newborn baby 4 weeks old?

Question

i have just had a new addition to the family he is 4 weeks old and am breast feeding him. i have not gone on any contraceptive yet and been having sex still will i be okay they say that a women whom just had a baby is very fertile is this true please help

Answer 1

Your periods will return from four to ten weeks, or perhaps longer, after your baby's birth if you are bottle-feeding or combining breast and bottle. But if you're breastfeeding exclusively and haven't started weaning yet, your periods may not return until you cut down breastfeeds or stop. However, ovulation takes place two weeks before a period so you'll become fertile again before you realise it.

Breastfeeding is only an effective method of birth control if certain conditions are met and, like all contraception, it is not foolproof. Breastfeeding delays the return of your periods. However, the first time you ovulate after giving birth will be before your first period, and you have a 10 per cent risk of falling pregnant if you rely solely on your period returning as a warning that you are fertile.

Mini pill -- this is a progestogen-only pill so it can be used if you are breastfeeding as it doesn't affect milk production. It works by thickening the mucus at the entrance to the uterus, stopping sperm from entering, and is 99 per cent effective. Unlike the combined pill, it does have to be taken at the same time each day, which can be tricky if you're looking after a new baby.

Answer 2

Usually they don't even give you the green light to start having sex again until around 6 weeks PP. Hopefully your lochia has stopped already and you are healing OK.

Are you EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding him.....no bottles or supplements, etc.? Nursing around the clock? I assume you haven't had a post-partum period yet. Since he is less than 6 mos old, if you meet those other criteria, breastfeeding alone is about as effective as condoms as birth control. HOWEVER, you will ovulate BEFORE you see your first period, so there is some risk. MOST moms who are exclusively breastfeeding won't become fertile so soon post-partum though. (Personally, my periods returned at 10 mos, 9.5 mos and about 16 mos after my three babies.)

ALSO....
If you choose to take hormonal BC.....

It's recommended that any estrogen-containing contraceptive be AVOIDED until baby is at least six months old AND after baby is well-established on solid foods.

PROGESTIN-ONLY contraceptives are the preferred choice for breastfeeding mothers when something hormonal is desired or necessary.

Progestin-only contraceptives come in several different forms:

the progestin-only pill (POP) also called the "mini-pill" (Micronor, Errin, Nor-QD, Ovrette, Microval, etc)
the birth control injection (Depo Provera)
the progesterone-releasing IUD (Mirena, Progestasert)
the birth control implant (Norplant, Implanon).

For MOST mothers, progestin-only forms of contraception do not cause problems with milk supply if started AFTER the 6th-8th week postpartum and if given at normal doses. HOWEVER, there are many reports (most anecdotal but nevertheless worth paying attention to) that some women do experience supply problems with these pills, so if you choose this method you still need to proceed with some caution.

Answer 3

That's crazy! I mean a maybe a little rice cereal in the bottle if he is eating more than 32 oz a day is one thing. My son is five months, just started veggies, fruit like three weeks ago and is still on stage one and he was also an early delivery. He was in the NICU for a week. She should stop messing around and talk to her doctor, especially given the circumstances. I know that we moms know our babies best but come on that's just being unsafe. Even now on food my son gets two table spoons of fruit or veg and then a five oz bottle- babies get their nutrients from the formula and breast milk the first year - She is just filling her baby with empty calories and barely any nutrients. The baby will most likely get diarrhea and dehydrate and then end up back in the hospital. Good luck talking some sense into her.

Answer 4

I'm impressed you feel like sex when your baby's only 4 weeks old, I didn't fancy it for at least a couple of months!!

However you do need to take birth control, breast feeding normally stops you conceiving but it's not 100% effective, go to your GP you will probably be given the mini pill as you're breastfeeding, so you need to take it at exactly the same time each day. Or you can use condoms.

Answer 5

Lactational amenorrhea (suppression of menstruation whilst breastfeeding) only occurs when your energy expenditure is greater than your energy intake. If you suffer from some kind of nutritional stress then it is likely that ovulation will be supressed for a good period of time whilst lactating.

Most people in Western societies, however, are more than adequately nourished so ovulatory cycles will probably recommence more or less immediately post-partum.

So yes, you can definitely get pregnant. Use condoms if you're worried about affecting your milk supply with hormonal contraceptives.

Answer 6

This is true, you are more fertile, for up to six months after having ur baby... and the docs and midwife usually say to wait at least 6 weeks before having sex, this is usually because of small cuts, which can occur during childbirth, these can become infected and that is incredibly painful! i would use another method of contraception as the pill can effect breast feeding...

congratulations......

Answer 7

i had a baby girl 14 weeks ago i got told to use protection well breast feeding as you can still get pregnant you are very fertille

Answer 8

Get some contraception quick! I found out I was pregnant when my 1st was 6 months old, I went on to have twins, my daughter is now 2 yrs & twins are 10 months!

Answer 9

Breastfeeding does not stop you getting pregnant, its an old wives tale.

Your midwife at the hospial should have told you not to have sex until your 6 week check up and then you should use contraception.

Most hospitals give out free condoms after you have had a baby, its not good for your body to get pregnant again so quickly - especially if you are breastfeeding.

Talk to your health visitor or doctor.

Answer 10

yes you can still get pregnant! plus your not supposed to have sex til after 6 weeks! how about an IUD? It keeps you from getting pregnant for 5 years! If you want a baby before then take it out and you can get PG anytime. Thats what I have and it's wonderful!