Breastfeeding and Pregnancy

I am a healthcare Porfession and wanted to let you know you can get pregnant! I see too many women shocked that they are pregnant, when they are breastfeeding. There is a an old wives tale that you can't get pregnant when you breastfeed and that is NOT TRUE. They do make a low dose birthcontrol pill for breastfeeding moms or condoms. Good Luck!!

Breastfeeding is not a reliable method of birth control. I got pregnant when my first son was 9 months old, and he weaned himself at 11 months. My sister-in-law overheard a woman in the supermarket talking about how she thought breastfeeding would keep her from getting pregnant, but she got pregnant with twins when her first child was 3 months old! So, just because you haven't had a cycle, doesn't mean you're in the clear - because the first monthly flow only indicates you were fertile two weeks beforehand.

I breastfed exclusively as well ... all 5 children. The last two act almost like twins. When the baby was 4 months old, I had NOT started my period yet. I DID become pregnant!

Maybe my cycles were just ready to start up, I don't know. All I know is I have 2 very close children in both age and love (boy & girl). I can't believe how close and precious they are to each other (and they are teens now!).

As the other have said - YES!! My first was a fertility baby, then I got pregnant when she was 7 months old. No cycle, and breast feeding (although not exclusively. She had started solids around 5 or 6 months.)

There is a low-dosage birth control pill that some women can take and still nurse. I tried it with my second, but it affected my milk production. Apparently, that is not true for a lot of women, so it may work for you.

Hi A.. I haven't gotten pregnant while breastfeeding, but I have several friends who have--so I did a lot of research when my last son was born because I didn't want to use birth control. From my research on the internet, you can get pregnant anytime after giving birth without having a period. New moms can ovulate anywhere from 6 weeks after giving birth on up without having a period. That being said, breastfeeding does help during the first 6 months because you are feeding so frequently that your body does not typically produce the hormone needed for ovulation--they say it is about 98-99 % effective. Once the babies are not eating every 3-4 hours, or they sleep through the night, you are at a much higher risk because your body will start to go back to its normal cycles and hormone levels, even without a period. Hope that helps a little? We just used an old "natural" method until my periods began again and we could calculate better. C.

You can DEFINITELY get pregnant while nursing, no matter what nursing rules you follow. The chances may lessen the more you nurse, but that is NOT protection. I have known so many women who have gotten pregnant while nursing, including a nurse I worked with. She worked in OB and knew better, but still chanced it and ended up getting pregnant. Use condoms if you don't want to use any of the other methods, but don't rely on nursing; it's too risky.

I have never gotten pregnant while breastfeeding,however I would get pregnant as soon as I would stop(if I wasn't using birth control). If you don't use anything, there is always a risk. Obviously you're not going to know, if you are one of the lucky ones that don't get pregnant while breastfeeding, until you try. I think it has a lot to do with how frequently you're breastfeeding too. If the baby starts to eat a lot of solids,and he is not nursing as often, I think there is a greater risk of getting pregnant!
Oh, by the way, I've breast-fed with five different children.

The odds are good that you'll get pregnant even while your breastfeeding. Happens often. If you positively don't want to get pregnant, some reliable form of birth control is a must!

A.,

I have never gotten pregnant until my cycles came back and in each case, the cycles did not come back until that baby was eating a certain amount of food. With each nursling my cycle came back later and later because I was so busy waith the other children it was just easier to breastfeed. But yes, you can get pregnant while nursing because you don't know when you will ovulate the first time.

I did get pregnant while nursing my first son and it turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy. From then on I was not able to get pregnant, even when we were trying hard, until the previous child was totally weaned. That's why they are all about three years apart; I weaned each of them at two years and the last one at three years.

I don't recommend hormone measures to prevent pregnancy. A diaphragm worked fine for us.

K.

Hi A.!! You are very fertile and CAN get pregnant while still breastfeeding..(my sister in law had that happen and have boys 14 months a part) so use a barrier--i know that is not ideal, but if you dont want any other babies right now, I would at least use condoms. I went on birth control when my 2nd baby was 2-3 weeks old--the progesterone only pills. I, too, have a little boy with down syndrome who is 6 and the light of our lives!!! if you want to email me and compare stories,etc.. please email me ____@____.com luck!!

My sister-in-law got pregnant while breastfeeding. Her kids are only 11 months apart. I would definately consult your OBGYN and see if that is a common occurance.

J.

YES!! Got PG when 1stborn was 6 mo. into breastfeeding = no cycle. Never regretted, but YES! !

When you hear of mothers using breastfeeding for birth control, it's mothers who eat, sleep and breathe baby. You would have to feed on demand at least every four hours around the clock, wear the baby in a sling during the day and sleep with the baby at night. Even then, there's no guarantee. When the baby starts sleeping longer stretches or eating anything the protection drops.

I exclusively breastfed both of my girls until 9 mths. My first daughter nursed for three years, and my second is still nursing at 34 mths. We also used Conceptrol spermicidal gel. You can get a box of 10 prefilled applicators for $10-12 at Walmart. We use to joke that it cost us a $1 each time. My ob-gyn said I was fairly safe using that with the breastfeeding. The Conceptrol only takes a few seconds to use before you have intercourse. We kept it handy in the nightstand drawer.

