6 wks post-partum - could I be pregnant?
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6 wks post-partum - could I be pregnant?
| Thu, 08-07-2003 - 12:41am |
I gave birth to my first child only 5 1/2 weeks ago on 28 June 2003. Since then I have been worried that I was going to fall pregnant but the midwife told me that if I was breastfeeding fully then it wouldn't be a problem. My husband and I started having sex again about 3 weeks ago now and we haven't been using any form of birth control because of this. For the past 3 nights I have dreamed that I am pregnant again so soon which was really worrying me so I took a HPT. It didn't change straight away but after a few mins I came back to it and the test line was there - it was faint but not like a faulty test (I had one before I fell pregnant the first time). The last few weeks I have been supplementing my baby's feeds in the evening (2-3 feeds) with formula, however I don't know how this effects contraception.
Could someone please tell me if this is possible to fall pregnant so soon and if so should I test again and when? This is really confusing for me and I don't really it's such a good idea to be pregnant so soon after my first child.
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your mid-wife was correct in saying if you breastfeed it can have contraceptive effects. However, you mentioned that you had began to supplement your nursing with formula. That very often will interfere with the contraceptive effect and allow you to ovulate. A mother exclusively nursing every three or four hours (depending on what resource you see) can expect to not ovulate until around six months. Return of menses often happens about a month after additional sources of nutrition are added. Ovulation often occurs before the first menstrual, though not always.
Long story short, if you are supplementing, you can't count on not getting pregnant even if you are nursing. I hope that you find out the result you were hoping for, but if you are indeed pregnant there is a great string of posts from a couple days ago about having children close together. Maybe you would find comfort in that.
Good luck to you and keep us posted.
Kate
kari