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Family planning improves health and survival

Updated Generic C-IYCF Counselling Package, 2024 (UNICEF | 2024)
Family planning improves health and survival

Key Messages

  • Seek advice from your health provider about the modern family planning methods available and when and how to use them.
  • Spacing the births of your children allows:
    • More time for your body to recover between pregnancies
    • More time to breastfeed and care for each child
    • More money, because fewer children means fewer expenses for school fees, clothing, food, etc.
  • The healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy means waiting at least three years before becoming pregnant again.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of age facilitates the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) of family planning.
    • L = lactational
    • A = no menses
    • M = method of family planning
  • The LAM method, which is healthy for both you and your baby, prevents another pregnancy if the following three conditions are met:
  1. You feed the baby ONLY breastmilk during the first 6 months
  2. Your menstrual period has not returned
  3. Your baby is less than 6 months old
  • If any of these three conditions change, however, you are no longer protected from becoming pregnant again and it’s important to start another family planning method that is appropriate for you.
  • Several family planning methods are both effective and compatible with breastfeeding. Consult with a family planning care provider to identify which option is right for you. Compatible methods include:
  1. Non-hormonal methods, such as condoms, can be used anytime postpartum.
  2. Progesterone-only contraceptives, including pills, injectables or implants, can be used after six weeks postpartum, but may affect the quantity of breastmilk during the first eight weeks postpartum.
  3. Combined oral contraceptives (oestrogen and progesterone) can be used after six months postpartum, since they are known to affect the quantity of breastmilk that a mother is producing.

Included Images
Breastfeeding - Mother breastfeeding baby - 00 - CIYCF23
Family Planning - Cycle beads - 06 - CIYCF23
Family Planning - Condoms - 05 - CIYCF23

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