Is it possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding: signs of lactation and breastfeeding during pregnancy. Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding a child: answering a difficult question

The birth of a baby brings great joy to the young mother and father. Sometimes they are so absorbed in communicating with the child and do not even think about intimate life. In addition, many are afraid of the risk of re-pregnancy while breastfeeding.

The experiences that arise in this case are quite understandable and justified: a woman who has recently given birth may worry that her body has not yet recovered from previous births, and besides, she wants to devote all her time to the born baby.

Friends and relatives can confidently assert that during lactation the probability of becoming pregnant is negligible or even zero. Is it really? Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

What is the chance of pregnancy during lactation?

For some, the argument in favor of the inability to get pregnant for a nursing mother is the absence of menstruation. In other words, pregnancy is impossible if menstruation has not resumed. Basically, it is.

The body of a woman is arranged as follows: during lactation, prolactin, a hormone that blocks the maturation of the follicle, is actively secreted in her pituitary gland. As a result of this process, ovulation does not occur, and, consequently, the pregnancy itself.

Why does pregnancy sometimes occur?

Often there are cases when you can get pregnant while breastfeeding. The first ovulation after childbirth occurs before the onset of menstruation. If, without seeing signs of menstruation, a woman continues to live an unprotected sex life, an egg that has matured during ovulation can be safely fertilized without the knowledge of her mistress.

It often happens that a young mother finds out about a second pregnancy already at a fairly long time, when the baby's movements are already well felt. This can happen if pregnancy occurred during the first ovulation, there was no menstruation, and the woman does not even suspect what happened in her body. She believes that there are still no periods, because the body has not yet returned to normal after childbirth, but in fact they are absent due to a new pregnancy.

When is the lactational amenorrhea method effective?

To prevent fertilization during lactation, it is important to strictly observe certain conditions:

  1. Feed the child not according to the regimen, but on demand.
  2. The diet of the baby should consist only of mother's milk. That is, supplementary feeding with mixtures, complementary foods with new foods and drinking should be completely absent.
  3. The mother must feed the child with her milk from the moment of his birth.
  4. The frequency of feeding should be at least 6 times in 24 hours.
  5. Mom and her baby should be healthy and feel good.

If these conditions are not met, the risk of pregnancy is very high. It is important to take into account the characteristics of the female body and resort to safe methods of contraception, since relying on natural lactation is unreliable.

Symptoms of pregnancy during lactation

Considering how imperceptibly conception can occur for a breastfeeding woman, it is useful to know the main signs.

From the side of the child:

During pregnancy, mother's milk changes its structure, it can become different in taste and texture. Not every kid likes these changes.

When a mother notices that her baby is not eating well or refuses milk at all, while feeling good, she should check if she is pregnant.

From mom's side:

  • If a new pregnancy occurs during feeding, the body begins to take care of it. It actively works to support the emerging life and therefore reduces the resources spent on lactation. As a result, milk may not be produced as actively as before, and in smaller quantities.
  • When a woman notices soreness, swelling, swelling of the breast (while injuries and improper attachment of the baby are excluded) - this is a sure sign of pregnancy.
  • In the event that menstruation has already resumed, but at the moment there has been a delay, it is worth resorting to using a pregnancy test.
  • When a woman is breastfeeding, her uterus may contract periodically. This is fine. But if she notices that contractions have become more frequent and intense, this is an occasion to check her condition.
  • Also, the pregnancy of a nursing woman may be accompanied by the same symptoms as those of a non-lactating woman (the so-called toxicosis of pregnant women). If nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, loss of appetite, back pain and the like are observed, pregnancy should be checked.

What contraceptives are safe?

So, can you get pregnant while breastfeeding? The answer is unambiguous - you can. If this is not in the plans of new parents, they need to be careful. It is worth consulting with your gynecologist what method of protection is best to use.

In general, it is safe for a child to use the following contraceptives:

  • condoms
  • IUD (intrauterine device)
  • injections
  • implants
  • mini pili
  • sterilization

Do not use contraceptives, which include hormones (progesterone and estrogen).

It is important to remember that none of the proposed methods of contraception can guarantee 100% protection. Yet they are more reliable than the lactational amenorrhea method.

When is the best time to plan your next pregnancy?

Perhaps the baby's mom and dad are not at all opposed to having a brother or sister. Most likely, they will gladly accept the news of such an imminent conception. It is wonderful.

