Question For The Ladies...

[Guhlia]

We just had a baby three months ago. We certainly were't trying to get pregnant again, but we weren't being super careful either. I got my period a few days after unprotected sex. This was my first period since giving birth to my daughter. I really wasn't expecting to get one so soon after birth. Anyway, it was relatively normal, but now I haven't gotten another period. I was expecting to get it like a week and a half ago. How regular are you normally after child birth? After Tori I was regular right away, as soon as I started menstruating again. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative, but I didn't register positive with Annika either until I was like 3 weeks late or more. Is it normal to be irregular or should I be calling my doctor? I really, really, really want another baby, but my husband doesn't and frankly, I'm not ready yet and I'm afraid my body isn't ready either since I just had a c-section 3 months ago. I'm almost afraid to find out...

[Fiddle-Faddle]

The advice my OB/GYN gave me was " If you feel like "doing it" within 6 months after having a baby, that's a 100% guarantee that you are ovulating."

I'm sorry, but I think you'll have to wait out those three weeks to find out. Hormones fluctuate after having a baby, and breastfeeding (as you may have found out) is NOT reliable birth control.

My sister-in-law has a younger sister only 10 months younger. Since I didn't stop bleeding for nearly a month after childbirth, and couldn't sit without pain for nearly 6 months, I don't see HOW her mom managed to get pregnant again so soon! (ouch)

[confused]

I know that many women i know are very irregular when breastfeeding, so i wouldnt worry to much that u are pg. Do you feel like you are pg, or about to get an period? Then being celiac and brest feeing i would think tht would make u even more irregualar. Also think of all the stress u are under right now could also make u irregular.

paula

[Michi8]

I was one of those lucky women who started ovulating "early" even though I was breastfeeding on demand. First baby my period started at 4 months, second baby it started at 2 months, third baby it started at 8 weeks. Of course one ovulates a couple of weeks preceding a period...so, essentially I would have been fertile 6 weeks after that third birth. I suspect if I were to have a fourth baby, my period would start again immediately after birth!

My cycles are regular as well, they vary slightly in length...and now, there are the odd times when it seems wonked out, but I attribute that to aging...especially since my youngest is 5yo now.

If you are pregnant, then obviously your body is ready. Your incisions should be fully healed at around 6 weeks and will not get any stronger over time. Pregnancy would be taxing, because your still likely healing from pregnancy and birth, but it wouldn't be dangerous.

Michelle

[Guhlia]

I'm almost two weeks late and the second pregnancy test was negative as well. I'm just going to assume that I'm not pregnant at this point. I mean, I'm already taking prenatals and eating healthy since I'm breastfeeding. If I start to notice a bump I guess I'll get tested. lol There's not too much I could do now anyway, its a little late for protection. I'll be happy either way. Now that I've had time to digest the possibility (and thanks to you guys) I'm not really too stressed about it.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Keep us posted!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

There's not too much I could do now anyway, its a little late for protection.

You might want to use birth control just in case you are NOT pregnant--that is, if you would prefer having a bit more space between babies!

[Glutenfreefamily]

You can take the mini pill and bf once your sure your not pg if you want to. Its not as effective as the full bcp but it is a little more protection.

[CarlaB]

The chances of not getting pregnant during the first six months of breastfeeding (if it's 100%) is in the 90% range ... mid 90's I believe.

Also, most women get a "warning" period before they ovulate. At this point, you need to consider yourself fertile.

My guess is your period is still irregular, and that's why you haven't had another .... but that's just an educated guess, and the previous are just statistics ... you could be pregnant, but I'm betting you're not.

[Guhlia]

Thanks guys. I really don't feel pregnant. And you know what, if I were it would be a blessing I suppose. My husband doesn't want another baby (I do), so I guess if it happens it was meant to be.

[Glutenfreefamily]

Then you want one Just wait and see what happens, especially after solids are introduced at six months it could easily happen. Good Luck My sister was the same way but I dont ask her that now with 3 under 3 years old Her answer might have changed with a 3 year old, an almost 2 year old and a newborn.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

The chances of not getting pregnant during the first six months of breastfeeding (if it's 100%) is in the 90% range ... mid 90's I believe.

