If you just had a baby, you probably have many questions about being a new mom, like how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk and when (or if) you’ll ever sleep through the night again.
Most mothers who are breastfeeding want to know if they can get pregnant while they are still nursing. You may have heard from a friend that nursing can be a way to prevent pregnancy. It isn’t entirely false, but it’s also not the whole story.
You just got off a nine-month roller coaster ride, and now you’re breastfeeding the baby you carried, which is a new adventure. During breastfeeding, can I get pregnant? Whether you want to have another child or not, you may want to wait a while before having another.
Instead of taking the pill or another birth control method prescribed by a doctor, you may wonder if breastfeeding can keep you from getting pregnant again for as long as you nurse, whether two months or two years. Ten signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding you need to know are listed below.
How likely are pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Yes, exclusive breastfeeding is a pretty good way to prevent pregnancy temporarily.
This method of birth control has its name: the lactational amenorrhea method of birth control (LAM). (Don’t be confused by the name. Amenorrhea means that you don’t get your period.
How good is good enough? One source says that only one or two out of every 100 women who use LAM correctly in the first six months after giving birth will get pregnant.
Breastfeeding can I get pregnant? Here’s what you should do if you’re using LAM and want to be among the majority of women who don’t get pregnant while breastfeeding:
- Do nothing but nursing. That means you should wait to start solids and not add formula or anything else to your baby’s diet.
- Nurse on demand. Follow your baby’s lead and let them nurse, whenever they want, at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours during the night. If you are using LAM, there are better substitutes than pumping.
- Try not to use pacifiers. Instead, let your baby feed and cuddle with you to satisfy their need to suck.
- Remember that for LAM to work, your period (including spotting) should not have come back, and your baby should be younger than six months. (That’s why this is only a short-term method of birth control.)
Symptoms of being pregnant while breastfeeding
Early pregnancy symptoms aren’t always easy to spot, but if you’re taking care of a child and your cycles aren’t regular, it might be harder to tell if you’re pregnant. What happens if you get pregnant while breastfeeding? While breastfeeding, can I get pregnant? But here are some signs that you might get pregnant while breastfeeding:
- Period missed or late.
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Breast pain
Early pregnancy symptoms are also a lot like PMS symptoms, so it can be hard to tell the difference, especially if your periods have been off since giving birth. If you aren’t sure, you can take a pregnancy test and talk to your doctor if you are still worried.
How to limit births and how to breastfeed
While breastfeeding, you can use both hormonal and non-hormonal birth control. But you shouldn’t use birth control with estrogen for the first three weeks after giving birth. How to get pregnant faster while breastfeeding? After having a baby, you might want to try a method of birth control that doesn’t use hormones. If the pill has always worked for you, you might reach for it again. Any way you look at it, now is an excellent time to talk to a healthcare professional about the options.
Breastfeeding During Fertility Treatments
Depending on the procedure, you may be able to keep breastfeeding. Signs of ovulation while breastfeeding? It depends on how you are being treated, how old your child is, and how often your child is nursing.
While breastfeeding, can I get pregnant? If your period has come back and your child is older, or you only breastfeed a few times a day, you may be able to get the following treatments:
Clomid cycle
It’s possible that you could take Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and still breastfeed. Clomid is considered safe to use while breastfeeding, but it can lower your milk intake.
Frozen embryo transfer
If you are going to have a frozen embryo transfer, you only need to prepare the lining of your uterus to accept the embryo. So, depending on the medicine your doctor gives you for this procedure, you may be <a href="https://gynaefit.com/index.php/2022/12/25/problems-with-breastfeeding-without-latching-tips-tricks/" title="<strong>Problems with Breastfeeding Without Latching– Tips & Tricksable to keep breastfeeding.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
During insemination, you may or may not need to take medicine. If your doctor keeps an eye on when you naturally ovulate because your partner has a low sperm count, you may not need to stop breastfeeding.
Can you keep nursing while you’re pregnant?
You can, for sure. While breastfeeding, can I get pregnant? But make sure you get enough calories to feed yourself, your baby, and your growing fetus. If your baby is less than six months old and eating other foods besides your milk, aim for 650 extra calories per day.
You should also plan for 350 extra calories in your second trimester and 450 extra calories in your third. Sounds complicated. Listen to your body and choose healthy foods to make it easier on yourself.
You might find that your nipples are more sensitive and that your let-down reflex makes you feel sick. Even this will end.
Keep an eye out for uterine contractions if you’ve had a miscarriage or tend to give birth early. When your baby suckles, you may feel like you have cramps. What are the chances of getting pregnant while breastfeeding? It happens because your body releases small amounts of oxytocin, which makes your muscles contract. (Yes, it’s that hormone that can do many things!) If you’re worried about the rare chance of going into labour early, talk to your OB or midwife about it.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve learned much about breastfeeding, avoiding pregnancy, and when you’re likely to ovulate again after giving birth. There’s a lot more to learn about your body, and Natural Cycles is a great tool that can help you plan or avoid pregnancy by giving you information about your cycle. Are you ready to take charge of your ability to have children?