What is prolonged lactation?

-The breast feeding done by a woman to her child more than 2 years is
prolonged lactation.
Lactation: The process of milk production. Human milk is secreted by the
mammary glands, which are located within the fatty tissue of the breast. The
hormone oxytocin is produced in response to the birth of a new baby, and it
both stimulates uterine contractions and begins the lactation process. For the
first few hours of nursing, a special fluid called colostrum is delivered;
colostrum is especially high in nutrients, fats, and antibodies, to protect the
newborn from infection. Thereafter, the amount of milk produced is controlled
primarily by the hormone prolactin, which is produced in response to the
length of time the infant nurses at the breast.

A study was conducted to evaluate serum prolactin during lactation

among 60 mothers with prolonged breastfeeding for 2 years. Patients
were classified into 3 groups with 20 in each: lactating for less than 6
months, lactating for 6-12 months, and lactating for 12-24 months.
There was hyperprolactinemia during lactation and serum prolactin
levels decreased as lactation progressed. After long lactation (over a
year), 10 of 20 women were amenorrheic and 10 were menstruating; 6
of the menstruating women were ovulating and 4 nonovulating.
Prolonged lactation was found to be relatively successful for family
spacing.

Hyperprolactinemia is a condition in which a person has higher-thannormal levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. The main function
of prolactin is to stimulate breast milk production after childbirth, so
high prolactin levels are normal in pregnancy.

Breastfeeding as Birth Control at a Glance Sometimes called LAM

(Lactational Amenorrhea Method) A natural way to prevent pregnancy
after giving birth: Effective, safe, convenient, and free Lasts for up to
six months after giving birth

*postpartum- following childbirth or the birth of young.

Physiologic Effects of Breastfeeding

Immediately after birth, the repeated suckling of the baby releases oxytocin
from the mother's pituitary gland. This hormone not only signals the breasts
to release milk to the baby (this is known as the milk ejection reflex, or "letdown"), but simultaneously produces contractions in the uterus. The resulting
contractions prevent postpartum hemorrhage and promote uterine involution
(the return to a nonpregnant state).
Bottle-feeding mothers frequently receive synthetic oxytocin at birth through
an intravenous line, but for the next few days, while they are at highest risk
of postpartum hemorrhage, they are on their own. As long as a mother
breastfeeds without substituting formula, foods, or pacifiers for feedings at
the breast, the return of her menstrual periods is delayed (Lawrence and
Lawrence 1999). Unlike bottle-feeding mothers, who typically get their
periods back within six to eight weeks, breastfeeding mothers can often stay
amenorrheic for several months. This condition has the important benefit of
conserving iron in the mother's body and often provides natural spacing of
pregnancies.
The amount of iron a mother's body uses in milk production is much less than
the amount she would lose from menstrual bleeding. The net effect is a
decreased risk of iron-deficiency anemia in the breastfeeding mother as
compared with her formula-feeding counterpart. The longer the mother
nurses and keeps her periods at bay, the stronger this effect (Institute of
Medicine 1991).
As for fertility, the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) is a welldocumented contraceptive method, with 98 to 99 percent prevention of
pregnancy in the first six months. The natural child-spacing achieved through
LAM ensures the optimal survival of each child, and the physical recovery of
the mother between pregnancies. In contrast, the bottle-feeding mother
needs to start contraception within six weeks of the birth (Kennedy 1989).

How Is Breastfeeding Used as Birth Control?

Breastfeeding can be used as birth control when, after giving birth, a woman
breastfeeds her baby exclusively. That means the baby does not drink
anything besides breast milk. The act of breastfeeding naturally changes a
woman's hormones so that she does not become pregnant.

How Does Breastfeeding Prevent Pregnancy?

While a woman is continuously breastfeeding, her body does not make a

hormone that is necessary for ovulation the release of an egg from an
ovary. Pregnancy cannot happen if an egg is not released.

How Effective Is Using Breastfeeding as Birth Control?

Effectiveness is an important and common concern when choosing a birth

control method. Like all birth control methods, breastfeeding is much more
effective when you do it correctly.
-Less than 1 out of 100 women who practice continuous breastfeeding
perfectly will become pregnant.
-About 2 out of 100 women who use continuous breastfeeding will become
pregnant in the first six months if they don't always practice it correctly.
Using breastfeeding as birth control can be effective for six months after
delivery only if a woman does not substitute other foods for a breast milk
meal ;feeds her baby at least every four hours during the day and every six
hours at night ;has not had a period since she delivered her baby
Keep in mind that breastfeeding does not protect you from sexually
transmitted diseases. Use a latex or female condom to reduce the risk of
infection.
Also keep in mind that breastfeeding can only be relied on for six months
after delivery. By the time your baby is six months old, you should start using
another birth control method.

What Are the Benefits of Using Breastfeeding as Birth Control?

Breastfeeding is safe, simple, and convenient; Using breastfeeding as birth

control has advantages for mothers. ; does not affect a woman's natural
hormone balance; is immediately effective; is free; requires no prescription ;
needs nothing to be put in place before vaginal intercourse; reduces bleeding
after delivery; requires no supplies or medical supervision

Breastfeeding also has many health advantages for the baby. It:

decreases the likelihood of infection from germs in water, other milk, or

formula; increases body contact and enhances comfort for the child and
bonding between mother and child; passes on some of the mother's
antibodies to protect the baby from certain infections; protects against the
development of allergies and may protect against the development of asthma

Who can use the Lactation Amenorrhea Method of birth

control?

Lactation Amenorrhea Method is a very effective form of birth control if you

can answer YES to ALL of the following statements:
-My baby is less than six months old.
-My monthly period has not returned.
-My baby is fully breastfed or nearly fully breastfed.
-I am breastfeeding at least every 4 hours during the day and at least every 6
hours at night.

How does LAM work?

-When your baby suckles frequently at the breast it stimulates your milk
supply by sending signals to your brain.
-This releases hormones that interrupt your normal ovulation cycle.
-This effect is particularly strong when your baby is young and is feeding
frequently.
-As your baby gets older and feeds less frequently, your body will gradually
return to its regular ovulation cycle which causes your fertility to return.

CHIMPANZEE

Chimpanzees (sometimes called chimps) are an exclusively African

species of extant great ape. Their hair is typically black or brown.
Males and females differ in size and appearance. Fruit is the most
important component of an chimpanzee's diet; however, the apes will
also eat vegetation, bark, honey, insects and even other chimps. They
can live over 30 years in both the wild and captivity. Chimpanzees are
among the most intelligent primates; they use a variety of
sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night
from branches and foliage. Chimpanzee species are considered to be
Endangered. Human activities have caused severe declines in the
populations and ranges of both species. Threats to wild chimp
populations include poaching, habitat destruction, and the illegal pet
trade. Several conservation and rehabilitation organisations are
dedicated to the survival of orangutans in the wild.

Chimps communicate in a manner similar to human nonverbal

communication, using vocalizations, hand gestures, and facial
expressions.