The effect of a breastfeeding education program on lactational amenorrhea in the Philippines.

A study was conducted in 2 communities in the rural Philippines to determine whether breast feeding mothers could intensify their nursing enough to increase the period of lactational amenorrhea. Women in 1 community were exposed to a breast feeding education program before the birth and during lactation while women in the other community served as a comparison group. Increased breast feeding was observed in the group that received breast feeding education beginning in the 6th month postpartum. Bottle use began earlier and was more common in the comparison group but the introduction of solid foods at 5 to 6 months was similar. No difference in the duration of postpartum amenorrhea (a proxy for the duration of infertility) was observed between the groups. (authors)