Conceiving After Pregnancy While Breastfeeding: A Guide

Question
My son is 2 months old and my husband and I decided we want to have another baby so i can focus on kids and school, and then by the time i graduate they will start be in Pre-K.  How do I TTC if I am breastfeeding and don't know when i ovulate?  we really want another baby and I'm waiting for my insurance so i can't ask my OB.

Answer
Dear Sarah,

Your chances of conceiving while breastfeeding exclusively are very low. Breastfeeding is often nature's own method of birth control and usually women do not ovulate or have periods while exclusively breastfeeding. Most literature I've seen says that women who are breastfeeding exclusively have less than 5% (about 1-2%) chance of conceiving (unless menstruation has resumed). However, the more a breastfeeding woman supplements her infant with formula, the more likely she is to ovulate and thus become pregnant. This can occur even when no regular menstrual cycle occurs. But when a menstrual cycle does occur, the chances of pregnancy are obviously much higher because that means that you are ovulating.

Just as an added note, in the interest of being thorough... A study in the February 25, 1999, New England Journal of Medicine reported a higher incidence of low birthweight and prematurity among babies conceived within six months of a previous birth, compared to those conceived 18-23 months following the last baby. Following delivery, the mother may be slightly anemic because of the iron transferred to the baby and the placenta. In addition, a mother always loses blood during delivery. So allowing your body recover and replenish lost nutrients after having a baby would seem prudent to give the next pregnancy a firm footing to start out with.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda