Does breastfeeding really prevent pregnancy?

Question

I started back on birth control pills around 7 weeks after my son was born. I had a huge decrease in my milk supply (I'm breastfeeding / pumping). I stopped taking the pills after only 4 days and then I had my period. After my period my milk increased again. It's been 4 months now and I haven't had my period again. I'm still breastfeeding / pumping, but I also use some formula. I know that there's always a chance I could get pregnant but just how much of a chance.

Thanks everyone for your answers.

Answer 1

Hormones released during breastfeeding can delay ovulation. However, if you are not using any other form of birth control, it will be very difficult to tell when your ovulation returns. And since you are starting to supplement, the odds increase that that will happen soon.

Because you don't know when you'll ovulate, that increases your risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Because you can't wait to get your period to know that you're fertile again-- if you have your period, that means you already ovulated. I hope this makes sense.

Since hormones are bad for your milk supply, can you try condoms or a diaphragm or an IUD?

Answer 2

It's true that it's far less likely to become pregnant when exclusively breastfeeding a child under six months old round the clock (in other words, not supplementing and the infant is not yet sleeping through the night), and ONLY if you've not yet gotten your period following delivery (if you have, you can assume you're fertile no matter how old your child is). We used this Lactational Amenorrhea Method after having our last two daughters, with no resulting pregnancies. However, we chose not to prevent a pregnancy after our second was six months old (though I would have gone back on the minipill a month or two later), and nature did indeed take its course. We became pregnant with our third when she was just under seven months old. So while breastfeeding can be -- and most certainly is (when properly used) -- a form of natural birth control, this only applies when all three conditions are met. * exclusively breastfeeding * no return of menses * infant less than six months old So in your case, while it's possible your cycle has not yet resumed (this can take a year or more in some women), breastfeeding is not an effective method of preventing pregnancy, given the age of your child, and it's likely you could easily become pregnant in the next few months. For what it's worth, we conceived this baby (our last) when the youngest was just under a year old. So again, it certainly isn't impossible. If another pregnancy isn't desired, you can go on the minipill or opt for Nuvaring or any other birth control deemed safe while breastfeeding. And if you wish to become pregnant, no need to do anything differently. ;)

Answer 3

Not sure of the exact science..
But a close friend and my sister-in-law both fell while breastfeeding. So you should use condoms or the like.

Your body is going through hormone changes and adjustment after the birth, so may be normal not have a period for sometime. It took me almost 12mths to really get right back on track, I guess if u are worried spend the $10- and get a home pregnancy test, which are very accurate. Stress, about not having a period can also stop in coming.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Well When I was pregnat every nurse/doctor, everyone ask you, are you planning on breastfeed??? As soon as I said yes, One of the first things my nurse told me was " I want you to know that you could still get pregnat while breastfeeding" So yes you could get pregnat, breastfeeding has nothing to do with pregnacy... So there's not right percentage either you will or you wont...

Breastfeeding is just the best way to feed your child and to help prevent some sickness.... but about the pills, when i went for my six weeks check up, I asked my doctor about the birth control pills and he imediatelly told me that it would decreace my milk supply as well as the patch both will decrease your milk supply... I dont understand why your doctor didnt tell you that cause he must know your breastfeeding, DOES he??? So my opinion is use condons and have lots of love with your husband so that the romance dont go away and make sure you spend adult time with him.... Good luck and hopefully your not pregnat cause I think its hard having 2 babys..

Answer 5

Exclusive nursing prior to your first period would give you approximately only a 20% chance of having a baby. After your first cycle, nursing plays very little into the formula. It does lower your "drive" and also dry things a bit, so to speak. In other words the swimmers have less to swim in. ;-) But by no means is it "not enough" just less than ideal - if the goal is conception.

After baby, especially while nursing your cycles can get really whacked out. A friend of mine had her first period when the baby was 8 weeks old, she had another every 2 weeks until week 12 then nothing since (baby is 9mo old). She is not expecting. I didn't have a period until baby was 6 months old, then got one every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, nothing for 8 weeks, then 6, now on week 4 an no sign of my cycle yet...

When in doubt, test.

I highly recommend that you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Through reading this I learned to tell the signs of my body, and when to expect ovulation. That is how I was able to have my second child without having a cycle between child 1 and child 2.

Answer 6

I'm not really sure of the percentage but I do know from experience that it is not a good idea to use only the breastfeeding as a form of birth control. Maybe you could make and appointment with your doctor and he/she could tell you some of the better birth control method that would not cause a decrease in your milk supply. Best of luck!!!!

Answer 7

I used breastfeeding as birth control after both my girls were born. I breastfeed for 19 months with the first one and feel pregnant when I when she was 16 moths old.
With my second I breastfed for 2 and a half years and still havent fallen pregnant.
So yes it can be used as a form of birth control, but it is not very reliable.

Answer 8

Look! Breasfeeding doesn't prevent pregnancy AT ALL! Perhaps, you won't have any period somehow, but you still can get pregnant easily. If you wanna take birth control pills, you should get the special one that is not too strong, then your husband still has to use condom.
In case your milk is getting less again, there are ways to increase your milk:
- drink mother milk tea, or fennel tea, linden blossom tea. Make sure you have enough liquid 3 lt. a day.
- eat nutritious & healthy food
- have enough rest! No stress!
- feed your baby more often! it produces more automatically

Answer 9

Breastfeeding is not a reliable form of birth control. As soon as your periods start up again you need to use another form of birth control.

Answer 10

I don't know what the chances are but here is a link to a great site that can give you the answers.



http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html


If you really don't want to get pregnant the Mirena IUD would be an excellent choice of birth control.