What are the Odds of Getting Pregnant While Breastfeeding?

After childbirth, the mother's body needs a certain period of time to recover, and she also needs to nurse the child, so the physical consumption is relatively large. During this time, it is important to strengthen good conditioning and focus on dietary adjustments. As the body gradually recovers, the couple can resume sexual activity. However, many people may wonder if it is possible to become pregnant during lactation if they engage in sexual activity. Below, we will briefly discuss the likelihood of pregnancy during lactation.

1. Likelihood of Pregnancy During Lactation

Under normal circumstances, if a woman is still lactating and has not yet resumed menstruation, the chance of pregnancy is relatively low. However, if sexual activity occurs without taking contraceptive measures, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant during lactation. Although breastfeeding suppresses ovarian function and theoretically makes it less likely to conceive, there have been reports of women becoming pregnant as early as 5 weeks postpartum. Pregnancy is a complex process, and therefore, engaging in sexual activity during lactation is not considered safe.

2. Can Breastfeeding Be Used as a Means of Contraception?

Breastfeeding can prevent the body from secreting hormones that promote ovulation. However, relying solely on breastfeeding as a contraceptive method requires caution. For breastfeeding to be effective as a contraceptive, it must be combined with the lactational amenorrhea-related method. This method not only requires exclusive breastfeeding but also satisfies two other conditions: the first is within 6 months postpartum, and the second is the absence of menstruation. Even if all three conditions are met, there is still a possibility of becoming pregnant during lactation, although the likelihood is small.

3. How Likely Is Pregnancy During Lactation?

Many breastfeeding mothers mistakenly believe that they do not need to use contraceptives when resuming sexual activity because they have not yet resumed menstruation after childbirth. However, the ovaries can potentially resume ovulation as early as 21 days (3 weeks) postpartum. If breastfeeding mothers do not take contraceptive measures during this time, they may become pregnant during lactation. Avoiding sexual activity during the fertile period around ovulation without using any contraceptive methods or surgery does not guarantee 100% contraception. The timing of ovulation can be affected by various factors such as the external environment, climate, personal emotions, and health status, leading to delayed or early ovulation and possibly even additional ovulation. Additionally, the maximum survival time of sperm and eggs in the female reproductive tract is not definitively known, making it unsafe to rely on the safe period for contraception.