Nevertheless, doctors recommend not to rush with the next child for some time after childbirth. If you wait until the born baby gets stronger, receiving all the necessary vitamins and minerals from the mother, this will have a good effect on both his health and the health of the mother and the next baby.

The ideal time for re-pregnancy is 2-4 years after childbirth. During this period, the woman's body will recover, replenish the reserves of necessary substances and will be ready to support a new life.

Many young mothers are sure: while you are breastfeeding a newborn, a new pregnancy cannot occur by definition. However, thousands of cases of unwanted pregnancies after childbirth are known, while lactation is still preserved. So is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding and how to prevent an unplanned pregnancy?

Breastfeeding is a physiological method of contraception

Already in the early postpartum period, as soon as the first attachment of the newborn to the mother's breast has occurred, hormonal changes occur in the woman's body. The hormones that support pregnancy and childbirth are replaced by hormones that start the process of milk production in the mammary glands.

The sucking movements of the child's lips reflexively cause the release of a large amount of the hormone prolactin. Transient hyperprolactinemia causes physiological amenorrhea in a nursing mother, which is a reliable method of contraception.

Important! Pregnancy after childbirth with full breastfeeding cannot occur. High concentrations of prolactin in the blood suppress ovulation in the ovaries and other secretory processes inherent in the normal menstrual cycle in women. The state of physiological amenorrhea continues until the end of breastfeeding.

How to reduce the risk of pregnancy during lactation

However, it is possible to get pregnant while lactating. Complete suppression of ovulation and physiological amenorrhea in a nursing mother is possible only if she breastfeeds her baby correctly. Young women need to know and remember the conditions under which protection against unwanted pregnancy is most effective.

Important! In order not to become pregnant after childbirth, it is necessary to strictly follow all the principles of natural feeding of a newborn.

Proper feeding implies compliance with the following conditions:

  1. Breastfeeding your baby on demand, not by the hour. The new fashionable system of feeding a newborn “on time” negatively affects not only the newborn itself, but also the body of a young mother. Feeding the baby at the first cry develops a hungry reflex in the newborn, ensures sufficient milk production and supports the lactation process. Thus, constantly high titers of prolactin are maintained in the blood of a nursing mother, which completely suppresses ovulation and protects her from pregnancy after childbirth.
  2. Breastfeeding without supplementation with formulas, breast milk substitutes and other dairy products. Thanks to this, the baby will suck out a large amount of breast milk, and hormones that suppress ovulation in the mother's body will be constantly produced in high concentrations.
  3. Breastfeeding in continuous mode (attaching to the breast both at night and during the day). Even skipping one feeding can lead to a critical decrease in prolactin, which will trigger ovulation in a nursing mother.
  4. The age of the child is 5-6 months. From 5-6 months, complementary foods are introduced into the baby's diet, which causes the extinction of lactation and a gradual decrease in the concentration of prolactin in the blood. After 6 months of continuous breastfeeding, a young mother should take care of contraception, since the start of ovulation and a new menstrual cycle can occur at any time.

Important! If all four conditions are met, the probability of pregnancy during lactation does not exceed 1-2%, and the question, “How not to get pregnant during lactation”, disappears by itself.

It must be remembered that for a number of young mothers, due to individual characteristics, the menstrual cycle may start already during lactation, which creates the preconditions for an unwanted pregnancy. In this case, taking contraceptives should be started immediately.

The most common signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding

It is not difficult for a woman to suspect a normal pregnancy. The characteristic symptoms of toxicosis (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue), coarsening of the mammary glands, taste perversion, lack of menstruation will tell her about changes in the body.

In a nursing mother, a new pregnancy occurs against the background of an altered hormonal background, so all these signs are either absent, or the woman will not come to them of great importance. The following symptoms will tell you that a nursing mother is in an interesting position:

  • Reducing the amount of breast milk: the mammary glands are filled with milk less than usual, the newborn is not gaining weight well, is naughty. Suppression of lactation occurs against the background of the production of high amounts of estrogen and progesterone by the pregnant uterus.
  • An increase in the sensitivity of the nipples, especially when the baby is attached to the breast. Unusual soreness during breastfeeding is the first symptom that often causes women to seek medical attention.
  • Perversions of taste, increased appetite. Nursing mothers need more high-calorie food, and therefore their appetite is usually increased. However, if unusual eating habits appear against the background of this, it is worth doing a pregnancy test.
  • The disappearance of menstruation or menstrual-like bleeding, even after their single appearance.

