Has anyone gotten pregnant while strictly breastfeeding?

Katherine - posted on 02/27/2010

Hi Brianne,



I am locking this thread because it is over 200 posts. It's Com policy so if you want to reference it, copy and paste the link so you don't lose the thread.



Thanks

Katherine

Nicole - posted on 02/27/2010

Hi,

Wouldn't reccomend using breast feeding as your only form of contriception. My mum & dad found out the hard way. My sister & I are only 10 months & 5 days apart. Just an old wives tale.

Nic

April - posted on 02/27/2010

Nonsense! Stop asking the wrong people and talk to your doctor. You can still ovulate while breastfeeding so therefore, you can get pregnant. Condoms or abstinence and only one of those is 100%

Judith - posted on 02/27/2010

Yes i have !! My baby was only 3 1/2 months old and like yourself i had been told there was no posibility of me falling pregnant whilst solely breast feeding. I now have two teenaged girls at home with an age gap of almost 16 months between them. I would strongly recommend some form of contraception as although this took place nearly 14 years ago i still remember the pregnancy being hard going with an infant to also care for.

Consolata - posted on 02/27/2010

Yes! a friend of mine fell prey. Though doctors say it is a natural form of birth control if you breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, they also tell you is not full proof - I think they say is is only "98%" full proof.

I breastfed exclusively and never used any form of birth control and did not get pregnant.

I pray you have the same experience.

Murky - posted on 02/27/2010

she's turning 2 next month LOL

Liz - posted on 02/26/2010

I exclusively breastfed my 2nd child until he was 5 months old and had a period when he was 5 weeks old and then regularly every 4 weeks thereafter. So glad that we used condoms or there would probably have been 10 months between 2 and 3!!!

Amber - posted on 02/26/2010

I now have three children......18 months and then 13 months apart. I was breastfeeding both times that I got pregnant. Condoms are not the best way for birth control. I would talk with your doctor about the IUD or the pill.

Desiree - posted on 02/26/2010

That's a Myth, as I was breasting my second daughter, and still did not get a period, went to the doctor when she was five months told him I felt funny and asked if he thinks I was pregnant, he told me no, by the time he found out I was five months pregnant and had my third daughter when the second was 11 months old. Be careful.

Kathryn - posted on 02/26/2010

Myth, If that were true i wouldn't be here! ;)

User - posted on 02/26/2010

If you don't want to get pregnant, don't use breastfeeding as your protection. Doesn't work. I know so many women thought that. That's and old wives tale.

Jill - posted on 02/26/2010

I was on a pill that I could use while breastfeeding and guess it wasn't strong enough. I got pregnant (after having to turn to fertility for my twins).

Katie - posted on 02/26/2010

It is certainly not a myth that breastfeeding helps to naturally space babies--this is how women in 3rd world countries space their families. One study shows that with certain bf-ing practices, you can expect an average of 14 mos of infertility. You cannot bottlefeed at all: no pumping, no pacifiers and no leaving the baby. You should sleep with the baby and nurse the baby at night. Night-weaning is a guarantee that fertility will return sooner.

If you combine the natural infertility that comes with nursing on demand around the clock with a knowledge of nfp, you can accurately space your babies. Twice now I've enjoyed more than a year of infertility: first, 17.5 months, and now I have a 15.5 month old. No fertility return yet!

Check out nfpandmore.org for specific information on how to space your babies with nursing, and good luck!

Shelley - posted on 02/25/2010

YUP!!!!!! When I told the Dr I couldnt be pregnant because I was breastfeeding he busted up laughing!!

Ellenor - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi Brianne, I was told by my doctor that only 1 in 5,000 women would get pregnant while breastfeeding. Well, I am the 1. That was a long time ago, but I don't thnk the body functons would have changed. I only have 15 months between my last two children. I don't regret having my last one, but given a choice I would have had more space between .Take my advice and use some protection.

Kelley - posted on 02/25/2010

Breastfeeding IS NOT BIRTH CONTROL! It doesn't matter how often you nurse either. Its an old wive's tale that came about becuase your periods will not be regular. Back then the belief was that if you didn't have a "bleeding cycle" then you couldn't get pregnant. Well, its bunk beccause you are still ovulating and will get pregnant!

Kelley - posted on 02/25/2010

Breastfeeding IS NOT BIRTH CONTROL! It doesn't matter how often you nurse either. Its an old wive's tale that came about becuase your periods will not be regular. Back then the belief was that if you didn't have a "bleeding cycle" then you couldn't get pregnant. Well, its bunk beccause you are still ovulating and will get pregnant!

Amy - posted on 02/25/2010

Yes. My Haley was 6 months old when I found out I was pregnant with baby # 5. No it is not safe to not use anything while breastfeeding unless you are relying on the LORD to solely be incontrol of your family size. If you do use birth control you need to ask for something that doesn't have any estrogen in it.

