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| From
Uterine Life to an Independent Existence |
Nature designs woman, not only to protect and supply nourishment
to her growing and developing baby within the uterus, but also to
give birth and to launch the child into a new independent existence,
breathing air.
A major change takes place in the baby's blood circulation, as
the cord from the placenta is cut. Various channels previously open
in the heart will now be closed and others opened. To accommodate
an air-breathing environment the lung-blood circulatory system is
established so that now, waste gas products are eliminated by the
lungs instead of the purifying system of the mother's blood. Instead
of nutrients being delivered from the mother's bloodstream to the
baby's circulation via the placenta and umbilical cord, the baby
will take nourishment now by mouth. A new circulation is established
around the intestines to convey nutrients taken by mouth to various
parts of the body.
The baby can now be wholly independent of the mother, taking food
by mouth. But nature has decreed and designed that a woman continues
her role of providing nourishment with benefits to herself as well
as to her child.
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Breast milk is designed for the baby. Each species produces what
is most suitable for its own young.
Besides correct proportions and condition of fats, sugars, vitamins
and minerals, breast milk contains enzymes for efficient digestion,
antibodies for protection against disease, especially against gastric
and respiratory diseases, and is free of harmful proteins which
can initiate allergies and result later in conditions such as asthma
and eczema.
Colostrum, the watery looking fluid which begins before the fully
developed milk, is rich in these essentials and prepares the baby's
digestive organs for the incoming milk.
Breast milk is free from contamination. Formulas for instance may
become contaminated from storage in utensils or from other contact,
for example hands and contaminated water. Vitamins are preserved
in breast milk but are destroyed by heating in formulas and therefore
must be replaced in all feeding other than breast-feeding.
Breast-feeding is a very convenient delivery system which comes
at the correct temperature and supplies the correct amount of fluid
as the nutritional needs of the baby are met.
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| Physiology
of Breast-feeding |
Because the human baby has tremendous intellectual powers, he is
learning quickly and responds to nature's provision of warm, soft
nourishing breast and knows how to suck the nipple because he has
practiced thumb-sucking from early uterine life. He has strengthened
the facial muscles which enable him to suck and draw milk from the
breast as soon as he is born.
He hears and delights in his mother's sounds, her talking, laughing,
singing, and learns to identify her scents and the security of her
arms. In this shelter he learns to accept love and thrives bodily
and emotionally. Observing all this, mother also thrives.
There are some women who, sometimes for unknown reasons, cannot
breast-feed successfully. The ingredient of love is the most important
of all and certainly can be supplied and combined without breast-feeding.
No mother should be made to feel guilty or ashamed because breast-feeding
is difficult or impossible. Feeding should take place in as calm
an atmosphere as possible. Sometimes anxiety of the mother results
in refusal of the baby to feed and "fighting of the breast"
occurs. This is the time for some expert help from an experienced,
wise and patient woman. Skilled mothercraft help is available usually
amongst the woman's own family. In some organisations and countries
there are special groups of people who specialise in mothercraft
and in breast-feeding advice.
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Nature has given the baby, not only a mother, but also a father.
His role in protecting and advancing the welfare of the baby is
expressed in his care of the mother, ensuring her well-being by
sufficient food, fluid, rest and by taking his part at night in
answering some of the baby's demands.
| Establishing
Breast-feeding |
It is important, especially in the early stages of breast-feeding,
that the milk production is not jeopardised by emotional disturbances
such as embarrassment, anxiety, upsets and also by chronic fatigue.
The baby is best fed when he is hungry and demands to be fed. Night
feeding is normal for some weeks and is helpful in preserving a
good supply of breast milk as well as maintaining infertility.
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The mother should obtain advice from her doctor about any medication
that is prescribed, as breast milk is an efficient route for elimination
of all pollutants from the body, sometimes to the detriment of the
baby. Smoking should be avoided for this reason.
The local effect on the breast of sucking is stimulation of milk
production through the action of prolactin. This is the response
to the baby's demand. If there is no sucking, the milk will dry
up. This can happen when the baby sucks on one side only, maybe
for example, if there is a retracted nipple and the baby finds it
more difficult to extract milk from this breast. If the baby ceases
to suck at this breast then the milk will dry up while at the same
time milk is being produced normally from the other breast at which
the baby sucks.
Via the nervous system, the pituitary gland produces a hormone
called oxytocin which is the "let down" hormone. When
the baby sucks, the milk flows. This reflex can be initiated by
hearing, seeing or smelling her hungry baby, even by being near
somebody else's baby. Thus an adopted infant may be breast-fed successfully.