Doctors do not recommend planning the conception of a child for another three years after the previous birth, especially if the delivery was by caesarean section. The fact is that the body needs to restore its resources given to the bearing of the baby and its feeding.

Important! Carrying a child and giving birth at 1-2 years of feeding often end in miscarriage, an abnormal course and adversely affect the health of the mother.

However, if the mother responsibly approaches the issue of planning and carrying a new pregnancy, all these consequences can be avoided. A woman should consult a gynecologist as soon as possible in order to determine for herself individual contraindications and risks, the possibility of continuing breastfeeding, and also determine further tactics for managing a new pregnancy and childbirth.

Having a baby is so wonderful! Little fists on a snow-white diaper, tiny bonnets, colored rattles, walks in the park with a stroller ...

The birth of a toddler is so tiring! Night vigils, lack of milk, colic, first teeth, frequent washing ... It is not surprising that very rarely people decide on the weather - most are afraid of even the thought of an imminent next pregnancy. In addition, the body of a young mother has not yet departed from childbirth - how will another healthy baby grow up there under such conditions?

In general, even if a woman has not yet started her period (breastfeeding is in progress), she is still afraid - what if another pregnancy? Mother-in-law or mother can assure her with all the confidence of experienced women: do not be afraid, while you are feeding, you will not “carry”. Is it true?

Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

In general, the assurances of relatives have a logical basis: if there is no menstruation, then the body is not yet ready for pregnancy. While lactation is in progress, the pituitary gland of a woman produces the hormone prolactin, which inhibits the onset of ovulation. And since the follicle with the egg does not mature, then you will not be able to get pregnant.

But of course, there is an exception to every rule. Sometimes a woman feeds a child on demand, milk is in full swing, and suddenly out of nowhere is taken at best - menstruation, at worst - an unplanned pregnancy.

Why do breastfeeding mothers get pregnant?

It is only in the calendar (for the convenience of calculations) that the monthly cycle of a woman begins with menstruation. In fact, ovulation occurs first of all - after all, menstruation is nothing more than the removal of an “idle”, “unworked” egg from the body. So in the absence of menstruation, you can easily lose sight of your first ovulation. And if you, considering lactation as a “panacea” for pregnancy, do not buy condoms, then you will not have to wait long for pregnancy.

And they learn about such a conception, as a rule, quite late - when the baby is already starting to move. Indeed, in normal cases, pregnancy is suspected by missing periods - and if they were not there initially, then the woman continues to believe that she has lactational amenorrhea, while the day of the next birth is approaching.

When can you rely on amenorrhea?

It is believed that there are conditions, adhering to which, you will not get pregnant even without contraception:

  1. No supplements - you feed the baby only with your own milk.
  2. It is necessary to apply the baby to the breast on demand, and not by the hour, and at least 6 times a day.
  3. You need to feed the baby from the hospital, from birth.
  4. The mother's body must be in perfect order.

If you are not sure about "lactational contraception", it is better to buy pharmacy products - it will still be more reliable.

How to notice a second pregnancy?

Both your own well-being and the behavior of your child can tell about it.

How will the baby behave?

During pregnancy, significant changes occur in the body of a woman, which cannot but affect the texture and taste of mother's milk. Often the “food” changes so much that the baby refuses to take the breast, or eats much less than before.

If you notice that your baby is healthy, but suddenly became very picky about “breast” food, buy a pregnancy test.

How will your body behave?

  • With a normal diet, you may partially lose milk. The reason for this is that the body redirects incoming resources to the born baby;
  • Swelling of the breast (with the same or less milk), sore nipples;
  • Irregular periods: just appeared, and disappeared again;
  • Often, when breastfeeding, a woman can feel inside herself a mini-orgasm from a contracted uterus. This is the norm. However, if these contractions become too frequent and are no longer dependent on feeding, they may signal pregnancy;
  • And finally, do not forget about the classics of the genre! Pregnancy is what pregnancy is for, in order to “please” a woman with toxicosis, that is, morning sickness up to vomiting, as well as a loss of interest in food. And besides, you can feel pain in the lower back, frequent urges "in a little way." This standard set of young “waiters” quite clearly hints: the stork will soon appear again for you.

What contraception can be used by a nursing mother?