Vesna - posted on 02/25/2010

Breastfeeding as a contraceptive method is not an old wives tale and women should not feel silly if confused by the contradictory information given to them. To be SURE they should definitely use other contraceptive but the connection between breastfeeding hormones and lack of fertility is not altogether a myth. Below is a paragraph taken from the Australian Breastfeeding Association website:
"Once your sex life has resumed, however, be aware that breastfeeding, though an excellent natural method of birth control, is not always enough to prevent pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding (by itself) is 98-99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as all of the following conditions are met:

1. Your baby is less than 6 months old;
2. Your menstrual periods have not yet returned;
3. Baby is breastfeeding on cue (both day and night), and gets nothing but breastmilk or only token amounts of other foods.2



Timing for the return to fertility varies greatly from woman to woman and depends upon the baby's feeding pattern and how sensitive the mother's body is to the hormones involved in lactation. "

Sarah - posted on 02/25/2010

I cant believe the amount of you who have started that breastfeeding will work if done a certain way OMG!!! Breastfeeding is by no means a contraceptive, it is an old wives tale told in the 1950' and earlier when the pill or condoms were not in production, hence why those woman sometimes have 10 children or more, it wasnt for the love of big families trust me... GO on the mini pill, or you can have an implanon implant as well which can be removed when ready to try again.

Jennifer - posted on 02/25/2010

Yes! My OB/GYN told me I needed to use a backup method pretty much right away, because you can ovulate before you even get your first postpartum period and that first period happens for women at varying times. My husband and I generally used a condom, but one time when we were on vacation I thought I had already ovulated that month and we were "safe" to not use a condom (I was only a few months back into having a period because of breastfeeding). Lo and behold, we conceived our second child from that *one* time when we didn't use a condom (I was wrong about the ovulation date). Our older son was 14 months old and I was still breastfeeding (though he was obviously eating a lot of solid foods at that point too). We also had had fertility issues when getting pregnant with #1, so it was a double surprise!

Chris - posted on 02/25/2010

Yes, twice. We found out we were pregnant with Michael 4 months after Rachel was born (the day we went to the ob/gyn for my annual exam and to talk about birth control while breast feeding) and 10 months after Michael was born when were we in the middle of moving. We did attempt to use condoms but I guess not consistently enough.

Vesna - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi : ) We were told by the nurse at our antenatal classes that breastfeeding is as safe birth control method as a pill (which means NOT 100%) ONLY if you are breastfeeding EVERY 2 hours, INCLUDING nights (and do not miss any feeds same as not missing the pill)... And I do know someone who got pregnant 3 months after having the first baby thinking that they are safe if breastfeeding : ))))

Jessica - posted on 02/25/2010

YES! I was breastfeeding and found out when my baby was almost 4 months old that I was pregnant again. Big shock to me since I had been told the same thing about breastfeeding being effective.



I was exclusively breastfeeding and feeding all night, actually sleeping next to my daughter at night so I could feed her. She had colic, so I fed her a lot to try to calm her down so she would sleep for a little bit.



I was shocked also because we were using condoms along with breastfeeding just to be safe. When she was almost four months old, I started feeling really nauseated and tired. I thought it was from being up all night with her and decided to start letting her sleep through the night. After a couple nights, I was still tired and nauseated, so I got a pee stick and found out I was pregnant again and had been for a month.



Unless you want to take the chance, I wouldn't risk it. It is very hard to make it work as birth control. I tried and took other precautions and still got pregnant.

Dana - posted on 02/25/2010

My bestfriend got pregnant while breastfeeding. Her dr even told her she would be ok with out Birthcontrol and she ended up pregnant. Don't trust it.

Dana - posted on 02/25/2010

My bestfriend got pregnant while breastfeeding. Her dr even told her she would be ok with out Birthcontrol and she ended up pregnant. Don't trust it.

Stacey - posted on 02/25/2010

My oldest 2 are 13 months apart, yes you can get pregnant while nursing. I think it all depends on your body and how easily you get pregnant in the first place.

Sandra - posted on 02/25/2010

Sorry Brianne but it does NOT work my aunt has two sons 11months apart, she went to the doctor when her first was only about 11weeks old as she was feeling ill and her milk was drying up. Her doctor told her that she was expecting again and she said she couldn't be cause she was breastfeeding, He told her that breastfeeding only stopped pregnancy if you are NOT ovulating, infact you are more likley to fall again

Val - posted on 02/25/2010

As you have probably been told by others, it is not a form of birth control. You have to be using condoms to prevent a pregnancy when you are breastfeeding.

Jennifer - posted on 02/25/2010

I was told that breastfeeding can delay your periods but to always use protection to prevent pregnancy. Whoever told you that is living in cloud cuckoo land!

Debra - posted on 02/25/2010

oh you sure can!!!

Katie - posted on 02/25/2010

I was told it's effective for the first 3 months if you are exclusively breastfeeding at least every 4 hours. My periods stayed away until my LO slept through the night (about 4 months) Obviously you don't know when they're going to start so don't know when you're ovulating for that first period so I just don't think it's worth the risk!

