Want to Conceive While Nursing Six Month Old
Question
I have a six month old baby. I bottle feed during the day and nurse once before bed, once at 3am and once at 8am. I’d like to conceive another child soon but I’ve had no menstruation. Is it possible to become pregnant while nursing with no menstruation?
Ashley
Answer
Last Updated: November 16, 2021
Dear Ashley,
It is quite likely you will begin cycling soon because your baby is already six months old and many breastfeeding women with your nursing pattern will return to cycling by six months. Your cycle can be expected if you identify a discharge of clear, stretchy mucus or have the feeling of lubrication. It can last for one or several days and will preceed your menstruation by about two weeks. This will happen when your estrogen rises and the hormone prolactin decreases. You needn’t stop nursing but by stopping it could hasten the return to the estrogen rise and mucus production which leads to ovulation.
Therefore the answer is “yes” you could conceive before you begin to cycle again, simply because you may ovulate before you menstruate. I say “may” because we know that ovulation doesn’t always happen prior to your first menstruation.
You would appreciate the benefits of Natural Family Planning. My very best to you.
Judy Wilmurt
It is quite likely you will begin cycling soon because your baby is already six months old and many breastfeeding women with your nursing pattern will return to cycling by six months. Your cycle can be expected if you identify a discharge of clear, stretchy mucus or have the feeling of lubrication. It can last for one or several days and will preceed your menstruation by about two weeks. This will happen when your estrogen rises and the hormone prolactin decreases. You needn’t stop nursing but by stopping it could hasten the return to the estrogen rise and mucus production which leads to ovulation.
Therefore the answer is “yes” you could conceive before you begin to cycle again, simply because you may ovulate before you menstruate. I say “may” because we know that ovulation doesn’t always happen prior to your first menstruation.
You would appreciate the benefits of Natural Family Planning. My very best to you.
Judy Wilmurt
Answered By:
Judy Wilmurt
Judy Wilmurt, Professional Member of CANFP, and past member of the Executive Board, taught the Creighton Model FertilityCare System of NFP in the Oakland region, wherre she resides with her husband Eric.