If you can get pregnant during lactation, but do not want to, you need to plan a family with the help of a pharmacy! It is ideal that the contraceptive is prescribed by your gynecologist.

Most likely, he will advise one of these:

  • IUD (a coil placed inside the uterus),
  • condoms,
  • mini pili,
  • injections,
  • implants,
  • sterilization (if you are completely sure that you will not give birth again).

But pills with progesterone and estrogen are contraindicated for you now.

And if you give birth to a second, when is it better?

You had a sister, your husband had a brother, and you want your baby to be not alone in the family either. It's a good wish! But is it worth giving birth to a second heir immediately after the first?

Doctors are sure no. First, the mother's body needs to recover. Secondly, your first-born must receive all the nutrients from her milk in order to grow up strong and healthy.

The "golden mean" between the birth of children is the period from 2 to 4 years. This is convenient for the mother not only in terms of physiology, but also psychologically - the couple manages to sleep off after colic and teething of the first child, and the pain of childbirth is completely forgotten.

With the birth of a child, few young mothers think about the need to use contraception, naively believing that it is impossible to get pregnant in the first months after childbirth. Like, nature has wisely arranged everything, giving the woman a natural protection factor during breastfeeding. And only after the end of lactation with the resumption of menstruation is it worth worrying about contraception or ... thinking about a second baby. In the meantime, when the whole world revolves around a newborn, a young mother has no time.
To what extent does natural protection work during the feeding of a child, is there an intimate life after childbirth, and which of the methods of contraception will not harm the child and effectively protect the mother from unwanted pregnancy? These questions are answered by Natalya Aganezova, obstetrician-gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences, expert of the “No Surprises!” program.

- Natalya Vladimirovna, when, according to medical canons, can sexual relations be resumed between a husband and wife who have just become parents?
- The first 6 - 8 weeks after childbirth it is better to refrain from intimate life, so much time is required for the internal genital organs of a woman to recover. According to statistics, both Russian and foreign, up to 95% of couples return to sexual life within the second month after childbirth. And as soon as this happens (or rather, even before the first sexual intercourse after childbirth), the issue of contraception becomes relevant.

– Even if the woman is actively breastfeeding?
- The protection you are talking about is scientifically called the method of lactational amenorrhea. During feeding, the brain produces a significant amount of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the amount of milk. The more mother feeds, the more prolactin she has. With a high level of this hormone, as a rule, there is no full growth of the follicle in the ovary, inside which the egg matures, and there is no ovulation; the menstrual cycle is not restored. Naturally, without ovulation, pregnancy is impossible. That is, breastfeeding reliably protects against conception, but only under certain conditions.

- What are these?
- The child is breastfed as often and as long (during one feeding) as he wants, both during the day and, most importantly, at night. A break in feeding should not exceed 3-4 hours during the day, and at night it cannot be more than 6 hours. Mom does not offer the baby any other drink (for example, water). Complementary foods are introduced to the baby only 6 months after birth. Compliance with these rules satisfies one of the three necessary conditions of the lactational amenorrhea method - exclusive breastfeeding. Two other mandatory conditions: the method is applied only in the absence of menstruation, and only the first 6 months after childbirth. If at least one of the conditions is not met (menstruation has resumed, and / or breastfeeding conditions have changed, and / or more than six months have passed after childbirth), other means of protection against pregnancy should be used.

- Harsh. However, breastfeeding greatly reduces the chances of pregnancy. Is it worth it to use special equipment if the couple, in general, plans to have a second child? Moreover, in our days, maternity capital can serve as an additional incentive.
- From a medical point of view, pregnancy and childbirth is a severe stress for the body, and it takes time to fully recover. Pregnancy during the first two years after childbirth is associated with an increased risk of complications: the risk of miscarriage, the development of anemia in pregnant women, placental insufficiency, postpartum complications, and maternal mortality may increase. I'm not talking about the possible negative consequences of abortion, which, according to statistics, is done by 10% of women in the first year after childbirth. But a three-year interval between the birth of children reduces the frequency of infant mortality. Getting capital or our eternal habit of “maybe it will blow over” does not justify these risks.

