Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Authors’ conclusions: Postpartum education about contraception led to more contraception
use and fewer unplanned pregnancies. Both short-term and multiple- contact interventions
had effects. The former were limited by self-reported outcomes or showing no effect for
many comparisons. The longer-term interventions were promising and not necessarily more
costly than usual care. Health care providers can determine if one of these interventions suits
their setting and level of resources.
2. Breastfeeding patterns and return to fertility in Australian women (Gross and Burger
2002)
This cohort study followed six hundred and twenty-four Australian mothers who were
interviewed every 2 weeks for 12 months after birth. Mothers completed a daily diary record
chart of vaginal bleeding and infant feeding, and completed a detailed diary card of the time
and duration of breastfeeds and the frequency and nature of all other feedings once every two
weeks.
The median duration of amenorrhoea in the Australian breastfeeding women who participated
in the study was over 8.5 months. Breastfeeding was shown to be an effective method of
fertility control in the mothers who were sexually active, amenorrhoeic, breastfeeding
woman. None of the women in this category became pregnant in the first six months after
delivery regardless of whether they were using any other contraceptive.
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