Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Can You Get Pregnant If Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding gives your child a healthy start in life, saves money on formula and baby foods and some women use it as natural birth control. But is this method effective?

Ovulation

    You can get pregnant while breastfeeding. Because your period can return at any time, you will ovulate two weeks before it arrives. This can happen while you are breastfeeding.

Time Frame

    Your period may remain in remission for months after giving birth, or it may return within weeks, even if you are breastfeeding. Some nursing mothers may go a year or more before seeing their periods return.

Frequency

    The amount of time it takes for your period to return depends on your body, how much your baby nurses and if you are supplementing with formula. Generally, women who breastfeed exclusively and who have babies who feed frequently throughout the night and day will see their period return later than others.

Birth Control Pills

    Be aware that combination birth control pills contain estrogen, which can reduce your milk production. However, you can take the progestin-only pill instead. This is commonly referred to as a mini-pill.

Other methods

    Birth control that won't affect your milk production includes condoms and a diaphragm.

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