Can You Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?
Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding? Many women have often wondered about this. Most people think that it is not possible due to the absence of menstruation during these months. But many women have relied on this fact and then become pregnant without having planned it.
The fact is that although it happens very rarely, it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be a form of contraception. But there are many difficult conditions that must be met before it can be truly effective.
Let’s look at some more information, to better understand a woman’s fertility during this period. This way we can avoid unwanted pregnancies.
What happens in a woman’s body during breastfeeding?
Once a woman has just become a mother, it usually takes between three and eight months before her period returns to normal. The main reason for this is the effect of breastfeeding. This is even more noticeable when the newborn baby is exclusively breastfeeding.
But how does breastfeeding affect a woman’s menstrual cycle? There is a direct relationship between the baby’s breastfeeding and the absence of ovulation. This is due to the hormonal changes that this breastfeeding produces, changes that prevent ovulation.
Without ovulation, there is no menstruation or possibility of pregnancy. Usually the woman’s body returns to normal. Menstruation is regulated and with it comes the possibility of getting pregnant. However, the process is complex and different in every woman.
Some women may actually start ovulating before menstruating again. This means that they can start ovulating again at any time without knowing it. In that case, the risk of getting pregnant while breastfeeding will be very high.
Breastfeeding as a method of contraception
The preventive effect of breastfeeding has been called the LAM: Lactation and Amenorrhea Method. Although it is 99% effective, some requirements must be met strictly.
The first is that the woman must not have had her period yet and that less than six months must have passed since the birth. It is also necessary the newborn baby only gets breast milk. This must be done often, day and night. The time between breastfeeds should not exceed four hours during the day and six hours at night.
Also, do not use infant formula to feed the baby or supplement it with solid foods. Extraction of milk instead of breastfeeding will also reduce the effectiveness of this method.
If a woman meets all these conditions, it will be very unlikely that she will get pregnant while breastfeeding. However, if one of these conditions is not kept one hundred percent, then the risk of an unplanned pregnancy increases significantly.
Yes, it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding
Although breastfeeding can be used as a method of contraception, the conditions for being 100% effective are many and they are not always easy to comply with. A woman may become pregnant during breastfeeding, and so if the couple does not want pregnancy, it is advisable to resort to other methods of contraception.
The couple should go to a gynecologist who can advise them on the best options. The choice of the most appropriate method will depend on many factors. These include the personal situation of each woman and the particular stage she is going through.
Condoms are without a doubt the best solution. They have no effect on the mother’s hormones and do not interfere with the baby’s nutrition. However, there are other options if you do not want to use this method of contraception.
The mini-pill is also an excellent alternative. It is very similar to the classic birth control pill, but it does not contain estrogen. This makes it possible to take it during the lactation period as it does not affect the breastfeeding of the newborn baby.
Another very safe option in terms of efficiency and completely harmless to the child is a spiral. However, doctors do not recommend its use until six weeks after birth. A good option would be to use this method after the first six weeks, and combine it with the condom for the first few weeks after it has been inserted.
