Postpartum Period Return: Understanding Menstruation After Childbirth

Question
I am 29 years old and had my first child on February 23, 2005. She is 7 months old now. I am still breastfeeding 3 times a day, and pumping at night and in the morning to make a bottle for my husband to feed her before bedtime. She has been on solids for a month, gradually increasing her food intake. She has slept through the night without a wakeup feeding since mid-May (3 months old). I have not gotten my menstrual period yet, but I have been on the mini pill since approx 6-8 weeks after her birth. I must admit that I have not always remembered to take the pill at the same time every day, but do take it as soon as I remember. From what I have read, the menstrual cycle usually starts if you are not regularly feeding every 4-6 hours. I usually pump around 10:30pm at night and her first feed is usually around 7:00am. And she can go mor than 6 hrs without breastmild throughout the day, since solids have been introduced. How likely can I get pregnant before my first period? When should I expect to get my first period?

Thanks,
Jenn Feist

Answer
Often, a women will not resume her normal menstrual cycle while she is nursing or even for up to one year after weaning the baby from the breast.  However, even if you have not started your period, you may have ovulated and can conceive if you have unprotected sexual intercourse. Most of the time, breastfeeding is a "natural contraceptive" and you will not become pregnant while nursing, exclusively. However, once you supplement a bottle with breastfeeding, you may, indeed, ovulate and can conceive. If you are nursing, I would continue using the progesterone-only birth control pill (mini-pill) to prevent pregnancy. Once you stop nursing completely, I would suggest switching to a full combination estrogen/progesterone birth control pill. It has a better efficacy rate in preventing pregnancy.