RECRUITMENT OF PREGNANT-WOMEN FOR SELF-EXAMINATION OF THE POSTPARTUM RETURN OF FERTILITY

In our health center we use breastfeeding in teaching natural family p lanning (NFP) to mothers. Our objective is for the women to detect the signs of returning fertility before ovulation. Breastfeeding is a fac tor in amenorrhea. All pregnant women attending our health center are invited to follow our course on maternal education from the 7th month of pregnancy. We inform them of the factors that influence the return of fertility and the signs of returning fertility, and urge the women to attend a course from the 20th day after childbirth. Since the begin ning of June we have had a 30% participation rate by new mothers in th e postpartum course. We have observed a new or strengthened desire to breastfeed and to observe the signs of fertility.