Also, most women get a "warning" period before they ovulate. At this point, you need to consider yourself fertile.

I've read this, also, but I don't believe that it is accurate. I know too many breastefeeding moms who got pregnant within the first THREE months of breastfeeding! (Ask my neighbor down the street--she had a daughter, then 10 motnhs later she had a son, then 14 months after that, twins.

Only the daughter was planned. She had been told how unlikely it would be to get pregnant or even ovulate while breastfeeding, too. And she did not have a period either time.

From bellybelly.com:

"It

[blueeyedmanda]

Thanks guys. I really don't feel pregnant. And you know what, if I were it would be a blessing I suppose. My husband doesn't want another baby (I do), so I guess if it happens it was meant to be.

Having a baby is such a blessing. We have started the family discussions and John would like to start trying very soon. I am so glad to hear that. I cannot wait to have a baby. I have always dreamed of the day I became a mom.

[CarlaB]

Allison, some women do get pregnant during the fist six months, but statistically studies show it's not likely if exclusively breastfeeding ...I'm not going to reference the studies, but the are available .... we all know women who have, but they fall into the smaller percentage who do ... we also all know women who have gotten pregnant on the Pill ... in fact, I know MORE of those than women getting pregnant the first few months breastfeeding.

I taught NFP for years and used to have the stats, but don't anymore, I'm sure they're online .... I also used to teach how to recognize fertility when it was returning, most but not all, have a warning period. Also, when you're ovulating, you will see cervical mucus, but if you are still having ammenorrhea, mucus will be scant.

But yeah, it's not 100% ....

[Guhlia]

Having a baby is such a blessing. We have started the family discussions and John would like to start trying very soon. I am so glad to hear that. I cannot wait to have a baby. I have always dreamed of the day I became a mom.

Amanda, I'm sure you already know this, but you will be such a wonderful mother! I'm excited for you. Having children is the most beautiful thing you can possibly do. I know you will love it.

[AndreaB]

For me I didn't start my cycle with my 1st one till she was 8 months old. Skipped a month and then became more regular again. With my 2nd it was around 13-14 months, so even though we were being careful I was doing pregnancy tests since I didn't know why it was so long. With my 3rd it was 11 months and a couple months after we had a 6 week cycle.

If I had to hazard a guess I'd say irregularity at this point. My last one wasn't planned, but much desired......that cycle would have been a 7 week cycle. This was all before finding out about gluten, soy and metals which were probably not helping me stay regular. My normal cycle used to be 5 weeks around that time. Now they are back to the 4 week range.

[Michi8]

Allison, some women do get pregnant during the fist six months, but statistically studies show it's not likely if exclusively breastfeeding ...I'm not going to reference the studies, but the are available .... we all know women who have, but they fall into the smaller percentage who do ... we also all know women who have gotten pregnant on the Pill ... in fact, I know MORE of those than women getting pregnant the first few months breastfeeding.

I think this is an area where the info needs updating...perhaps more studies need to be done. The information I have read is that far more women are able to achieve pregnancy during exclusive breastfeeding than once believed. Perhaps better nutrition has something to do with it? I know more women able to get pregnant while breastfeeding than those who had no cycles until many months after birth.

I breastfed 100% on-demand and exclusively until 6 months (solids intoduced at that point) with my babies (and breastfed each until 2, 2.5 and 2 years.) With my first, I had obvious signs of ovulation and then my period at 4 months. As I mentioned earlier, my cycles started earlier after each birth. I also get pregnant very easily, so being aware of my cycles was essential. I was able to time their conception even though I was breastfeeding...and continued to breastfeed until about 4 months into my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies.

I taught NFP for years and used to have the stats, but don't anymore, I'm sure they're online .... I also used to teach how to recognize fertility when it was returning, most but not all, have a warning period. Also, when you're ovulating, you will see cervical mucus, but if you are still having ammenorrhea, mucus will be scant.

I think that's a YMMV thing...mucus amounts vary from woman to woman, and whether or not she notices will depend on how in tune she is with her cycles and how much mucus there is during the rest of the cycle.

Michelle