Hi Hotspur! What a bummer... it is one of the advantages I looked forward to when breastfeeding.
In answer to your question:
This is possible even for women who breastfeed exclusively. It is not uncommon for women breastfeeding exclusively to have some vaginal bleeding or spotting in the first 8 weeks postpartum. Thirty percent of women who breastfeed exclusively or almost exclusively will have ovulatory cycles and periods during the first 6 months of breastfeeding. Keep in mind statistics vary by source.
Here are a couple of links that address this same question, just so you know you are not alone
:
http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/lactation/qas/0,,239845_106381,00.html
http://www.parentsplace.com/expert/lactation/qas/0,,239845_108698,00.html
http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/menstruation.html
As for breastfeeding and not getting pregnant, it is not as simple as “you won’t get pregnant as long as you are breastfeeding”. It has been my experience, however, that women do not receive enough information on how to use this method effectively.
Continuous breastfeeding AKA Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a contraceptive choice that SHOULD be provided with all options counseling and is 98-99% effective (you’ll even see it on the package insert of birth control pills for comparison) if:
1) Your periods have not returned (meaning you are amenorrheic) – you can ignore bleeding before 56 days postpartum according to WHO
2) You are fully or nearly fully breastfeeding (definitions vary on this)
3) Your baby is less than 6 months old
The effectiveness quoted and method guidelines vary somewhat depending on the source. For example, one of my medical books recommends the initiation of an another form of contraception at 3 months postpartum if full breastfeeding (3 weeks postpartum if partial or no breastfeeding). If anyone is interested in this method, I would recommend researching and finding a LAM counselor (unfortunately, your health care provider may not be your best resource).
For those of you interested in LAM, here are some resources for you. Please be aware that there may be some reference to scripture with some of these sources.
Books on LAM or with chapters/sections on the subject:
Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing: How Ecological Breastfeeding Spaces Babies
by Sheila Kippley.
Tacking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
The Art of Natural Family Planning by John & Sheila Kippley
Websites (there are many)
http://www.nd.edu/~mmeineke/kelly/lam/lam.html (lots of links to informative sites)
http://www.lalecheleague.org/ba/Aug93.html
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/lam.html
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices1.html#LAM
Sorry for the rambling.
Autumn
