Question

A community health nurse is making a healthy baby visit to a new mother who recently emigrated to the United States from Ghana. When discussing contraceptives with the new mom, the mother states that she won't have to worry about getting pregnant for the time being. The nurse understands that the mom most likely made this statement because:

A. She won't resume sexual relations until her baby is weaned.
B. She is taking the medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera) shot.
C. Her husband was recently deployed to Afghanistan.
D. She has access to free condoms from the clinic.

Answer 1

The nurse believes the new mother from Ghana refers to the natural contraceptive effect of breastfeeding, known as the amenorrheic effect, which can prevent pregnancy during the postpartum period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The community health nurse understands that the new mom from Ghana believes she won't have to worry about becoming pregnant for the time being likely because of the amenorrheic effect that breastfeeding has on the reproductive system. This effect involves the absence of menses while the mother is breastfeeding, which can serve as a natural form of contraception. This type of contraception falls under the category of natural family planning, which relies on the understanding of a woman's fertility cycle and uses signs such as amenorrhea during breastfeeding to prevent pregnancy.

Although the mother has other options for birth control, such as the birth control shot (Depo-Provera), which requires an injection every three months, or an implantable device like the Implanon rod that is inserted into the arm and is effective for up to three years, the nurse recognizes that the mother's reference likely stems from the traditional belief and practice of lactational amenorrhea as a method of natural family planning.