OMG Is It POSSIBLE? Pregnant Again?

Unfortunately YES it is possible. My step-mom had two children within 11 months of each other. Get a PG test and that should tell you.

N.
SAH Mom, Nana and Wellness Coach

I didn't read through all the responses but there are non-hormonal forms of birth control that you can use...why not just use condoms or get fitted for a diaphram? That way no more worry about missing days on the pill.

I had the Mirena IUD while breast feeding my son and it didn't lower my supply, I nursed for almost two years, and the best part is you don't have to think about it at all.

I was also going to mention the IUD birth control option. The mini pill is the only birth control PILL you can take while breastfeeding, but it is definitely not your only birth control option. I have the copper IUD, Paraguard. Have had it in since 6 weeks postpartum. I think it's wonderful since it does allow me to have a period (after I started getting them again, 8-9 months postpartum); I'd gotten pregnant twice within 18 months while on regular birth control pills, so I just couldn't rely on them any longer, and I didn't want the hormonal Mirena because it's reputed as shortening and eliminating periods. The IUD is the most effective option at preventing unplanned pregnancy. Just some information for you to think about in case you aren't pregnant, which I'd agree with the previous replies in that pregnancy is unlikely but not impossible.

I would stay on the pill for now but go back and talk to your doctor about an IUD. They have one that does not give any hormones at all so it will not affect your milk supply. You can have it removed when ever you want to start trying for another baby. You can get pregnant by missing one pill but I would say it is rather unlikely. If you are worried about it wait two weeks and then take a pregnancy test.

You should look into the Mirena IUD, if you are not prego. I got one when my daughter was 6 weeks old and I nursed her for 10 months with no interruption in my milk supply and my hormones were so leveled it was awesome!! Good Luck!

Yup. Sure is possible. Breastfeeding is sooooo not effective for most people (in large part because most infants are NOT exclusively breast fed. A chemical reaction happens the very first time any non breast milk gets into their system. Even water (water is never pure h20). That triggers a chemical release in their mouths that causes a chemical reaction in US through our nipples...which triggers a "ready to be fertile again" response. Some rather extensive testing has shown that there is frequently a several month lag, in the ability to conceive with producing an actual period if the mum is nursing. Having your period is a sure sign that you're fertile again, but not having your period yet doesn't mean squat, unfortunately.

Also unfortunately...if you read the fine print on any pill...even missing one day, can cause 2-4 weeks of fertility if you continue to take the pill every day. And even MORE unfortunately, many many many women get pregnant on the full strength pill taken without any oopsies for years. Which would correlate that even more can get pregnant on the mini pill, but since we're all sleep deprived and going slightly crazy during the first year or two...I have yet to meet anyone who didn't forget to take the pill at LEAST once.

You know...the pill is NOT the only option that can be used while nursing. There are copper IUD's, diaphragms (+spermacide), cervical caps (+spermacide), and the dreaded condom. Your doctor didn't mention the non-hormonal options? You can also double, triple, or quad up on these with the mini pill.. because non of them add more homones (ahem...don't double up on the pill and iud -the iud is more effective statistically than a vasectomy or tubal ligation-...or a cervical cap and diaphragm together -space considerations, but either and the pill are fine together.

It's not LIKELY that you're pregnant (we're only fertile a couple days a month at most, although spermies can live for awhile bumbling around not asking for directions), and nursing while not effective for most people does make it HARDER for most people...but it is possible. Working in a women's clinic I can't even begin to guess the number of patients I've seen with two children under the age of ONE, much less the HUGE number of families with 2 under 2.

I'd say take a test today, and every week for the next month. The downside of not having a period really is that we have very little idea of a conception date (if we're having sex regularly).

Good Luck!!!

you are most likely not pregnant..i did the same thing..yes ..i am horrible with pills too..and that was when i was breastfeeding too...breastfeeding reduces the chances of getting pregnant..but there is always that 1% chance that you are preggers but its highly unlikely.

I never get sleep too...i can't even use the bathroom with out having my girls bang on the door.

I have a 3 year old and an 18 month old..both girls! and still breastfeeding my youngest. Does your son stick his but up in the air and his head down??? thats a sign that he's asking for a sister or a brother...thats what my mom says..

good luck!

Hi N.,

First, check the little pamphlet that comes with your packet of pills. When I took the mini pill, I seem to remember reading something in the pamphlet about how long it takes after starting (or restarting it after a missed pill) that you need to use backup protection (like a condom). I seem to remember 48 hours, but I'm not certain.

Keep taking it until you decide on an alternative form of protection.

I HATED the mini pill for your exact reasoning. I always thought it was a cruel joke. Give sleep-deprived new mommies who can barely find a time to shower regularly a pill that has to be taken at exactly the same time every day. Add in that both nursing AND the mini pill have irregular periods as side effects? HA! But what did help me to take the pills more regularly was to keep them next to the cereal bowls. I ALWAYS eat breakfast, no matter what. It was easier to remember if I took the pills along with my breakfast. I still wasn't 100% accurate, but it helped. In the end, hubby and I decided that if another baby was the worst that could happen, we wouldn't worry about it. We'd figure out how to cope.

