Breast feeding controls birth (sometimes)

[altos86!mark]

The lack of body fat may be one cause of birth control, but the primary
mechanism suppressing ovulation in nursing mothers is hormonal. The sucking
of an infant on its mother's breast triggers secretion of oxytoxin, which in
turn suppresses the ovulation. The sucking is the key, because if the infant
receives other forms of liquid, even water, the sucking is reduced and the
level of oxytoxin is reduced, increasing the chance of pregnancy. Not all of
the infants sucking results from a need for nourishment, however, some of it
is due to wanting comfort and closeness, and thus doesn't reduce the mother's
reserves. Just like everything else, the amount of oxytoxin produced by the
mothers breast, and the amount required to suppress ovulation vary from mother
to mother. So some people may not be able to take advantage of this form of
birth control. At the first signs of ovulation following birth, some other
method must be relied upon (Rythym, hormonal, or intervention).

Substitution of a bottle and formula serves both the nourishment needs and to
some extent the sucking needs of the infant without the birth control benefit
to the mother. This is highly unfortunate in over-populated and "under-develop-
ed" countries where other forms of birth control are unavailable or unaffordable

Mark A Carlson
Father of Nursing Baby
!decvax!microsof!altos86!mark