In the people there are many different myths that relate to the field of medicine. Well, if not myths, then conjectures and conjectures for sure. Now I want to talk about whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding and whether breastfeeding is a contraceptive.
Basic about female anatomy
Postpartum adaptation period for women is an average of 8 weeks. It is during this period of time that the lady's uterus decreases to its usual size, and the body is completely reoriented to breastfeeding. Can menstruation begin during this period? And, as a result, can pregnancy occur? It is these questions that most often worry young mothers.
First period after childbirth
Before you figure out whether it is possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding with menstruation, you need to understand exactly when these discharges can begin. So, this is due to multiple factors:
- The process of childbirth is important (whether it was a caesarean section or the birth was natural),whether there were complications.
- Features of the hormonal background.
- The state of the female reproductive system.
- And, of course, breastfeeding itself: the baby is breastfeeding or not, how often feeding occurs, etc.
If a young mother for some reason does not breastfeed her baby, then her first period may begin approximately 12-13 weeks after birth. If the baby is on breastfeeding, then, due to the increased production of prolactin, a special hormone, the first menstruation begins much later.
First period and breastfeeding
As noted above, the first spotting in nursing mothers appears later than 11 weeks after birth. Time is very individual, and, again, depends on many factors:
- From the frequency of attachment of the baby to the breast. That is, if the baby is exclusively breastfed, the cycle is likely to be restored only after the end of lactation.
- With mixed feeding, things are a little different. After the introduction of complementary foods, periods can begin as soon as possible.
However, it should be noted that the cycle can be restored with regular breastfeeding. It all depends on the time intervals between breastfeeding. The larger they are, the higher the chance of menstruation.
A little about pregnancy
Everyone knows that for pregnancy a woman must haveregular menstrual cycle. That is why so much time was devoted to the story of his restoration. After all, you can only get pregnant when a woman ovulates. And it can come at any moment and very imperceptibly for a young mother. So the answer to the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding should in any case be positive. If we talk about average indicators, then within three months after the cessation of lactation, menstruation should resume. If this does not happen, it is best to seek help from a doctor.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
And now it's time to figure out if you can get pregnant while breastfeeding. After all, this is a frequently asked question. And, besides, this is often discussed by women in various forums and in personal conversations. So, in order to protect young mothers from wrong actions and misinformation, I would like to tell you whether it is possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding. As noted above, the moment of conception can occur only in the presence of ovulation. And for this it is necessary that the menstrual cycle is restored.
Minimal chance of getting pregnant
Experts also note that you can try to reduce the chance of pregnancy with HB to a minimum. But for this you have to follow simple rules:
- Low chance of getting pregnant - for those mothers who feed the baby not by the clock, but on demand. And the child does not eat anything at all,except for mother's milk, she does not even drink water. So, on average, the baby should receive either 6 long feedings, or 10 short ones. The interval between breastfeeding should not exceed 5 hours.
- If the baby is over 7 months old, you need to start using protection. After all, it is time for the baby to introduce complementary foods, respectively, much less milk will be produced, the hormone prolactin will not be so active. At this time, the chance of a new pregnancy increases significantly.
No period and pregnancy
Many moms ask doctors a question: is it possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding if there is no menstruation? Can. After all, as noted above, this requires ovulation. And the first she appears exactly before the start of spotting. That is, menstruation is preceded by ovulation. That's when the risk of unwanted pregnancy appears. Young mothers should not forget: even if there have not been periods after childbirth, this does not mean that the probability of conception is low.
Frequent feeding and periods
Understanding whether it is possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding, you need to tell more about why it happens that conception occurs. All thanks to a special hormonal background. So, the hormone prolactin, of course, suppresses ovulation. However, at a certain concentration An invisible line is crossed when this hormone is no longer able to restrain the follicle-stimulating hormone. This is not even able to affect frequent applications. Although they are, but this stimulation for the femalethe body is already completely insufficient.
Caesarean section, breastfeeding and pregnancy
Separately, it is also necessary to talk about whether it is possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding after a caesarean section. Indeed, today a lot of young mothers give birth to children in this way. So, in this case, there are practically no differences. That's just the recovery period of the female body can be slightly delayed. After all, the process of childbirth occurred in an unnatural way. That is why mothers whose babies were born as a result of caesarean section should also pay attention to contraception during breastfeeding.
Short deadlines
Sometimes women are interested in the question: "Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding a month after giving birth?" First of all, it must be recalled that the process of restoring the uterus is delayed for 5 weeks after the birth of the baby. That is, this most important female organ will not even be able to return to normal yet. If during childbirth there were some complications, the mother had ruptures, then during the first month of the baby’s life, the lady is not recommended to have sexual intercourse at all. But still, is it possible to get pregnant during this period with active breastfeeding? The chance is very low, but still there. Therefore, it is best to protect yourself.
Breastfeeding and periods
Having figured out whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding, I would like to tell you more about the feeding itself. So, in this difficult period for a woman, it is not worth giving up breastfeeding a baby. After all, onthe taste of milk, these features that occur in the mother's body do not affect at all. That is, the child, in fact, will not even understand that something is wrong. The only thing is that the unstable state of the mother's nervous system can be transmitted to the baby. But it can be successfully de alt with.
Breastfeeding and new pregnancy
It became clear whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. But what about GV if conception occurred again? Doctors say that lactation pregnancy is not a hindrance. That is, you can successfully feed the first child and bear the second. But do not forget that all the most necessary and useful will go to the fetus. After all, it is laid down by nature itself. So the need for breastfeeding as the he althiest food simply disappears. An alternative is to start taking vitamins. But all this must be agreed with the obstetrician-gynecologist.
Symptoms of a new pregnancy
Having explained whether it is possible to get pregnant with breastfeeding if there is menstruation, I also want to talk about how a mother can understand if conception has occurred. So, there is a complex of special symptoms. First of all, you need to look at the reaction of the baby. During a new pregnancy, mom's milk will change in taste. So if the baby began to eat worse or refused to breastfeed at all, an urgent need to take a pregnancy test.
What can a woman feel? What indicators can appear here?
- Milk production is declining. After all, the body throws all its forces onmaintaining a new life.
- A young mother's breasts may swell, there is some swelling. This is a sure sign not only of coming menstruation, but also of a new pregnancy.
- Delayed menstruation, if they have already been after childbirth.
- During breastfeeding, the uterus of a young mother contracts. But if such movements become more frequent, this is an occasion to take a pregnancy test.
- Other indicators that are also inherent in pregnant mothers who do not feed a child: toxicosis, nausea, loss of appetite, frequent urination, etc.
Contraception while breastfeeding
As it has already become clear, in any case, you need to protect yourself. After all, the LAM method, that is, lactational amenorrhea, is not 100% effective. Alternatively, you can use condoms, install an IUD - an intrauterine device, take mini-pills. But you need to remember: pills should not contain hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