- According to sociological surveys, our women prefer condoms, spirals, birth control pills and natural methods, such as coitus interruptus.
Yes, there is such a method. I do not recommend using it either after childbirth or at other periods of life, as it has low efficiency. The method of coitus interruptus, when ejaculation occurs outside the genitals of a woman, was very popular in the Middle Ages. But then there were practically no other means of protection against pregnancy. And today the choice is quite wide. It is not recommended to use after childbirth and such a natural method as a calendar. Trying to calculate dangerous and safe days for conception in conditions of an unstable menstrual cycle (which often happens after childbirth) is difficult, and in the absence of menstruation, it is completely utopian.

- Okay, but are condoms relevant?
- Women after childbirth may well resort to a barrier method of contraception (condom), which does not require consultation with a doctor and, if used correctly, can be quite reliable. But for many women, the use of condoms after childbirth can be uncomfortable, as vaginal dryness is sometimes noted during breastfeeding. This problem can be solved by spermicides, which not only immobilize spermatozoa, but also compensate for the lack of natural secretions in the vagina during intercourse, and also have a protective effect against a number (but not all!) of sexually transmitted infections.

- Can a nursing mother put a spiral?
- Yes. With uncomplicated childbirth and the absence of contraindications, the coil can be inserted 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. However, in the presence of inflammatory diseases of the genital area, the spiral is prohibited. Be sure to check with your gynecologist if this method is right for you. Never attempt to insert or remove the coil yourself.

- Our women are wary of hormonal drugs, and doubly wary of hormonal pills during breastfeeding. They are afraid of side effects, the influence of hormones on the development of the child, the quality and quantity of milk.
- These fears are echoes of the use of the first contraceptives: in the 60s and 70s of the last century they contained large doses of hormones.

How are these pills different from regular ones?
- Ordinary hormonal contraceptive pills are often called combined oral contraceptives. They contain a combination of two hormones, estrogen and progestogen. Estrogens are not used during breastfeeding for the first six months after childbirth, since they reduce the production of breast milk. In the 70s of the last century, special tablets for nursing mothers appeared - mini-pills that do not contain estrogen and thus do not affect the quantity and quality of breast milk, the growth and development of the child. The main mechanism of their action is an increase in the viscosity of the mucus of the cervical canal, which makes it difficult for spermatozoa to penetrate into the uterine cavity. However, mini-pills have a number of disadvantages: firstly, their effectiveness is lower than that of conventional combined tablets. Secondly, the reception requires strict adherence to the regimen - if you are late for more than 3 hours, the contraceptive effectiveness decreases sharply. In 2002, a new generation of contraceptives appeared, which includes a modern highly selective progestogen - desogestrel. The mechanism of action of this drug is the same as that of combined contraceptive pills. The drug suppresses ovulation, so its effectiveness with a minimum hormone content is more than 99%, and the forgotten pill rule is 12 hours.

- Is there any data confirming that progestogen contraceptives are safe for the health of mother and child?
– Yes, such studies were carried out both abroad and in Russia. After stopping the progestogen-containing pills, the ability to become a mother quickly returns again.

- Can these tablets be used after the end of breastfeeding and the restoration of the menstrual cycle?
- The contraceptive can be continued after the end of feeding, if the woman is comfortable taking this drug, and she tolerates it well. Moreover, she can continue taking the drug for as long as she likes, without interruption, as long as she needs protection from unwanted pregnancy.
There is also a large group of women for whom estrogens are contraindicated even without breastfeeding. A high risk of thrombosis, high blood pressure, migraines, liver disease, obesity, smoking at 35 years of age and older - these and a number of other conditions are incompatible with taking estrogen-containing contraceptives, which means that a modern progestogen-containing pill will be the choice for such patients from hormonal contraceptives. With age, the frequency of contraindications to estrogen-containing tablets increases significantly.

Many women are fully confident that while they are breastfeeding their baby, they do not need to be protected, since conception in this case is impossible. This misconception leads to the fact that a young mother literally a few months after giving birth becomes pregnant for the second time. An organism that has not recovered after childbirth may not be able to cope with the double load - caring for a baby and simultaneously bearing another baby.

Why does breastfeeding interfere with conception?

When breastfeeding a baby, the body naturally produces hormones that interfere with the next conception. The main of these hormones is prolactin.

This is a natural mechanism that allows the mother to calmly and without stress on the body, first bear and feed one baby, and only then become pregnant with the second.

But in order to produce enough prolactin to suppress ovulation, several rules must be observed:

  • the baby is fed not by the clock, but on demand;
  • night feedings are mandatory, and it’s good if the baby sleeps with mom;
  • the maximum interval between feedings is two hours;
  • the baby is under six months of age and is not receiving complementary foods.

