Still breastfeeding-could I be pregnant?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2005
Still breastfeeding-could I be pregnant?
4
Fri, 12-08-2006 - 11:30am

I have a 6-month-old daughter who is exclusively breastfed. We've dabbled with solids the last couple of weeks, but she hasn't shown much interest and hasn't actually swallowed much of anything, so BFing has continued at the same frequency. I've been taking the mini-pill since 6 weeks post-partum, so I thought my chances of conception were practically nill. DH and I had sex 5 days ago, and today I'm having some discharge. It's just odd because I haven't had a period or ANY discharge at all since the lochia stopped. Also, DD has been very fussy at the breast and refusing to nurse the last couple of days, which I've heard can also be a sign of pregnancy.

I know it's too early to take a pregnancy test, so I'm kind of freaking out at even the THOUGHT of being pregnant--we don't have prenatal health insurance right now, and the timing would be bad for a number of reasons. Could I be having the discharge because of normal hormonal fluctuations? What do you think my chances are of being pregnant? When's the earliest a pregnancy test would be accurate? And how can you even know you are pregnant if you can't go by a missed period?

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Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2005
Fri, 12-08-2006 - 12:38pm
i didnt get a period because i had an IUD put in after DS was born in july 05 but if i thought i was pregnant i was taking a test a week for a few weeks to be sure. she might just be sensing your nerves so try to relax.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2006
Fri, 12-08-2006 - 3:24pm
Wow, I have been in your shoes! As you may have already noticed, she might be going through a growth spurt since she is 6 months old. She can increase her appetite or even go on a mini hunger strike. My DS went on a hunger strike for several days at 6 months. I pumped to maintain my supply (and for relief!). Alot of moms who BF EX will not have a period if they are BF EX.
As far as a period....was it just a smear or was it an actual period? I was BF EX for 1 year, then offered bf as supplemental. I finally got what I thought was a period when DS was 15 months. I wasn't too sure that it was a period, since it only lasted 1/2 the usual duration and it was not normal in color. But believe me, that 1 period was all I got. I got PG again right after that 1 period! It took 1-2 years to get PG with my other kids, but now I have become fertile mertile!
Best thing I can tell you is, once you have your period, you can get PG. Actually, you ovulate prior to having your period and that is why you have one. Just be careful. :)
I am a BF Peer Counselor at WIC. If you have any other questions, you can email me at snippy@hotmail.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2005
Fri, 12-08-2006 - 11:53pm

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. She did seem to go through a growth spurt earlier this week, nursing constantly day and night, and that's why it seemed so weird and sudden when she stopped wanting to nurse at all. Today she went from noon to 7 p.m. without nursing more than a few minutes! It's kinda starting to scare me, but I had never heard of a "hunger strike," so thanks for pointing that out to me.

I actually didn't have a period, it was more like watery discharge. It was just weird because I haven't had anything up to this point, and the timing kinda worried me. I remember when I became pregnant I had some spotting that I initially thought was going to be my period, but it turned out to be from implantation. So far the discharge has been clear, so hopefully that's not what it is. Maybe it is just a sign of ovulation and that I will start having my period again? It could be that I am just paranoid from knowing several people who recently found out they were pregnant--every little twinge I feel makes me wonder if it is a sign of pregnancy!

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Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2006
Sat, 12-09-2006 - 1:59pm
Hey are babies were born on the same day!! I just got af back on Dec 3rd and other than a little baby cereal and about a tablespoon of stage 1 food aday I ex bf. Im trying to get pg again though so this was a good thing for me. :-)
Lilypie Breastfeeding Ticker
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