How to Tell If You Are Pregnant While Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding decreases a woman's fertility, it is still possible to become pregnant while nursing. Taking a home pregnancy test is a definite way to confirm levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and therefore confirm a pregnancy. But there are signs that lactating mothers exhibit to tell of a pregnancy. Notable physical changes are hard to miss and offer the earliest clues that conception has occurred.

Instructions

1

Watch for changes in the breasts. Pay close attention to the nipples, as they will become very sore. (Soreness usually decreases as the pregnancy progresses.) Watch, too, for enlarged breasts. Note that this enlargement will be from the developing pregnancy, not necessarily breasts that are full of milk.

2

Pay attention to milk supply. Expect a reduction in milk supply in the early phase of pregnancy. (A change in hormones is the cause for this reduction.) Watch for the supply to reduce between the second and eighth week of conception. (This will continue through the end of the pregnancy.)

3

Look for changes in the breast milk appearance and consistency. Watch for breast milk to appear less white and more watery. Expect your nursing infant to notice a change in the way the breast milk tastes, as it takes on a colostrum-like composition. (These changes do not affect the nutritional value, but do encourage a natural transition to weaning, if the mother desires.)

4

Check your energy level. Take note that taking care of a newborn may not be the sole source of exhaustion. According to the website Women's Health, being overly tired is often a strong indicator of pregnancy, especially in the first few weeks after conception.