Jennifer - posted on 02/25/2010

I exclusively nursed both my kids, on demand and got my period 6 weeks post-partum with both & ovulated! I became pregnant with daughter #2, while daughter #1 was only 5 months old & nursing all the time!

Alicia - posted on 02/25/2010

I breastfed my daughter until she was 13 months old. Never took any other precautions during this time and I only fell pregnant in July last year, 6 months after I stopped.

Radiah - posted on 02/25/2010

YES Maam! you can definitely get pregnant while strictly breastfeeding as I did with my third child. My daughter was 10 months old and I had never even substituted formula for her, all "mommy milk" but I started to get extremely tired and went to the doctor thinking I needed some more iron in my diet and low and behold I was told I was having another baby. My advice is to not rely on this as a form of birthcontrol if you really don't want another child. Luckily we really did want another and were not actively trying to prevent it. So I would say not to use breastfeeding as a form of birth control unless you really don't care either way if you become pregnant.

Joan - posted on 02/25/2010

Breastfeeding can delay the return of ovulation/menstruation, but only if you are exclusively breastfeeding and only if you follow the "rule of 6's:"

-the baby sleeps within 6 feet of you

-breastfeeding on demand/on cue and going no more than 6 hrs between feedings, including at night

-ONLY for 6 months, no matter what else you're doing

I know many bf'ing moms who have successfully used it as birth control, but you really have to be honest about whether or not you're following the "rules." As other commenters have indicated, if you go too long between feedings even once, your cycle may restart. And yes, some women ovulate before menstruating, so you have to consider that if the "rule of 6's" no longer applies.

Rosie - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi Brianne Rice I havent personally gotten pregnant while breast feeding. I asked my Ob-Gyn and he said woman have been known to get pregnant even when they breast fed. If your concerned speak to your Ob Gyn and ask him which form of birth control is best for you.

Lori - posted on 02/25/2010

i was breastfeeding my daughter she was 7 months old and i couldnt figure out why i was so tired then i found out i was 2 months pregnant with my third child My body was doing over time producing milk and growing a baby . If u dont wnat to get pregnant while nursing dont do anything or use protection

Lori - posted on 02/25/2010

i was breastfeeding my daughter she was 7 months old and i couldnt figure out why i was so tired then i found out i was 2 months pregnant with my third child My body was doing over time producing milk and growing a baby . If u dont wnat to get pregnant while nursing dont do anything or use protection

Lori - posted on 02/25/2010

Ask your OB/GYN! Mine told me that we women are very fertile while breast feeding even though we may not have a period. I have hear of several friends getting pregnant during those first few months of their newest babies life!!! That put their children less than a year a part. And unless if you are ready for that, you should be talk to your doctor!

Emily - posted on 02/25/2010

Don't be mad! you don't know when you will ovulate. I got my periods back excusively breastfeeding twins at 4 months. for all my kids i got them back then - all excusively breast fed until 6 months. We were very careful and used condoms. So don't risk it unless you want more babies. You might not get your period back for 18months who knows....... Cheers

Heather - posted on 02/25/2010

My sister thought that was true too. but voila, 12 months and 22 days later she had her 2nd son. You definitely want to use condoms or diaphragm or some other form of birth control if you are not prepared to have another baby right away.

Heather - posted on 02/25/2010

My sister thought that was true too. but voila, 12 months and 22 days later she had her 2nd son. You definitely want to use condoms or diaphragm or some other form of birth control if you are not prepared to have another baby right away.

Diana - posted on 02/25/2010

I've gotten pregnant while breastfeeding! It was very surprising to me as I had heard the same and I had had a very difficult time getting pregnant with my first child. I asked my doctor about it and he said that it can lessen your chances of getting pregnant, especially if you are only nursing and not supplementing with bottles or baby food at all but there are no guarantees.

Sacha - posted on 02/25/2010

Lactational amenorrhea is quite effective as birth control for the first 6 months only, provided you're not supplementing any formula and are still night feeding. Getting pregnant is possible under those conditions but not likely. This link goes into more details:



http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertil...

Florence - posted on 02/24/2010

It's not true that breastfeeding is an effective birth control. I was strictly breastfeeding and became pregnant.

Melanie - posted on 02/24/2010

I have had friends who have got pregnant. Be very wary! Not worth it in my opinion. It's such a sleep deprived time anyway! best wishes.

Latreece - posted on 02/24/2010

I got pregnant while bf...with TWINS!!!

Amber - posted on 02/24/2010

I got pregnant while strictly breastfeeding -- twice. It was intentional in my case, but I was still surprised at how quickly it happened (there was no trying for us, just succeeding). Be careful!

Sacha - posted on 02/24/2010

Lactational amenorrhea is quite effective as birth control for the first 6 months only, provided you're not supplementing any formula and are still night feeding. Getting pregnant is possible under those conditions but not likely. This link goes into more details:



http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertil...