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Menstrual Cycle While Breastfeeding

Myth: A woman can not become pregnant while breastfeeding. 

If you're trying to conceive for the first time while breastfeeding, you've probably worried if you can become pregnant. I know I did. I also had my gynecologist, an educated doctor who was specialized in infertility tell me I probably would have to wean to become pregnant with my irregular cycles and short luteal phase. Long story short, I became pregnant while breastfeeding and my luteal phase lengthen without me weaning. I know that is not always the case for every breastfeeding woman. Some breastfeeding women may indeed have to wean. However, there are so many myths and misconceptions out there with what a woman can and can not do while breastfeeding. It's hard to know what is right and where to even find the information.

According to the article, 5 Fertility Myths Debunked, "The hormone prolactin which stimulates lactation, stops the release of a chemical necessary for ovulation. For breastfeeding to work as a form of contraception, it requires 3 things. This method is called Lactational Amenorrhea Method and is known as LAM. A breastfeeding woman needs (1) No Menstruation, (2) A baby younger than 6 months, and (3) She is exclusively breastfeeding from the breast at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night. Pumping does not count. If one of the criteria is not met, it is possible for a breastfeeding mother to become pregnant" (Lambert).

The order that I have gone through twice now, is my baby becomes older than 6 months. Then my menstruation comes back. After Baby 1, my postpartum menstrual returned at 17 months postpartum. After Baby 2, it returned 3 days before 11 months postpartum at 10 months and 27 days postpartum. And after Baby 3, it returned at 13 months and 18 days postpartum.  The longest part, changes in the frequency of breastfeeding. Enough changes in the breastfeeding that ovulation is occurring and my luteal phase is lengthening. Generally, for me, there is a gradual reduction in nursing during the day. So going longer than 4 hours without nursing.

 Sources
1. Lambert, Katie. "5 Fertility Myths Debunked." HowStuffWorks Health. HowStuffWorks, 24 July 2012. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/fertility/5-fertility-myths-debunked.htm#page=2>.

 Last Edited: May 12, 2017
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