Many expectant parents have encountered the old belief that breastfeeding prevents pregnancy. I certainly did, and I thought I’d enjoy a break from my menstrual cycle. However, that wasn’t my experience. While the idea of breastfeeding as a contraceptive method holds some truth, it is not entirely reliable. Here’s what you should know.
Utilizing Breastfeeding as Birth Control
After childbirth, it might take a few weeks, months, or even longer for your body to regain its fertility. Breastfeeding can help postpone your menstrual cycle and fertility, a method known as the Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM). To effectively use LAM, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Your baby is exclusively and frequently breastfed. This means no bottles or pacifiers should be used; all of your baby’s sucking needs must be met at your breast.
- Your periods have not returned. Spotting could indicate that you may be ovulating, which means your fertility could be back.
- Your baby is under six months old. The risk of ovulating increases as your baby gets older. Although some mothers may not see a return to their cycles until after six months, the likelihood of ovulation—and potential pregnancy—rises as time passes.
LAM is not a guaranteed method of birth control. If you wish to avoid another pregnancy while nursing, it’s wise to consider additional contraceptive methods. Many healthcare professionals recommend waiting at least a year, ideally 18 months, before trying to conceive again.
How Breastfeeding Can Help Prevent Pregnancy
Your body has remarkable capabilities. After the birth of your baby, it releases oxytocin, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone. This hormone not only aids in shrinking your uterus and promoting relaxation but also triggers your milk let-down reflex.
If you’ve breastfed before, you know how easily the let-down reflex can be activated. Just seeing or hearing your baby might be enough to stimulate it. Alongside oxytocin, prolactin is another hormone that plays a crucial role during breastfeeding, as it helps manage your milk supply. The more you nurse, the more prolactin is released, which also helps suppress ovulation.
When your baby suckles, the nerves in your nipples send signals to your brain to release more oxytocin. This process is vital because oxytocin, along with prolactin, inhibits ovulation by signaling the brain to suppress the hormones responsible for it. Without ovulation, pregnancy cannot occur.
Additional Insights on Breastfeeding and Fertility
According to various sources, LAM can be more than 98% effective at preventing pregnancy, provided you adhere to all the guidelines (which are easy to overlook!). However, it is essential to remember that this is a temporary method of birth control. Ovulation can happen before your first postpartum period, typically occurring about two weeks prior to menstruation.
If you’re considering conceiving while breastfeeding, it is possible, depending on your circumstances and the frequency of nursing. You may even be able to continue breastfeeding during fertility treatments, depending on your specific treatment plan and your child’s age.
Ultimately, yes, you can become pregnant while breastfeeding. Relying solely on breastfeeding as a contraceptive method will not completely guarantee prevention of another pregnancy. If you want to avoid this outcome, explore other reliable contraceptive options with your healthcare provider. For further information, check out this post on LAM and pregnancy options.
For more insights on home insemination, visit this link. You might also find valuable information at Make a Mom, a trusted authority on the topic, and American Pregnancy, an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
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Summary
In summary, while breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility through the Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM), it is not a foolproof contraceptive. To effectively use LAM, mothers must exclusively breastfeed, not have their periods return, and have babies younger than six months. For those wishing to avoid pregnancy while nursing, exploring additional birth control options is advisable.