For many women, getting pregnant again after giving birth isn't something they think about at first. Some women, however, plan to have a second child as soon as possible. There are a few things to keep in mind.
Depending on how often you breastfeed, your first period after giving birth may begin as early as the sixth week. However, your period may not return until after you stop breastfeeding. Important to know: You can ovulate even if you’re not having a period. So if you’re not planning to have children, be sure to use birth control starting with your first sexual intercourse. (Breastfeeding alone is not a form of birth control.)
Contraception
While you are breastfeeding, some forms of birth control—such as the pill or natural family planning—are not suitable or are not very effective. The minipill, condoms, or an IUD are good options for birth control. Talk to your gynecologist about this.
Planning a Pregnancy After Giving Birth
After a pregnancy, your body needs some time to recover. Both pregnancy-related and childbirth-related changes should return to normal before you become pregnant again. You should definitely wait half a year—but preferably a full year—before planning another pregnancy.
If you are breastfeeding, the hormones associated with breastfeeding may prevent ovulation. However, once you stop breastfeeding, your cycle will soon return to normal. Don't forget to take folic acid if you are planning to become pregnant.
Tandem Breastfeeding
If you become pregnant while breastfeeding, you are, of course, welcome to continue breastfeeding your child. You may experience a temporary, slight decrease in milk supply. Frequent feedings will help restore your milk supply. You can also breastfeed both children after the birth of your second (or subsequent) child (tandem breastfeeding). The newborn naturally takes priority, but the older child will also want to nurse, especially at night. Here, too, the rule applies: the more your breasts are stimulated to produce milk, the more milk they will produce.
