Protocol for couples who want to avoid a pregnancy After having a baby the woman can expect her lochia (vaginal bleeding) to dry up between 22-34 days. After this any bleeding that occurs should be considered unusual bleeding and she should follow the unusual bleeding protocol.
If a woman is fully breastfeeding, her menses has not returned, and it is within the first 6 months of the birth of her child, then she has a less than 2% chance of achieving an unintended pregnancy. If she does not fall under the fully breastfeeding definition her fertility can return as soon as 6 weeks after the birth of the child.
Management of the mucus signs for the breastfeeding woman is as follows:
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Any change from a dry to wet sensation is considered fertile plus a count of three full days.
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Any change from Low mucus to High or Peak should be considered fertile plus a count of three full days.
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After returning to cycles the first three cycles may be variable in length and have variability in the mucus cycle.
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Use regular cycle instructions after returning to cycles.
THE BEGINNING OF FERTILITY:
1.
Fertility BEGINS on day 6 of the first 6 cycles.
2.
After 6 cycles, fertility BEGINS on the earliest day of “peak” type mucus during the last 6 cycles minus 6 days or the first "high" mucus reading - whichever comes first.
THE END OF FERTILITY:
3.
Fertility ENDS on the last “peak” day of cervical mucus plus 3 full days.
4.
After 6 cycles, fertility BEGINS on the earliest day of “peak” type mucus during the last 6 cycles minus 6 days or the first "high" mucus reading - whichever comes first.
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