My last thought...If you're planning to return to a traditional birth control pill at some point, talk to your OB again. You won't necessarily be stuck with the mini pill for the entire course of nursing. My OB told me that switching to a traditional pill after my milk supply was established and baby wasn't nursing as frequently (for us, we happened to be down to 2x per day at this point), traditional pills wouldn't cause my supply to drop. I switched, and no problems. I had the impression that I could have switched sooner if I'd gone back to the doctor sooner. It could be worth a phone call to find out how long you need to worry about milk supply.

I wish you peace of mind and rest when you can!

Hi N.,

Well, as much as it is physiologically possible for you to be pregnant again, it is pretty unlikely at this point. And it is quite possible that your natural hormone levels are changing and in conjunction with the pills your body is having some symptoms that might look like pregnancy but not actually be pregnancy. You haven't said if you are having symptoms if any or what they are so perhaps you could call your doctor and tell them what is going on exactly.

Good Luck,
S.

Hi N. -

Yes, it is possible that you are pregnant. I have 3 children and had 1 miscarriage. Without the use of birth control, I got pregnant 2 years apart - had my daughter, 2 years later - miscarriage - 2 years later had a son - got on the pill and 3 months later got pregnant with my youngest son. They are 1 year and 17 days apart.

There are natural ways in increase your milk production - a combination of fenugreek and marshmallow root has been shown to increase milk production and make the milk richer and more satisfying for the infant.

Remember, whatever you take pharmaceutically goes into your blood stream and right to your baby.

If I can help in anyother way, please feel free to contact me.

Blessings,
M.
Certified Herbalist

Yes it's possible to get pregnant while you're nursing. As far as the mini-pill is concerned, I don't know. But to avoid all doubt and worry, go see your ob/gyn. They can run a blood test and a physical exam downunder will also confirm the test results and your condition.

Yes there are lots of Mom's out there who have had children very close together, survived their second pregnancies and raised happy, healthy kids who are each other's best friend.

I'm one of those kids. My brother is 13 months younger than me. To hear my Mom tell the story she was furious with the doctor, she couldn't possibly be pregnant, she was a nursing mom. This was over 50 yrs ago, so the pill wasn't an option for her. So when I had kids she reminded me of this as I was a nursing Mom. If you are pregnant, you will survive and you and your baby will thrive. It will be okay, it will be great.

No matter what, enjoy the baby you have in your arms now. Every day is a good day. Take good care and enjoy!!!

Chances are if you only missed two pills that you are NOT pregnant... But, it's NOT impossible! I would just think about the last time you were with your husband since you forgot to take the pills and take a test three weeks from that point. I'm sure you're fine. :)

N.,

I don't know about the pregnant thing, you could be. My husband has two brothers that are 11 months apart in age. I would suggest talking to your doctor about the possibility.

As for the birth control, Gina is right, the mini pill is the only pill you can take. After my daughter was born I talked with my doctor about birth control methods and the fact that I was horrible at remembering to take pills daily. I'd just plain forget. So now I'm on the Depo Provera shot and all I have to do is remember to make my appointment every 12 weeks.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Definitely possible. I was pregnant when my daughter was six months old. My girls are 15 months apart. I have an aquaintance who found out she was pregnant again at her six week - after birth - checkup. Her daughters are 10 months apart.

But, if you are, don't stress. It was hard to be pregnant, a new mom, and work... it was crazy taking care of a newborn and a fifteen month old. Once my younger girl got to be about a year though, they became able to entertain each other and are best of friends now. I wouldn't change a thing. With every milestone the younger one hits, it gets easier...

By the way, I was able to use the Nuva ring while nursing my younger daughter....

I got Mirena while I was nursing, and my milk supply was fine.

I'd suggest you get a few pregnancy tests and Dollar Tree and ease your fears by wasting a few tests. It is very unlikely you are pregnant again, and if you are having no symptoms, I wouldn't worry. If you want to take a test, then take one 2-4 weeks after the missed pills.

You can become pregnant if you miss taking the mini pill by an hour. An alternative to the mini pill that won't decrease your milk supply is the Mirena IUD. I had one after having my daughter...I didn't like it personally but it is an option to look into that wouldn't require you to remember to take a pill the same time every day. If you think you might be pregnant go to your doctor and have them do a blood Hcg (a pregnancy test using your blood as opposed to urine will show up right away if you are pregnant whereas a urine test will not be positive for several weeks after conception). If it comes back negative ask about and IUD.

I would like to let you know that I had the depo shot after my daughter was born and it did not affect my milk production at all. I think if your having a difficult time to taking your pill, I would strongly suggest researching your options for birth control ( I have always been horrible remembering to take them, that is why I like the shot).
Around the time you should be starting your period and you dont, take a test. If it comes back negative wait two weeks and take another. Or you can talk to your dr and ask for a blood test to check.

mirena all the way!!!

i had one after my first and ended up not having periods at all! my second is 7 months old and i have very little period now. i hopefully will end up not having them again, but i can live with the little bit i have if that's the way it ends up.

