Who hasn’t heard that a woman who has just had a baby won’t be fertile for a long period, especially if she is breastfeeding? Well, scientifically speaking and in practice, that’s not quite true. Many women get pregnant just weeks after giving birth or even during the recovery period, which is why we know families with children who are almost the same age. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant after childbirth, even if the menstrual cycle hasn’t returned yet.

Risk of Pregnancy After Childbirth

The birth of a child has a significant impact on the body, especially during the pregnancy period1. Most health professionals recommend not getting pregnant immediately after giving birth, as the woman’s health has not yet recovered from the previous pregnancy.

Breastfeeding and Fertility

There are many factors at play when we talk about pregnancy after childbirth. The most important factor is whether the woman is breastfeeding the newborn. While it is possible to get pregnant during breastfeeding, it is about 98% effective as a birth control method on its own. But it’s important to remember its effectiveness only applies if:

  • The baby is under six months old;
  • The menstrual period has not returned;
  • Breastfeeding is exclusive;
  • Breastfeeding is on demand;
  • Total breastfeeding lasts on average 60 minutes daily.

Breastfeeding changes how luteinizing hormone is secreted and helps prevent ovulation — and to get pregnant, you must ovulate. The amount of time it takes for fertility to return can vary among women; it will depend on the baby’s breastfeeding pattern and how the body responds to lactation hormones.

What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant After Childbirth?

Although health professionals recommend not having sex before the end of the recovery period, it can happen sometimes, and if the woman is not using any contraception, a pregnancy after childbirth can occur. In addition, when women breastfeed, ovulation is delayed, but only in some cases, so breastfeeding is not a 100% effective method of birth control. The vast majority of mothers experience prolonged bleeding after childbirth, which usually lasts between 3 and 8 weeks, and the blood is generally bright red. However, the bleeding becomes lighter over time, indicating the uterus is completely healed. The chances of ovulation during the first 6 weeks after childbirth are generally very low, but not impossible. Shortly after post-partum bleeding stops, and if the mother is not exclusively breastfeeding, ovulation can return around 10 weeks after childbirth. About 80% of women who do not breastfeed have their cycles return to normal in this time, although for most women it may take a few months for their bodies and hormones to return to normal2. On average, it takes about 14 months for menstruation to return, but for some women this happens as soon as the first month, although it is likely she isn’t actually ovulating.

Risks of Pregnancy After Childbirth

Getting pregnant soon after having a baby can cause problems for both the mother and the baby. There has been very limited research on this subject; however, pregnancy within 12 months after childbirth may increase the risk of:

  • Placental abruption
  • Increased risk of autism in babies conceived soon after childbirth;
  • The placenta may attach to the lower part of the uterine wall, which can cover all or part of the cervix, causing placenta previa, especially in women who had a previous cesarean birth.

According to studies on risks associated with pregnancy after childbirth, the incidence of uterine rupture in women who attempted vaginal birth after cesarean in less than eighteen months after their first birth increased significantly. There are some risks associated with pregnancy before or within eighteen months after childbirth, which include:

  • Preterm birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Small size for gestational age

Moreover, some experts clearly believe that pregnancies spaced too close together generally negatively affect the mother, as they do not give the woman a chance to rest, or to recover physically from the previous pregnancy before going through another. For example, both breastfeeding and pregnancy deplete all the body’s essential nutrient stores, such as folic acid and iron, needed for both the mother and baby.

Body Recovery

The genital tract can also become inflamed during pregnancy after childbirth. It’s important to give the body and these organs time so that they can recover before another pregnancy. Of course, many women have had successful pregnancies soon after childbirth. It is important to weigh the pros and cons; for this reason, it is suggested to use some method of contraception right after the baby is born.

Contraceptive Methods to Prevent Pregnancy After Childbirth

If you plan to have another child within the next year or so, you may consider using a short-acting contraceptive3, which includes: Short-acting methods

  • Oral contraceptive pill – This pill contains progesterone and mainly works by stopping or preventing ovulation. It is safe, has rare side effects, relieves pain, and also helps with heavy flows. However, there are some drawbacks with this method; some women may develop significant blood clots. For breastfeeding mothers, it is important to talk to your doctor to see which type of pill is ideal to use during breastfeeding.
  • Barrier methods – These include male and female condoms, diaphragm, and spermicides. They prevent sperm from entering the uterus, are safe, and do not have side effects. They also do not affect fertility, but the only problem with these methods is that they are not as reliable as others.
  • Natural method (Rhythm method & Billings) – where cycles are determined through charts and monitoring body signs (mucus, etc.), and sexual relations only take place outside the fertile period. The essential condition for this method is having regular menstrual cycles. However, this method is not safe and has a high chance of failure.

Long-acting methods

  • Injectable contraceptive – hormone released at a very low rate in the body. It is an effective method that works by inhibiting ovulation, in the same way as the pill, and must be injected every 90 days (3 months). Although it is very efficient, it can sometimes cause irregular periods and some side effects.
  • Contraceptive implant – a small device placed under the skin. It releases hormone slowly into the body. It works the same way as the previous method and is very effective.
  • IUD – A very reliable option to prevent pregnancy. Typically, one in 100 people will get pregnant using this method. It is possible to get pregnant immediately after removing the device.

See also: Postpartum Care – Sexual Intercourse After or During Recovery Photos: Santiago Fernandez