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It is said that a woman is infertile as long as she is breastfeeding. The possibility of pregnancy exists only after weaning the baby from natural feeding. However, is the natural way of feeding a guarantee of infertility? How can we check it?
How it works?
In women who are breastfeeding, the secretion of a hormone called prolactin, which has an ovulation-inhibiting effect, increases significantly. Thanks to this, in women who exclusively breastfeed their baby, the period without ovulation is significantly longer, even up to several months. However, depending on the woman, this time may be longer or shorter. It depends on several factors, such as the predisposition of the mother’s body and genetic factors.
Problems with determining fertility
Fertile days can start even a few days before ovulation begins. This can be easily recognized by women by measuring their basal body temperature or by observing mucus or other signs of ovulation. However, the very fertile days starting before ovulation – we have no way to precisely determine.
Postpartum ovulation – when?
After giving birth, ovulation may take up to two weeks or several months to occur. Its onset is prolonged in lactating women. The time without ovulation is prolonged by not giving the baby a pacifier (it calms down at the breast), feeding on demand, not drinking enough water, exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months of the baby’s life. These are the so-called lactational infertility, i.e. caused by the production of prolactin during breastfeeding. This method is effective up to a maximum of 6 months of age and does not guarantee the same for all women. At the same time, it should be remembered that expanding the child’s diet is associated with a decrease in the frequency of breastfeeding, and thus – it can cause a decrease in prolactin and earlier ovulation.
Contraception while breastfeeding
Hormonal contraception is not indicated during breastfeeding, so it should not be used. Natural contraceptive methods and careful observation of our body will be helpful.
Postpartum follow-up
It should start about 3 weeks after giving birth. Then, for 10-14 days, we must carefully observe our sensations and possible discharge in the vestibule of the vagina. This will help us determine the PMN, or Basic Infertility Model. It is important to refrain from intercourse during this time so as not to disturb the observation. We can have three types of PMN:
- “dry” – without any discharge, with the accompanying feeling of dryness
- with constant discharge – there is the same discharge all the time with a similar degree of density with felt moisture in the vagina
- mixed – there is an alternation of a dry model and a model with solid secretion
It is advisable to start measuring the body temperature as early as possible, especially on the days of change in the type of BMN observed and for several days after the peak. If we notice any deviation from the established model, we can consider it the beginning of fertile days. The last day of the occurrence of mucus or deviation from the PMN is the peak of the mucus symptom. Subsequently, the fourth evening after the peak is the end of the period of possible fertility, provided that there is no increase in temperature. The lack of an elevated temperature after the mucus peak means that ovulation has not occurred and the mucus may return after some time. There is also a possibility of bleeding that is not preceded by an increase in temperature – this is the period of possible fertility.