I read some of the responses and need to add.

You can absolutly get pg while nursing! It's doesn't matter how old the baby is or if you've had a period. You can ovulate without a period even if you are 100% nursing! You are also more fertile right after you have had a baby!

For sure don't go for the depo shot. It's bad news all around. It can really mess up your hormones and your fertility for if you do want more children in the future!

Also, I really would try to avoid the IUD. Straight out, it works great for some women, but for many it doesn't work at all. I have seen many women get pg with it in place and then they have to be removed and when it is removed when you are pg there is a 50/50 chance that they baby will survive! You can't know before hand if it will work for you.

Have you considered a cervical cap? They have no hormones and are safe and effective. You can get fitted for one with a gyn. You can use spermicide with it for extra protection and it won't affect your milk supply at all.

If you are pg, it'll be ok. Your body will be fine. We heal quickly. You can continue to nurse for as long as you want and even tandum nurse when the new baby comes. It's hard in the beginning to have 2 little ones, but you get through it and love them anyway.

As far as continuing the pill..that's really up to you, but if you are pg it can cause you to miscarry. Are you having symptoms? I'd suggest getting a blood test with your dr. If it's negative, wait a week and do 1 more to be sure. If I was you, I'd get off the pill anyway and use something with no hormones.

Good luck with whatever happens and whatever you decide!

I did the same, the mini pill, and had times I forgot it. I breastfed my son until he was 1 (well, at around 11 months started weaning a feeding every week or so to milk). Even when it seemed he was just nursing a few sips at the end, I didn't get my period back until about a month after I was completely done nursing. I guess it doesn't hurt to take a test, but hopefully your body just isn't ready to "start" again :)

You can take a test now, and then again in two weeks, which should cover your bases, no?

Ask your doctor if it is okay to try either the luna ring or an iud for birth control now. Usually, once milk is established and the baby can suck well, the hormone levels in those methods of birth control are so low than they don't affect your baby.

What makes you think you're pregnant? Do you have symptoms? I didn't get my period until six weeks after I weaned my son (he was 7 months old at the time) and all the books said I should have gotten my period ages before because I was supplementing and because he was sleeping through the night... Maybe your period just hasn't returned yet.

Hi N.,
It is possible that you can get pregnant this soon after giving birth. I'd say, first take the test so you will know where to go from there. There are definatley other forms of birth control that you can use while breast feeding. You can get the shot and still breast feed. Iv'e done that.Didn't love it. Also, an IUD is a great option. I have had the copper one for years without a single problem. The one I have is hormone free and good for 10 years and 99.9% effective. I do experience some cramps with my periods (which is a side effect of the non hormonal IUD) but thats what midol is for. My periods were a little heavy right after I got it but they soon went back to normal.
I would rather have a few cramps once a month than go through hormonal problems. Any way- good luck with whatever your future holds!
H.

Okay, calm down. Keep taking the pill. There are other options for breastfeeding moms including the Mirena IUD--I do not recommend a depo provera shot as one mom suggested because there is good evidence that it can decrease milk supply. Also, in the short term you can use condoms if you really, really want to make sure you do not get pregnant.

Next point: breastfeeding suppresses ovulation. For SOME women it means that you do not resume periods until baby is 1 year or more. For others (me included) it doesn't affect fertility all that much. Meaning you can still have a oopsy baby while exclusively breastfeeding an under-6-month-old-baby. But sometimes when periods come back, they don't come back regularly yet. So you may have a period and then not have your next period for 2 months. This is because breastfeeding delayed ovulation for some time. So being "late" doesn't necessarily mean that you are pregnant.

Sooooo,.. be careful. It sounds like you're playing with fire and if it didn't burn you this time it still could later. Research some more birth control options and ways to boost milk supply. Figure out exactly what your priorities are and go from there.

Hi--I can't help with the "am I pregnant" question other than to say I'll cross my fingers for you (that you're not). But I did want to put in another good word for the copper IUD. Once it's in it's good for 10 years (yup, that's TEN) without any additional anything. Take it out and you go back to normal. I got it (from the Army) when my daughter was 6 weeks old and I breastfed her for several months after. The only tricky side effect was that I had very heavy periods for a while. Not sure if that was the IUD or just my whacked out hormones. I suffered through them and got back to normal, and now am so so happy to have a bc method that requires no thought on my part and is 99.9% effective. Good luck and I hope things go well for you!

Take a test! It is absolutely possible that you are pregnant. The mini pill has to be taken on the hour every day. If you take it as little as an hour late (don't even think about forgetting one) the protective effect is lowered greatly.

Please also change your doctor. There are absolutely other BC methods that do not effect your milk supply. I nursed until 19 months and got a mirena at 8 weeks, with no effect on my milk whatsoever. From barrier methods to IUDs, if you cannot reliably take the pill he should have informed you better.

Good luck with that pregnancy test.