The LAM Interagency Working Group (LAM IWG), a network of over 20 organisations, describes the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) as "an effective method of family planning for postpartum women based on breastfeeding which has been shown to have significant health benefits for both mothers and children". This document intends to give guidance to providers about how LAM can be repositioned in their programmes so that they can better address the needs of postpartum women.

The document first describes the benefits of the method, citing World Health Organization (WHO) recognition of its importance, and then recommends use of the following strategic steps for repositioning LAM as an introductory family planning method:
1. Emphasising the timely transition to other family planning methods;
2. Simplifying LAM services; and
3. Broadening the programme context for offering LAM, beyond family planning programmes.

By emphasising mother and child health through baby spacing resulting from attention to two pregnancy prevention methods, LAM counselling builds on the goals of the Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) Initiative. LAM counselling includes family counselling on pregnancy prevention methods in the first visit. The importance of and need for choosing the pregnancy prevention method that will follow the use of LAM is incorporated into training, service delivery, and programme support materials; and providers are trained in the approach.

The document states the simplified LAM criteria as a core message for providers, including supporting impact data on its effectiveness. Combined with the three criteria, materials for providers emphasise the timely transition to other methods, the health benefits for mother and baby, and the important benefits of spacing pregnancies.

These materials have been offered traditionally in family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) programmes, but the document recommends their use in maternal and child health (MCH) programmes also. The expanded availability might result in more timely and effective ways of reaching postpartum women. The potential benefits of implementing the simplified approach to LAM are: increasing its use among postpartum women, increasing infant health through breastfeeding, and increasing the adoption of further family planning methods following the use of LAM.

Institute for Reproductive Health website on June 19 2009.