Could I get pregnant while breastfeeding?

Question

I'm not on any birth control. My hubby and I started having sex ten weeks after our daughter is born. We're on the pulling out method. I haven't got my period since I gave birth three months ago. Is there a possibilities? Plus, my milk seems to be getting lesser and lesser... and I have been having mild cramps and food cravings.

Answer 1

i know that while you are breastfeeding you normally wont get your pd, so that could be the reasoning for not getting it. your cramps are most likely normal as well, that happens with the shrinking of your uteris, which happens more quickly if you breastfeed. the food cravings are probably bc you are just hungrier than normal, you need to eat about 500 extra calories if you are breastfeeding.

if you are seriously worried you need to take a pregnancy test or talk to your obgyn - you can still get pregnant while breastfeeding but it's not so commen.

Answer 2

While breastfeeding and pulling out aren't 100% reliable birth control methods, I do think that the combination of the 2 will lessen your chances...

I did not have a period for 6 months while I was breastfeeding my 1st child. Then we went on vacation and my schedule got messed up, so I bled just a little bit (barely worth calling a period) and then went right back to not having one so I thought everything was fine. I didn't realize until 10 weeks later that I was pregnant with my 2nd child. They are 14 months apart.

As far as pulling out, that has worked for us too. I had stopped my birth control (because of side-effects) in Sept 06 and didn't get pregnant with our 3rd child until April 07 the very first time he accidentally stayed in.

Answer 3

YES YES YES

Withdrawal is only second in safety to a broken condom. Usually women don't get their period while breastfeeding. That your milk is lessening could be due to stress, not enough nourishment for you, smoking, alcohol, or just not enough fluids to keep yourself hydrated let alone the baby. Mild cramps could be anything, but shouldn't indicate pregnancy. Food cravings ... you need more nourishment.

If you wish to keep breastfeeding, get advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do some research on breastfeeding and natural conception prevention. Better late than never, but please do lots of research before the next one does come along.

(To be truthful, I wish I would have become pregnant when I was breastfeeding. The whole thing seems so much more natural in human nature. However, I was very diligent and successful with natural conception prevention, and only got pregnant when it planned.)

Answer 4

My mother was a standing member of Le Leche League and I am one of ten kids so I know this for a fact. You CAN get pregnant while breast feeding. Some people think that breast feeding is a natural birth control because it is an urban myth that has been passed down and not important enough to the scientific world to disprove loudly. I would definitely schedule an appointment with your doctor. Also, after you have had a baby your body does things that may have similar signs to being pregnant and your seemingly not making milk could be anything. Good luck!

Answer 5

Yes you can get pregnant while you are breastfeeding because you ovulate before you get your period. If you are only breastfeeding, no supplementing at all your chances of being pregnant are significantly less. However if you do supplement it is very possible that you could be pregnant. Especially if you are using the pulling out method, because your husband releases sperm even before he comes. So if you want to prevent pregnancy this is not a good method.

You said your milk supply is decreasing...Have you changed your feeding patterns? Are you well hydrated?

The only way you are going to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a test.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

sorry hunny. but your method on 'pulling out' isn't any form of birth control. you can still get pregnant due to 'pre-c*m' from him. while it is harder to get pregnant while breastfeeding-it isn't an unknown thing to happen. breastfeeding minimizes your chances of becoming preggo while doing so but, like i said, it isn't 100%. weather you're had your period or not you are still VERY fertile a few months after having a child. i would speak to your dr or get a home test and make sure for yourself...meanwhile-use condoms or there are low-dose contraceptive pills that you could be put on as well as the IUD (that lasts either 5 or 10 years!) too...atleast use SOMETHING other than pulling out if you aren't interested in having another child right away.

good luck hun! i sincerely hope all works out for you!

X3

Answer 7

YES! If you want to use breastfeeding as your family planning method, it must be exclusive. Also, many women don't get their periods for several months while breastfeeding. Go and have a chat with your doc. about it, and perhaps get a pregnancy test to make sure and put your mind at ease. I did use exclusive breastfeeding as my method after both my kids. After 6 months when I introduced other foods, we used condoms during the "unsafe" times. My kids are exactly 2 years apart, as planned. But there are always exceptions.

Answer 8

Yes you can... I have an aunt who has 6 kids and the oldest is 7... suffice to say none of them came out in the same day and the "pulling out" method is not really birth control. Especially if you are doing it a few times in a row because sperm can live for a while outside of the body....

Answer 9

Yes, you can get pregnant both while breastfeeding, and using the "pulling out" method. My sister breast fed her kids for a couple of years each to avoid getting pregnant -- SHE HAS SIX KIDS NOW! I don't know if you have religious objections or what, but you should really get some birth control.

Answer 10

Pulling out is NOT a birth control method, I got pregnant that way. And yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding, because that either is a birth control method.