What are the recommended feeding practices for optimal effectiveness of the lactational amenorrhea method?

The recommended feeding practice for optimal effectiveness of the lactational amenorrhea method is to feed every 4 hours during the day and 6 hours at night. This approach aligns with the principle that frequent breastfeeding is essential for maintaining high levels of prolactin, a hormone that helps suppress ovulation. Feeding every 4 hours during the day ensures that the baby is receiving adequate nutrition while also promoting the mother’s milk supply.

This interval also allows the mother to rest during the longer nighttime stretch when feedings occur every 6 hours. It is important to establish a routine that can help both mother and baby thrive while maximizing the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding.

Feeding on demand can be beneficial in many situations, as it allows the baby to signal their hunger, but the structured schedule of feeding every 4 hours provides a balance between meeting the infant's needs and supporting the lactation method's efficacy. In cases where feeding every 3 hours during the day is adopted, it might be less conducive to sustaining a longer period of amenorrhea compared to the specified interval, while feeding every 2 hours throughout the day and night may be unnecessary and exhausting for both mother and infant without significant additional benefits.