During pregnancy, the ovaries are inactive and therefore ovulations do not occur , also because they would obviously be wasted as the woman is already pregnant. Furthermore, the hormonal structure in these months is such as to concentrate all the organism’s energies for the growth and nourishment of the fetus.
But at the end of the pregnancy , following the birth, the hormonal structure changes. First, it eliminates all the pregnancy hormones , which are no longer needed, to start producing those of breastfeeding. In particular, the pituitary gland produces prolactin , a hormone that induces lactation and the production of breast milk.
Giving milk to the baby stimulates and helps the pituitary gland maintain prolactin production, thereby producing even more milk. This is why it is claimed that exclusive demand breastfeeding is the most effective for continuing to produce breast milk. The suckling of the baby is the act that stimulates the production of milk and leads to do more of it, again and again, as long as necessary for the growth of the baby and until there is a drop in production, perfectly natural and physiological with the passing of the months. .
This hormone inhibits the functioning of the ovaries and therefore it is not possible to become pregnant. On the contrary, mothers who are not breastfeeding, not producing prolactin, will already be fertile in the first months after birth.
Breastfeeding mothers are not all the same: for prolactin to be kept high – and therefore ovarian inhibition is guaranteed – breastfeeding must have a very intense rhythm, no more than 3 hours must pass between one feed and the next and the pituitary must be constantly stimulated.
Sometimes even this is not enough, the mother’s body quickly learns to produce milk even with only a minimal stimulus and this disinhibits the ovaries which return to ovulate easily, at first with a low rhythm, then with increasing regularity.
How to know if you are pregnant while breastfeeding after the foreman
When pregnancy occurs after menstruation returns , it is discovered earlier. This is thanks to the menstrual jump which, however irregular, alarms us and tells us that we may be expecting another baby. Once you have had the baby you cannot know when the ovary will start again, there is no rule, there are no elements to find out in advance. The only sign to tell us that ovulation has obviously occurred is the head of the ward the first menstruation .
The return of the flow, however, occurs after ovulation (when this occurs, because the cycle can also return but without ovulation). For this reason, even women who are breastfeeding if they do not take precautions can become pregnant. And this even before the head of the department .
Cycle and breastfeeding
A question many new mothers ask themselves is whether the return of menstruation can give milk a bad taste. The truth is, having the foreman doesn’t cause any changes in breast milk. In general we can say that if the body has the resources to activate its functioning, then it means that one is perfectly able to manage breastfeeding and ovarian cycle without alterations, as well as being able to carry out a new gestation.
Knowing that you are pregnant while breastfeeding before the foreman
In the case of close pregnancies, the new pregnancy is discovered most often by chance and even very late compared to the norm. Let’s see why this happens.
Let’s try to re-read all the common symptoms of pregnancy transposed into the breastfeeding period:
- Breast: during this period, breastfeeding masks, for example, breast symptoms because the breast is already swollen and sometimes painful.
- The belly: if you have given birth a few months ago, your belly has probably not yet returned and gone flat (if it was).
- Fatigue: the widespread sense of fatigue of a new mother makes it difficult to perceive the pregnancy in progress.
A pregnancy test can solve the problem, although the condition of a woman who has not yet had a foreman is more complicated. In fact, having no reference dates you end up doing it maybe every 15 days in the hope of obtaining a certain result. And this with a considerable load of stress that is not good for anyone, much less for those who have just had a child to take care of.
Contraceptives during breastfeeding
Is there a suitable contraception for this delicate moment of relationship and exchange between mother and baby? To avoid unwanted close pregnancies, there are progesterone-only contraceptive pills that can be taken safely while breastfeeding and that are taken continuously, therefore without interruptions. These drugs do not allow either ovulation or menstruation. When breastfeeding is stopped , it will be discussed with the gynecologist whether to change contraceptive therapy and return to another hormonal system or to a mechanical contraceptive.
In the case of mothers, perhaps with more children, who no longer wish to have pregnancies in their life, you can think of applying a copper IUD or a progesterone medicated one. It is adopted in the postpartum period and will then remain in place between 3 and 5 years, depending on the type chosen.
Let’s not forget that the simplest and least invasive method of contraception for an organism that has just undergone major changes, as in the case of a new mother, remains the condom .
Close pregnancies: are they safe?
Our organism, if healthy, manages two (or more) close pregnancies without any problem. Should you stop breastfeeding the first when you find yourself pregnant? No, in the first months it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding in progress. But be careful, if instead there has been a pathological birth – perhaps with alterations in pressure or gestational diabetes – things change. In that case it will be better to rebalance maternal health before a new pregnancy . This is even more important in the case of a caesarean section, after which it is necessary to wait a year before the new pregnancy .
If you find yourself pregnant while breastfeeding, should you stop breastfeeding?
It is not a medical rule, but common sense. Breastfeeding your baby while you are expecting a little brother or sister is not dangerous for the health of anyone: not for the mother, not for the newborn, not for the fetus. Of course, each must make her own choice and consider how much the firstborn has grown up by now. It must be said that interrupting this ritual will probably make the arrival of the other baby less traumatic, which will require a lot of attention from the mother and all the resources present in her mother’s milk useful for the development of a very small one. Against? A personal matter. For example, many times an increased sensitivity of the nipples makes it difficult to continue breastfeeding even during the new pregnancy .
Obviously, the advice to decide for yourself is only valid in the case of a pregnancy that is not at risk, lived in full health and with sufficient energy. Otherwise, for the sake of the whole family it will be better to stop breastfeeding .