Important! After the baby reaches the age of six months, relying on the so-called "lactational amorea" is not worth it. Ovulation, as well as pregnancy, can occur at any time.

Therefore, six months after the birth of contraception, if the parents do not plan the weather, you should definitely take care.

If the menstrual cycle has recovered earlier (in two or three months), then the body is ready for a new pregnancy, and protection should be started earlier.

Is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding without a period?

The probability of pregnancy before the restoration of the cycle is very small, but conception can occur at the first ovulation.

Since the first ovulation can happen as early as two or three months after childbirth, a woman may not know about it. Therefore, it is worth starting to protect yourself as soon as the gynecologist allowed you to start having sex.

Reference. The probability of conception with continuous breastfeeding and until the restoration of a regular menstrual cycle does not exceed ten percent, but it is.

Signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding

Signs that a nursing mother is expecting another baby may not be at all until a period of 10-12 weeks. Sometimes a woman can find out that she is pregnant only at the next appointment with the gynecologist, when the period is already long enough.

But the following signs should alert a young mother and make her think about buying a pregnancy test:

  • the baby abruptly refused the breast. Hormonal changes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman affect the taste of milk;
  • consistency, fat content, amount of milk have changed. During pregnancy, the body throws resources into bearing the fetus and "takes" them from other resources;
  • newly appeared sensitivity of the nipples, their swelling, the appearance of a dark halo, cracks;
  • menstruation disappeared after the cycle was restored.

Toxicosis, severe weakness and drowsiness, "sipping" of the lower abdomen, swelling in the legs, a constant desire to run to the toilet, uncharacteristic taste preferences (a strong desire for salty or sour) should also alert. During pregnancy, appetite can also increase dramatically - the body requires more calories for a double load.

Breastfeeding during pregnancy

The opinions of experts on the combination of lactation and a new pregnancy vary. On the bottom side - if the mother is healthy, the amount of milk is sufficient and the baby does not refuse to breastfeed - you can feed the older one until childbirth.

On the other hand, when a baby suckles the breast, the body actively produces the hormone oxytocin, which is also responsible for uterine contractions. A large amount of the hormone can provoke a miscarriage.

For simultaneous work on two fronts - both the continuation of lactation and the bearing of pregnancy - the body has to work hard. If a woman decides to continue breastfeeding, it is necessary to take care of a complete diet. Cottage cheese, eggs, dairy products, fish and fresh vegetables should be on the menu daily.

It is imperative to provide mom with proper rest and sleep. With increased fatigue, nervousness and lack of sleep, a miscarriage can also occur, including at a late (4-5 months) period.

reference. The body of a woman is fully restored after the first birth and is ready for the second around the time when the first baby is two years old. The ideal difference between children, according to most doctors, is three years.

Most often, during a second pregnancy, the baby himself refuses the breast, since a change in the hormonal background leads to the fact that the milk becomes less sweet and a little more salty.

Contraception while breastfeeding

In the first few months after childbirth, to avoid conception, you must use the following methods of contraception:

  • condoms. The safest method of protection, it can be used in the very first weeks after pregnancy, as soon as the doctor gave the go-ahead for sexual activity to a young mother. The method is absolutely safe for the baby, it protects both pregnancy and possible infections;
  • spermicides in the form of suppositories, creams. They suppress the activity of spermatozoa, thus preventing pregnancy, but do not protect against STDs. The active components of such products do not penetrate into milk, therefore they are considered absolutely safe for HB;
  • intrauterine device - an excellent remedy if a new pregnancy is not planned in the coming years. Valid for up to five years, you can put it six months after birth. Does not have any negative effect on the child.
  • Oral contraceptives. Six months after the birth, they can be prescribed by the attending physician - a gynecologist. These contraceptives can slightly reduce the amount of milk, but since the baby is already starting to receive the first complementary foods, this is not critical.

Oral contraceptives practically do not affect the quality of milk.

Important: This method of contraception should be discussed with your doctor. He will prescribe the necessary tests and prescribe pills suitable for continued lactation.

Even in the first few months after childbirth, it is better not to rely on sufficient production of prolactin by the body and the guaranteed impossibility of conception. If the mother feeds the baby by the clock, the baby sleeps all night or begins to receive the first complementary foods before six months, you need to take care of additional protection against pregnancy if the education of the weather is not included in the plans.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

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