spacing

Whenever someone asks the mother of a newborn baby when she expects to have another child, they should expect to get a dirty look, at the very least. That said, it can be surprising how quickly the memories of even a very painful labor and delivery can fade into the background. Even women who screamed very angry words at their husbands or partners in the delivery room may be happy when, at their six week postpartum visit, their doctor gives them the green light to resume intimate activity. All of these things lead to the question of how soon a … Continue reading →

The Rules of Natural Child Spacing

We have already discussed that breastfeeding is an effective means of birth control. But just like any other form of birth control, you have to play by the rules in order for it to be effective. Rule #1–Menstrual Cycles If you are one of those women whose menstrual cycle returns right after giving birth, breastfeeding will not work for you as a means of birth control. It is rare that this is the case, but some women just require very, very high levels of prolactin in their blood in order to suppress ovulation. Rule #2–Babies More than 6 months old … Continue reading →

Have You Googled Yourself Into Thinking That You Are Pregnant?

Most of us can remember a time when we had a pregnancy scare. Although being pregnant is a wonderful thing much of the time, there are certain times when the thought of becoming pregnant is not very appealing and sometimes quite scary. Perhaps you were in a new relationship, or a relationship that you were beginning to feel would not work out after all. Maybe you were young and not ready for a baby yet. Perhaps you already had one or more children and did not want to increase your family size again. Whatever the situation was, you were just … Continue reading →

Breastfeeding While Pregnant: Will Your Infant Suffer?

Posted on by

This morning we were talking about whether or not breastfeeding while pregnant causes miscarriages. The notion that it does is not backed up by any scientific studies at this point. However, based on what we know, it is reasonable to assume that it is perfectly fine to breastfeed while pregnant. Understanding how the uterus works and responds to hormones during various stages of the pregnancy can help us understand the complicated mechanisms of how it’s possible to carry one and nurse the other. The general rule of thumb is that if you’re medically cleared to have sex during pregnancy (which … Continue reading →

Valorie’s Breastfeeding Index

Later today I will post a review of the baby blog of 2007 so why does breastfeeding get its own category? Well, in part as an answer to readers who want to read what I’ve written on breastfeeding. I’ve written so much on breastfeeding at this point that you all have asked for an index of sorts so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. It’s also in part because I’ve become known as the breastfeeding lady. . .guru. . .whatever you want to call it. I’ve been at this breastfeeding business for a long time and many of … Continue reading →

That Twin Thing: Siblings of Twins

If you spend a lot of time around mothers of twins (or multiples) who also have other children to care for, you’ll hear a recurring theme. Many of us feel as if we have ruined our older children by having twins. I realize that sounds funny. Of course I didn’t choose to have twins and of course my older children aren’t ‘ruined’. But just as each twin is in part defined by being a twin, older siblings are now defined in part by being the older sibling of a twin. Difficulties for Older Children My children are spaced relatively close … Continue reading →

Help! My Baby Hates Solid Foods!

I have written before about how we got into breastfeeding forever and ever and ever. Our oldest daughter didn’t take solids. It’s not that she spit them out and it dribbled down her chins. (She was after all, a very, very chubby baby!) That is what most babies do. They make faces, unsure of what to do with the taste or texture. The food kind of unceremoniously falls out of the mouth and onto whatever baby is wearing. Not Lizzy. Texture (or taste, or smell, or the way it looks) made her gag and generally what comes after gagging is … Continue reading →

Hormonal Based Birth Control and Breastfeeding

I have talked before about how breastfeeding is a fairly good birth control mechanism. However, like all birth control, you have to follow “the directions.” In order to keep the prolactin levels high enough to prevent ovulation, you do have to nurse on demand, sleep with the baby near you, and refuse pacifiers and/or sippy cups. Breastfeeding has been shown to be 98% effective in preventing pregnancy when all of the ‘rules’ are followed. However, still women sometimes choose to use birth control to prevent pregnancy. Sometimes it’s that they cannot breastfeed that much–maybe they have to go back to … Continue reading →

The Effectiveness of Breastfeeding as Birth Control

There is a lot of misinformation regarding whether or not you can use breastfeeding as a means of birth control. I have been told numerous times by well-meaning technicians that I am silly for believing that breastfeeding can keep me from getting pregnant. On the other hand, there are lots of women who say that they’ve gotten pregnant while breastfeeding. On the one side, people will tell you that breastfeeding cannot be relied upon as a form of birth control. On the other hand, people will say that any amount of breastfeeding at all will keep you from getting pregnant. … Continue reading →