How soon can you get pregnant after having a baby?

[Aowyn]

I am curious about this because I had my boy months ago and still no monthly visitor has graced me with it's presence. I have been nursing and the nurses said it could be months before I get my period again. But I am also supplementing and was told that it would probobly show up soon...this was over a month ago. So I am wondering how soon is it possible...I really don't need another baby right now. I have no reason other than the lack of my period to think I might be pregnant and like I said they told me it might not show up for a while but now I am getting a little antsy....anyway I am babbling please your thoughts and knowledge regarding this would be very helpful!!! :confused:
I hope no body spilled anymore of that babydust on me...don't think i could handle it if they did right now

[DianaStormDancer]

you can concieve very quickly after having a baby.....I know from personal experience here. Even when you are still nursing and havnt gotten your cycle back it is possible to concieve. Be careful...use protection. My Mother in law had 4 of her 6 children 11 mos apart............she concieved the first time everytime after those pregnancies.

[LadyTrinity]

asap

[Aowyn]

EEEK! I am afraid if I am cause I had a Csection....and am sure that could pose a problem if I got pregnant too soon.

[morrigen]

Mine didn't come back till my little one was 13 months old...and I didn't miss it one little bit :D

But yes, even though you haven't got a period yet, you can still get pregnant, so use protection.

[Bec_W]

Is it common for your period not to return for months after giving birth?

[Aine of the Fae]

It's very common, especially when breast-feeding for you to go months without your period being normal, or even having it at all. However, as everyone else has stated, yes, you can still get pregnant.

[AbyssRose]

you can concieve very quickly after having a baby.....I know from personal experience here. Even when you are still nursing and havnt gotten your cycle back it is possible to concieve. Be careful...use protection. My Mother in law had 4 of her 6 children 11 mos apart............she concieved the first time everytime after those pregnancies.


well, i have heard you can get pregnant soon after having a baby.. if your worried sweetie just go take a test or have you already done that?? hope it turns out okay..or the way you want it to!

[HorseCrow]

Breastfeeding is not fully contraceptive and you can get pregnant from day 1 that you resume your sexual activity.
Do a test- a pregnancy this close to a c-section needs proffesional attention ASAP!

Best of luck :)

[Temair]

Technically, you can get pregnant within a few days. I know that some women have had children 9 months apart. Typically, I haven't gotten a period until my kids started eating solid foods, so it is quite normal, but breastfeeding isn't foolproof contraceptive. Remember, a period means the opportunity was already there and passed, which means you can get pregnant BEFORE your first period. Yes, go get tested and then start using protection. There are many options, even if you don't want to use the pill. I am on Depo Provera myself and I love it.

[Aowyn]

We are taking precautions and I plan on getting a test this week thanks

[Morr]

i know my grandmother got pregnant with my aunt 3 months after she had my uncle...
i had a friend whos brother was concieved like 2 months after she was born too..

[HorseCrow]

One of my friends has two brothers, and the three of them are apart by 9, 10 and 10 months (you'd have thunk the mother had learned from the first time huh?).

[Autumn]

Everyone is a little different...Many times if you have been exclusively breastfeeding you get a little warning with a scant period before you ovulate the first time, but this is far from universal...If you are feeding anything but breastmilk from your breast(not pump and bottle) and you are not co-sleeping you should use precautions. especially if pregnancy would be a BAD idea.

On the other hand if you want to know how breastfeeding prevents pregnancy and spaces children you can go look at this book... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0926412205/qid=1093747232/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl14/102-0147564-8412977?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Starpixie]

With my first child I didn't breastfeed(he refused). I didn't get my period until 3 and a half months after I had him.
My second son I nursed for a year and then two months after I waened him I was pregnant again. It all depends on the person. I would say if you don't want another right now then to be very careful! :)

[Ravyn Sylverwyng]

I must have been one of the few that do get a period directly after having a baby. I always started my period right after I had my babies, and I do mean right after. I would two weeks of discharge from the delivery followed by my usual period. So, I would say that you can get pregnant as soon as you stop from delivery. So, I would be very cautious.

[Autumn]

So, what has happened so far?

[fantasy]

I've always heard you can have a baby and within weeks your pregnant with the next. My grandmother could probably back me on this one :) So be careful!

[Ceres]

its prolly to late for answering this thread, but i will add my two cents anyway: according the "breastfeeding and natural child spacing" by sheila kipley it is IMPOSSIBLE to get pregnant if u are exclusively nursing for that period, for 56 days after the birth. after 56 days, it is possible, but not likely, to ovulate first and get your first period second. in other words, in most cases, u will get a warning. after 6 monthes, u nearly always ovulate first then get your period, so there is not usually any warning. it is not unusual to also get a anovular period about 10 weeks after the birth that has nothing to do with ovulation and is followed by the usual lack of menstration, which on average, lasts one year.
in my time as an active breastfeeding counsellor, i didnt see a single mother whose experience deviated from this pattern unless they were supplementing, which most of them didnt. co sleeping also contributes to this lack of menstuation.
its also estimated (WHO i think) breastfeeding prevents more pregnancies worldwide every year than any other form of birth control. so, yes it can be tricky, and u wouldnt count on it unless it werent a tragedy to become pregnant, but it can be used as effectively as any other form of birth control, PROVIDED YOU KNOW WHEN U OVULATE.
Theresa

[HorseCrow]

its also estimated (WHO i think) breastfeeding prevents more pregnancies worldwide every year than any other form of birth control.

True- but it needs to be added that those numbers exist only because breastfeeding is the only form of birth control available to women in the 3rd world, living in poverty.

[misschief]

my doctor always told me the first 3 months after giving birth are very fertile.

[Ceres]

True- but it needs to be added that those numbers exist only because breastfeeding is the only form of birth control available to women in the 3rd world, living in poverty.
yet their babies average a spacing of approximately a three year span, in spite of this being the only form of birth control available.

[Ceres]

my doctor always told me the first 3 months after giving birth are very fertile.
i imagine they are when pregnancy isnt followed by exclusive breastfeeding. women are also very fertile in the time immediately after having a miscarriage, so it stands to reason that what u say is true at any point at which the normal pregnancy/breastfeeding continuum is interrupted. pregnancy and breastfeeding are part of one cycle and any interruptions are going to create a backlash hormonally speaking.

i hadnt thought of it that way before ladyleo, thanks for the insight.

[FieryChyld]

you can get it almost immediatly. and don't worry about the missed cycle i just gave birth and i still dont have mine and i am happy. though you still must use protection because it is possible for you to get pregnant :fpeace:

[FaerieGothMommy]

If you are nursing, it is extremley common not to have a period for months! My son is 3 1/2 months and i've still not had a period.. if you're worried, take a preggie test :)

[Ceres]

scientists theorize thats its actually unhealthy to be mentruating constantly. our bodies were designed to go thru contant cyles of pregnancy and lactation both of which supress menstruation. its an interesting idea...but i am not going to keep having babies or artificially minimize my periods with birth control pills to find out!