Two kids is all we afford to raise, so dh had a vasectomy when the second was six mths old.

Breastfeeding is a fairly reliable form of birth control. Look at families more than 40 years ago (before bc) and they had big families, kids about 2 yrs apart. I have never gotten preg while breastfeeding, but it certainly is possible. Your body will release an egg before you have a period and you don't know when this will be! If you were planning to have another kid and weren't overly concerned about the timing, I would say - just go for it. BUT I see that you have 4 kids, if you don't want or aren't sure you want another, I would take some precautions!

You can definitely get pregnant while breast feeding even if you haven't started your period! Why don't you want to use birth control? I can understand if you aren't ready to get on the pill because that can affect your breastmilk production. Maybe consider alternative methods like condoms, a diaphram or spermicide... all things that don't effect the hormones in your body. Talk to your Dr. who might have more ideas for you on pregnancy prevention. Don't count on pulling out or the rythym method either!!

Dear A.,
Does this mean you and your husband are back together?!!!I am so happy for you!I've been praying for you and was afraid that my last note scared you away. Anyway, your question... I got pregnant several times while breastfeeding, but not until the baby was sleeping through the night. That seemed to be the "magic" point. a diaphram can be very comfortable and neither of you can feel it when it is in place correctly. You can get one through the health department, if you can stand all the forms and questions! The only drawback is that you can't be completely spontaneous, but with 4 young kids, how often does that happen:) Love to hear from you again.
H.

I would ask your OBJYN doctor cause I have heard both ways some say you can get pregnant so say no you can't I breastfed my youngest she's 40 now and I did it for 26 months but I don't remember not having my period that long so I would check with my doctor and by the way I breastfed that long cause I wanted to breastfeed all my kids by the doctor found a reason for me not to but my last one was tongue tied and could not suck a bottle haha good luck

Mirena is compatible with breast feeding.

Hi A.. You've already had a ton of responses, but I just wanted to tell you what I was told. You can get pregnant while you're breastfeeding, and your body is still having a cycle, you just don't have a flow every month. That's what our childbirth educator told us in class. I know a couple women who got pregnant while breastfeeding, so I would use some method of birth control if you still want to wait a little longer. Good luck!

C.

I don't know the statistics -- but two of my young friends became pregnant while breastfeeding. They both nursed their children through most of the pregnancy and, became pregnant again while they nursed child #2. And #3. On the other hand, I never used ANY birth control and did not get pregnant while nursing. By the way, one of these ladies has a son with Down syndrome. He has improved remarkably in health and focus on Mannatech supplements. There is a special program, run by donations from Mannatech associates, that provides the supplements at or below cost. You can check it out, if you are interested, at my Web site, www.susanjordanbrown.com. There is a button there for MannaRelief. That will tell you all about it. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
S.

I raised 7 and breast fed most but did get Pregnant one time, my M. had told me I wouldn't. The baby got real upset stomach so had to wean him right away. So think you need protection as your hands are full already.

God Bless you and keep you Strong and Healthy. Dollie, MWC,OK

Hello A.. When your body decides to get back into its normal cycles, you ovulate BEFORE you menstrate. Therefore, you can get pregnant before your period returns! ---and breastfeeding is not a good form of protection.
The best bet is to use some form of protection until you are ready for the next tiny sweet person to join your family.

Unfortunately, I am totally unfertile. But I learned so much from wonderful doctors as I traveled through the process of trying to become pregnant. And I have several friends who became pregnant while breastfeeding before their menstration returned.
Good Luck!!!

Hi A.,

I got PG while breast feeding w/my 2nd. She was 5 months when we found out. It was quite a shock, but we are so happy now. I understand you not wanting a baby right-away now though.

I take a one hormone birth control pill. It is called Errin, it's generic for NOR-QD. You take the whole pack, they're NO dummy pills.

My youngest is 8 1/2 months and I'm breast feeding and have not had a period.

Hope this helps!

Have a great day!! Sydne

I got pregnant while breastfeeding. My now adult girls are only 14 months apart. =)

I have a friend who was breastfeeding and got pregnant. She still hadn't had a period and her baby was 6 months old.

I personally wouldn't chance it...you could get on the mini-pill while you're nursing to help your odds. Otherwise you may just have to be ok with the possibility of pregnancy!

Older mothers are more likely to start ovulating before that first warning period that most of us get. So, depending on how old you are....

You have to follow the rules exactly. You'll find them in the Dr. Sears Baby Book, and probably in their breastfeeding book, too. Check online; you might find it at askdrsears.com.

In brief, you have to nurse on demand, at least every 4 hours, I believe, and nurse overnight, as well. Even older mothers will probably have the first warning period (the non-ovulation-prompted kind), but there is a faint possibility that, wham, you'll just find yourself pregnant one day.

Your chances of that go up after the 6-month mark, but not by much if you follow the rules. Exactly. Basically, just nurse lots and lots. And read some Dr. Sears.

L.