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Oxytocin has an effect on uterine muscle causing it to contract
when the baby sucks. This enables the uterus after birth to return
to normal size and form. Clots and afterbirth debris are expelled
from the uterus when it contracts in response to sucking.
It is claimed on good evidence that breast-feeding protects a woman
from cancer of the breast and osteoporosis in later life.
During pregnancy the placental hormones, oestrogen, progesterone
and prolactin, prepare the breasts for milk production by growth
and development of the glandular structure. After birth a high level
of prolactin exists which has the effect of suppressing the ovulatory
mechanism. This results in the mother remaining infertile for a
variable time during milk production, allowing the baby to become
established until old enough to accept solid foods.
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| Breast-feeding
and Fertility Control |
The time of infertility is variable. The effectiveness of breast-feeding
is a contributing factor. Efficient sucking is all important. The
baby should be put to the breast soon after birth. Great care should
be taken to establish breast-feeding as soon as possible.
The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is based on the presumption
that if a woman is fully breast-feeding her baby, and has not experienced
a bleed, then the pregnancy rate is around 2% during the first 6
months. No observations or rules are applied. Because the woman
has not been taught the mucus patterns of infertility and fertility
she has no way to predict her returning fertility. Unexplained pregnancies
may thus occur.
The Billings Ovulation Method is excellent training for all women,
as changes in the mucus pattern signaling returning fertility can
be identified accurately. Charting should begin close to 3 weeks
after birth. This natural method of fertility control has an effectiveness
rate of greater than 99%.
A woman using the Billings Ovulation Method will learn to recognise
her infertility and the signs of returning fertility.
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| Recognising
the Signs of Infertility using The Billings Ovulation Method
during Breast-feeding |
The observations are made simply and naturally as the woman goes
about her ordinary daily activities and form the basis of The
Billings Ovulation Method.
While ovulation is suppressed there is no mucus at the vulva and
the vulva feels dry. This dryness is a reliable indicator of inactivity
of the ovaries and therefore of present infertility.
Sometimes instead of complete dryness there may be noticed a discharge
which if present, always stays the same whether it is continuous
or interrupted by dryness. This also indicates low ovarian activity
and therefore infertility.
Any different discharge alerts the woman to the possibility of
returning fertility. This indicates that the ovaries are active
and are activating the cervix, through the hormone oestrogen, to
produce mucus.
By restricting intercourse to the signs of infertility and applying
the rules of the Billings Ovulation
Method, pregnancy will not occur.
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| Recognising
the Signs of Returning Fertility using The Billings Ovulation
Method during Breast-feeding |
The Billings Ovulation Method teaches the woman to recognise the
signs of returning fertility. Under the influence of hormones from
the ovary which is preparing to ovulate, the neck of the uterus
(the cervix) begins to produce mucus. Cervical mucus is the essential
ingredient of fertility, because sperm cells depend on it for their
survival and ability to reach and fertilise the egg. (Refer to
Teaching the Billings Ovulation Method).
The cervical mucus comes to the exterior at the vulva and is noticed
by the sensation that it produces at the vulva. There may also be
a visual observation of the mucus.
A woman can continue to breast-feed even though normal cycles have
resumed. She can continue breast-feeding for as long as she wishes
or the baby demands, without becoming pregnancy until she chooses
to do so.
When the woman becomes pregnant breast milk supply may fail, however
continue breast-feeding if possible. There is usually no reason
to wean the baby because of pregnancy.
| Instruction
in the use of the Billings Ovulation Method
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For correct teaching consult an accredited teacher of the method
at a Billings Ovulation Method Centre. Contact
us for assistance in finding a Centre near you. We offer assistance
on-line for those unable to contact a Centre.
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| Circumstances
that may Influence the Return to Fertility |
There are many circumstances under which a woman will return to
fertility before six months after birth.
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An early ovulation may occur even when the baby is fully breast-fed
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The woman may be ill or malnourished
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She may be unable to breast-feed
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She may be able only to breast-feed partially
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She may be a working mother and so be only partially feeding
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The baby may be an inefficient sucker
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The baby may be ill
Under these different circumstances, it is essential to understand
the Billings Ovulation Method and to follow its guidelines and rules.
In doing this the woman will recognise the onset of fertility. She
can obtain the necessary information by observing and charting the
mucus signs. The occurrence of
bleeding will also alert the woman to oestrogen activity and
approaching fertility. The couple is then able to make informed
choices concerning a further pregnancy.
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