Pregnancy While Breastfeeding: Is this Possible?

4 min read

Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

pregnant mother and child

Some women are pregnant while breastfeeding, which makes them worry about pregnancy while breastfeeding another infant. Is it possible? Well, the simple answer is yes. Even though breastfeeding might offer some protection from ovulation, it is quite possible to ovulate and then conceive before getting your first-period cycle.

The main reason behind this is the hormone oxytocin. It is responsible for producing milk for new mothers. This hormone suppresses your brain from making your main hormone, which in turn will stimulate your ovary to produce an egg every month. It will then eventually ovulate with the main goal to meet sperm. If the mother is breastfeeding exclusively or consistently, there are lesser chances for her to ovulate at all. However, that does not mean that you are not going to ovulate or conceive. The breastfeeding’s protective effect will become less effective as time passes by.

In This Article

How Does Breastfeeding Affect Pregnancy?

There are some signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding, which will make the new mom understand if she is carrying yet another child.

  • Breastfeeding while pregnant will easily make your nipples tender and your breast sore.
  • Moreover, the mother will feel excessively tired or might experience more morning sickness than they usually do when pregnant. These are mainly because of pregnancy hormones.
  • The normal value of Prolactin levels in a non-pregnant woman is not even 25 ng/mL. In pregnant women, the amount rises to 80 to 400 ng per ml. But, there are some times when females suffer from higher prolactin levels. It can be due to medication side effects, any form of pituitary tumors, underactive thyroid gland, or ongoing irritation to the chest. Even breastfeeding and pregnancy can improve the level of prolactin in women. So, when you see signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding, it is vital to know that there will be some hormonal changes in your body, with the prolactin level shooting up!

Common Signs of Pregnancy While Breastfeeding

signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding

Now you must be wondering what were your pregnancy symptoms while breastfeeding. The symptoms of early pregnancy can be really very hard to detect most of the time. But, in case you are looking after your little infant, and you are suffering from irregular period cycles, it is really hard to detect if you are pregnant or not. The symptoms of pregnancy when you are breastfeeding include excessive tiredness, missed or late periods, sore breasts, tender nipples, and nausea.

Sometimes, the symptoms of the early pregnancy stage can be quite similar to PMS. That makes it a bit consuming, mainly if you are experiencing an irregular period cycle just after giving birth. In case you are in doubt, take a pregnancy test and then consult your doctor.

10 Health Tips for Pregnancy While Breastfeeding

mother breastfeeding toddler

If you are pregnant while breastfeeding your infant simultaneously, you need to take special care of your body. It is not that difficult once you have the 10 best health tips to follow.

  1. Enjoy food, which is rich in protein, iron, and calcium. Some of the good iron sources are enriched cereals, lentils, peas, leafy vegetables, dried fruits, and more.
  2. Consult your doctor and then enjoy some good supplements, which are not just good for you but for your unborn child as well. A daily vitamin of B12 is a good call for pregnancy while breastfeeding.
  3. Light exercises are always recommended if you want to maintain a fit body for yourself and the unborn child.
  4. Avoid adding alcohol in your diet plan when you are pregnant and also breastfeeding your infant.
  5. Avoid drinking more than 2 to 3 cups of caffeine on a daily basis. Too much caffeine in breast milk will agitate your baby.
  6. Try adding fish to your diet plan. Seafood is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which is good for the unborn child and breastfeeding baby too.
  7. Not all herbal products are good for a breastfeeding mother to consume. Consult a doctor before going in with herbal supplements.
  8. Try adding oranges and some other citrus fruits to your diet plan because nursing mothers need more Vitamin C.
  9. Add unsweetened fruit juices and semi-skimmed milk to your diet plan.
  10. Water, almond milk, fruit juices, and vegetable juice increase milk protection in breastfeeding mothers. So, try adding those to the diet plan.

Is it Safe to Breastfeed While You are Pregnant?

Generally speaking, pregnancy while breastfeeding is safe, but as long as you are careful with your healthy diet plan. Add plenty of fluids to your diet to help you cope up with the scenario.

Following some simple tricks and tips will actually help you to breastfeed your infant while you are pregnant with an unborn child. Welcoming another new bundle of joy will give you immense pleasure.

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Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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