Patient's question:
When my baby was 3 months old, I started having intercourse with my husband. Then, I didn't get my period for a while. It has been more than 4 and a half months now, and I still haven't had my period. However, I haven't experienced any pregnancy symptoms. I wonder if it could be that I'm pregnant again, considering I haven't had my period for so long. But the baby has been breastfeeding.What kind of help do I need: Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding?
Doctor's answer:
Pregnancy can also occur during breastfeeding. Postpartum breastfeeding can stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete prolactin, which in turn inhibits the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland from secreting FSH, resulting in anovulation and thus a contraceptive effect. However, it would be overly optimistic to assume that continuous breastfeeding eliminates the need for contraception.