When a woman becomes pregnant, many changes begin to take place. After the birth of her child, a whole new series of changes also occur. The body’s readjustment after the postpartum period is slow, but not as slow as during pregnancy, which takes up to 9 months.
This time, the body needs at least 40 days to return to the same condition it was in before pregnancy. However, some women resume sexual activity during this recovery period, and there are cases in which pregnancy during the postpartum recovery can indeed happen.
Hormonal Restructuring
Right after childbirth, a woman’s hormones begin to restructure; all the hormones that were drastically changed by pregnancy start to readjust and return to normal levels. This hormonal change can occur more slowly or more quickly. That will depend on the woman’s body.
However, the body can play tricks and cause a woman to ovulate earlier than expected1. Normally, the timeframe for ovulation to resume is about 45 to 50 days. However, there are cases of postpartum pregnancies that occurred 30 days or more after birth. Without realizing it, and even while breastfeeding, a woman can ovulate. So pregnancy during the postpartum period can happen if she has unprotected sex.
Prevention During Sex
Ideally, sexual activity should resume with contraceptive medication, precisely to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant during the postpartum period. This results in a relatively early pregnancy which may carry certain risks.
After childbirth, the uterus still has small wounds where the placenta was attached. These wounds may not heal properly if sexual activity resumes too soon. Also, if a pregnancy occurs during the postpartum period, there won’t be enough time for them to heal completely, which leaves them exposed to infections. Not to mention that, if it’s a pregnancy after a cesarean section, there’s still recovery of the uterine and skin incisions. Cesarean is surgery, don’t forget that2. So, what should you do?
Is it common to get pregnant during the postpartum period?
Talking to your obstetrician is essential. In this period of readaptation, professional help is very important. Ideally, you shouldn’t become pregnant during postpartum recovery. However, it can happen and in these cases, the doctor will closely monitor the situation. Everything will also depend on the woman’s ability to recover. However, it’s better to be overly cautious than not cautious enough.
There are contraceptive implants based on progesterone. They are suitable even if the woman is still breastfeeding and can be inserted right after birth to prevent a possible pregnancy during the postpartum period3. That’s why, if you plan to have sex before the postpartum recovery ends, the best step is to talk to a doctor so they can advise the best way to prevent pregnancy during the recovery period.
I Got Pregnant During the Postpartum Period – Juliana Shares Her Experience
Juliana, a 33-year-old from São Paulo, became pregnant during her postpartum recovery and shared her story.
“I had some difficulties getting pregnant, it took me 3 years. When I was pregnant with Fernanda, my mother always told me to be careful after giving birth, and to respect the 40 days recovery. But I spent a long time without having sex during pregnancy, we had to be completely abstinent because of the risk of the baby being born prematurely.
My husband and I missed each other a lot (he more than I did) and I ended up giving in to his wishes. I was 35 days into the recovery when we started having sex again. I wasn’t taking anything because I thought breastfeeding would prevent pregnancy, and it was when my baby was almost 2 months old that I started to suspect I might be pregnant.
I talked to the obstetrician who delivered my baby and he ordered an ultrasound and some tests, including the beta test. I did it and the result alarmed me, my HCG hormone level was over 3,000. He said it could be residual from the previous pregnancy, so he told me to repeat the test in a week.
I did, and it was over 9,000. I really was pregnant, and that pregnancy was closely monitored, but my son Enzo was born at 39 weeks gestation. The doctor advised me to have a cesarean for safety reasons, since I shouldn’t go into labor due to the short time between pregnancies. Fernanda was born July 19, and Enzo was born June 19 of the following year. Today they are 7 and 6 years old and are the joy of my life.”
Behavior
Getting pregnant during postpartum recovery can be considered crazy, not only from a medical point of view, but also because how do you cope with two babies? Society may judge women who get pregnant during this period. This is because the culture of total abstinence during the postpartum recovery was much stronger in the past, or at least women didn’t admit having sex before this period was over. In the past, postpartum recovery was surrounded by myths and traditions that today are well explained by medicine.
The fact is, even if a woman already has other children, getting pregnant during postpartum recovery can take attention away from the newborn, well before the right time. And the feeling of “abandoning” the baby who just arrived a few months before can be a burden for the mother, and the fear of not being able to handle it can be overwhelming and distressing.
Readjustment is essential, and taking time to get to know your baby is just as important… However, if pregnancy during recovery does happen, mom absolutely has the strength and love to get through this phase with lots of care and dedication. If in doubt, ask your trusted doctor for guidance and follow all their advice, as it is very important during this time.
Understanding from your partner is essential. If he is having trouble understanding the situation and timing, a good conversation can help. And there is a saying that fits perfectly here: “God doesn’t give anyone a colder night than their blanket can handle.”
See you next time!
Also see: Postpartum Care – Sexual Relationship After or During Recovery
Photo: Johannes Jander
