How can I tell if I am pregnant again While still breastfeeding?

Question

I am breastfeeding my 5 month year old almost exclusivly. But I do know that it is not a failsafe birthcontrol. Right now I am starting to feel like I have an increased appitiete and feel very sleepy and crampy sometimes. I can not rely on other signs such as tender breasts cause they always are from the breastfeeding. I do not want to keep buying expensive tests everytime i get paranoid. Anyone go through this before?

Answer 1

Your chance of becoming pregnant while exclusively breastfeeding a baby under 6 mo is low, however it does happen. Do you have a pregnancy center near you? There are many places to go to get a free pregnancy test. I would not advise buying the cheap dollar store ones. I tried that a few times about a year ago and I now have a four month old. I was breastfeeding my youngest daughter and felt some symptoms - nausea, loss of appetite, excessive tiredness, and took two tests.They came up negative. So, I stopped worrying, shortly after I felt movement! All my friends laugh and say I had the shortest pregnancy ever! I kick myself for not trusting my instincts. I tried the natural family planning, but couldn't get the hang of it. I have 4 children now and I got pregnant while breastfeeding every time (they are 21 mo apart, except #4 he is only 20 mo apart) I never started my period, so I didn't have that to go by. There were some changes in the babies nursing patterns though, so you may want to watch for that. Other than that trust your body and listen to what it is telling you. If you do not want another baby right now, I highly recommend using another form of birth control. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Some women can actually get pregnant easier while breastfeeding! So its very possible that you are pregnant again. They now have those digital pregnancy test out where you just buy the heads. Its more expensive the first time you buy it but the heads are cheaper than buying new tests everytime! That way you can save time and money. I know ClearBlue has one out but Im not sure of other brands. I am pretty sure you can buy then just about anywhere, walmart, walgreens and so on. It may be something to look into, i mean you really cant go wrong. You are going to need it in the future at some point and this way it will save you some money and time! Good luck and use protection!

Answer 3

I would take a test and if it's negative and you are still having these symptoms after a week test again.
And you could always get a blood test from your OB ;-)
But I agree with the answerer about sometimes you do get an increase in appetite because baby is taking more in and your body could be reacting to the supply/demand issue of nursing.
Dollar Stores have pregnancy test and work just fine too, if you want to keep them handy for just in case.
Oh and you may just be starting your period? I know that at 5 months with my second I felt like this for two weeks, even though I was exclusively nursing and them my period began.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Not personally, but it absolutely is possible. If you ovulated you may have become pregnant. You may not have "had your period" because the egg was fertilized.

I've got a friend who's had 2 children w/out having a period. Of her 4, #s 2 & 3 were conceived while breastfeeding and not having a period. She thought she was safe!! She now does a form of natural family planning so she knows when she's ovulating and can ban her husband from the bedroom- I think she'd prefer to leave it at 4 and not make it 5!!

Take a test either way!!

that being said, tandem nursing is great... you don't have to stop breastfeeding one when another is coming, especially at little 5 month old!!
http://lalecheleague.org/FAQ/bfpregnant.html

a great book for tandem nursing:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tandem-Nursing-Breastfeeding-Pregnancy/dp/0912500972

Answer 5

I did. I breastfed exclusively for a year. I bought a test every month just to be on the safe side. When my period returned after 12 months, I was elated but I still tested occasionally because my continued breastfeeding (I nursed her for 21 months) messed up my cycles, I didn't ovulate. You really can't rely on any symptoms while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding takes it's toll on the body and causes things like increased appetite and definitely cramping because of the hormone it releases.

It did help to chart my cycles, but I still tested monthly just to be sure. Walmart sells Equate tests for $4 a box for one test.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is NOT birth control at all. You can get pregnant while breastfeeding....get on another form of birth control if you don't want to get pregnant. My other comment then is if you ARE pregnant I'm assuming you would keep it so just wait it out, it will show itself sooner or later and then you will know, if you don't want to get a pregnancy test. You are playng roulette if you are relying on breastfeeding as your source of birth control. I'm not only speaking as a nurse but as a woman that was pregnant within 6 weeks of giving birth to a previous child AND breastfeeding.

Answer 7

Have you had your period? That would indicate that you are ovulating. I breastfed my daughter, and when she was only 1 month old, I got my periods back. ---Regarding expensive pregnancy tests, I was surprised to notice that they sell pregnancy tests in the .99 store! they are right next to the .99 condoms. at that price, you could afford to be paranoid and use them whenever you want. i don't know how reliable they are, but they might be fine. if you have decent medical insurance, they can give you a blood test that will tell you one week after conception.

Answer 8

I wouldn't know. I was breastfeeding my youngest but I was a single mom. But I hear the you can still get pregnant while breastfeeding. I would say wait till you miss a month of your period ( if you still get one) at times you don't get periods back when you breastfeed. But wait it out and if you miss a month then take a pregnancy test. Go to a wal-mart store adn they off brand pregnancy test and they are cheaper.

Answer 9

Testing is the only way to know, sorry. You may have increased appetite because of the babys needs changing. Your milk will changte to meet your babys need so YOUR dietary needs will change.

Answer 10

take a test