Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T19:59:30.983Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The timing of post-partum menstruation and breast feeding: a simple formula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

W. Z. Billewicz
Affiliation:
MRC Reproduction and Growth Unit, Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Summary

A function is proposed for estimating the proportion of women who resumed menstruation at a given time post-partum on the basis of the proportion of women breast feeding at that time. The function was fitted to 25 series of incidences from nine countries (236 time points), most countries providing three contrasting groups: urban (well-to-do), urban (poor) and rural. The average error of the estimate within series was 0·08. At any given time post-partum variation in breast feeding proportions [explained] on average 85% of between series variance in the proportions of menstruating women. Some uses of the function are briefly considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1979, Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chajecka, M., Salamon-Rurarz, Z. & Osicka, K.. (1964) La fréquence et la durée de l'allaitement au sein dans les grands centres urbain. Pediat. Pol. 39, 77.Google Scholar
Hovfander, Y., Sjölin, S. & Vahlquist, B.. (in press) Case Country report: Scandinavica. In: Lactation, Fertility and the Working Woman. TPPF/IUNS Symposium, Como, Italy, 1977.Google Scholar
Jain, A.K., Hsu, T.C., Freedman, R. & Chang, M.C. (1970) Demographic aspects of lactation and postpartum amenorrhea. Demography, 7, 255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malkani, P.K. & Mirchandani, J.J. (1960) Menstruation during lactation. A clinical study. J. Obstet. Gynaec. India, 11, 11.Google Scholar
Meyer, H.F. (1968) Breast feeding in the United States.Clin. Pediat. 7, 708.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perez, A., Vela, P., Potter, R. & Masnick, G.S. (1971) Timing and sequence of resuming ovulation and menstruation after childbirth. Popul. Stud. 25, 491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Solien De Gonzéles, N.L. (1963) Breast feeding, weaning and acculturation. Trop. Pediat. 62, 577.Google Scholar
Tietze, C. (1961) The effect of breast feeding on the rate of conception. Proc. Int. Pop. Conference, New York. 2, 129.Google Scholar
WHO (in press) Collaborative Study on Breast Feeding, WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar