You're unlikely to have periods if you are exclusively breastfeeding and your baby is under 6 months.
Exclusively breastfeeding means that you are:
- giving your baby no other food or drinks
- feeding in response to your baby's cues (including during the night)
- not using a pacifier (soother)
If you have unprotected sex during this time, your chances of becoming pregnant are around 3%.
If you are not ready to get pregnant again, use contraception. Your fertility can return when you are breastfeeding.
Contraception and breastfeeding
Your chances of getting pregnant may increase when your baby is about age 6 months.
This is when your baby starts to take food and drinks other than breast milk.
Ovulation can happen earlier if you:
- use a soother
- give formula milk feeds
- leave gaps of 6 hours or longer between breastfeeds
- miss feeds during the night
Prolactin (the milk-making hormone) levels are usually higher at night. Prolactin can stop ovulation.
Contraception options
Many of the different types of contraception are safe to take when breastfeeding.
It's OK to take the progesterone-only pill while you're breastfeeding. Only tiny amounts get into breast milk. It's very unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.
It is also safe to use other types of contraception, such as:
- copper coil or intrauterine device (IUD)
- intrauterine system (IUS)
- a contraceptive implant or injection
Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice if you want to use another type of contraception or need to take emergency contraception.
Non-urgent advice: Talk to your GP, pharmacist, lactation nurse or midwife if:
- you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual
- you have any other concerns about your baby
Fertility
Getting a period means you are ovulating and most likely fertile.
Your periods may start again around a month after you stop or reduce breastfeeding. But this can vary.
Bringing fertility back sooner
Changing your breastfeeding pattern may bring back your fertility.
When you and your baby are ready, you could gradually:
- increase the time between feeds
- reduce night feeds
But there is no specific time between feeds to follow.
If you want to stop breastfeeding, plan to reduce feeds over a period of weeks or months. This helps breastfeeding to end in a comfortable way for you and your baby.
Getting pregnant before your first period
It is possible to get pregnant before your first period after pregnancy. But it is unlikely that the first egg released will result in conception. Generally, you must have a regular cycle of ovulation and periods to get pregnant.
Increasing your chance of pregnancy
The best way to become pregnant is to have regular sex.
Sex when trying to get pregnant
Return of your periods
If you are having regular periods, it is likely you have returned to fertility. Long, short or irregular cycles can be a sign that your cycles are not yet fertile.
Keeping a record of your periods can help you check if your body is ovulating.
How to tell if you're fertile
If you want to know more about your fertility status, track your:
- periods
- body temperature
- fluid from your cervix (cervical mucus)
Fertility treatment and breast milk
If you're worried about how a fertility medicine affects breastfeeding, talk to your GP and fertility expert.