Can You Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?

Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding? More than one woman has asked herself this question. Most people think that it is not possible because you do not menstruate during these months. But many women have also believed in this fact and then become pregnant, without having planned it.

In fact, although it is very rare, it is possible to get pregnant while producing milk. Breastfeeding can be a form of contraception. However, there are many circumstances that make it difficult and many requirements that must be met for it to be truly effective.

Let’s take a look at more information and facts to understand a woman’s fertility during this period. This way you can avoid unwanted pregnancies.

What happens in a woman’s body during breastfeeding?

When a woman has just become a mother, it usually takes between three and eight months for her period to return to normal. The main reason for this is the effect of breastfeeding. This is even more noticeable when the newborn baby is fully breastfed and does not receive any support feed with breast milk substitute or other food.

But how does breastfeeding affect a woman’s menstrual cycle? There is a direct link between when the baby is breastfeeding and the absence of ovulation. This is due to the hormonal changes that this suction produces, changes that prevent ovulation from occurring. All this affects if you can get pregnant while breastfeeding.

Without ovulation, there is no menstruation and no risk of pregnancy. Normally, the woman’s body returns to normal. Menstruation is regulated with the possibility of becoming pregnant. However, the process is complex and unique in each woman.

Some women may actually start ovulating before they have their period yet. This means that they can start ovulating again at any time without knowing it. In these cases, the risk of getting pregnant while breastfeeding will be very high.

It is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. But all women are unique.

Breastfeeding as a contraceptive

The preventive effect of breastfeeding has been called the LAM: Lactation and Amenorrhea Method . Although the method is 99% effective, certain requirements must be met carefully.

The first is that the woman has not had her period yet, and that less than six months have passed since she gave birth to her child. It is also necessary to feed the newborn only on breast milk. This must be done often, day and night. The time between feedings must not exceed four hours during the day and six hours at night.

Do not use breast milk substitute to feed the baby, nor supplement with solid food. Pumping out milk instead of breastfeeding will also reduce the effectiveness of this method.

If you meet these conditions, it is very unlikely that you will become pregnant while breastfeeding. If one of them is not kept one hundred percent, the risk of an unplanned pregnancy increases significantly.

Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding?

Yes, it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding.
Although breastfeeding can be used as a contraceptive, the conditions for making it 100% effective are not always easy to follow. A woman may become pregnant and if the couple does not want to go through another pregnancy, it is advisable to use other contraceptives.

You can go to a gynecologist, who can give you advice on the best options. The choice of the most appropriate method depends on many factors. These include the woman’s personal situation and the particular stage she is going through.

Condoms are without a doubt the best option. They have no influence on the mother’s hormones and do not interfere with the baby’s source of nutrition. However, there are other options if you do not want to use this method of contraception.

Mini-pills are also an excellent option. It is similar to the classic contraceptive pill, but it does not contain estrogen. This makes it possible to take it during the breastfeeding period, as it does not affect the milk of the newborn baby.

Another very safe option in terms of efficiency and completely harmless to the baby is a spiral, also called a uterine insert. However, doctors do not recommend its use until after six weeks after delivery. A good alternative would be to use this method after the first six weeks, and combine it with a condom for the first few weeks before you start using it.