Is Jamie Lynn Spears pregnant again because she thought breastfeeding was birth control?

October 8, 12:33 PMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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The buzz of the day around the internet: Jamie Lynn Spears has done it again, just like her sister, and is pregnant again.

Spears is 17 years old and just gave birth to her daughter Maddie on June 19th.

The National Enquirer says someone close to Spears has told them that the star of Zoey 101 thought that she couldn't get pregnant because she was breastfeeding.

Whether the rumors are true or not, this is a good time to talk about the facts about breastfeeding as a method of birth control.

There are lots of reports out there by organizations that encourage breastfeeding that say breastfeeding is a good method of birth control (see breastfeeding-magazine.com). There's even a  breastfeeding "birth control method" called The Lactational Amenorrhea Method.

The mom resource website KellyMom.com says:

Exclusive breastfeeding (by itself) is 98-99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as all of the following conditions are met:

1. Your baby is less than six months old
2. Your menstrual periods have not yet returned
3. Baby is breastfeeding on cue (both day & night), and gets nothing but breastmilk or only token amounts of other foods.

But LaborOfLove.com points out, "Following the birth of a baby, the resumption of a regular menstral cycle will be different for each woman. If breastfeeding, the return of periods will be delayed, particularly if she is nursing exclusively and not supplementing her baby’s feeds with formula or solids. Having said that however, some women will get their periods even while breastfeeding, yet others won’t menstruate again until their children are past their first birthday."

BabyCenter.com takes it a step further, pointing out "Yes. In general, you're less fertile, but not infertile, while breastfeeding. Although you may not menstruate for months after giving birth, your body usually releases its first postpartum egg before you get your first period."

Most of the experts point out that the best method of birth control while breast feeeding is a barrier method.