My wife is 11 weeks pp and 1 1/2 weeks ago we had unprotected sex 1 time. It was on Aug.19th early AM. Since this she has not had a period. On Sunday Morning, Aug 22, she had some minor bleeding that was red and pink that lasted for 3 days on and off. Also since then she has had cramping. She has been breastfeeding the whole time with a couple bottle suppliments a day of juice to help with my sons bowels. On Aug 22 we took a pregnancy test and was negative. On the 26th she took another test and was negative. Does this sound like she is pregnant? She did not have a period before and no signs of ovulating around the time of sex. Only 3 1/2 days after on the 22nd, which seems too soon to be implantation bleeding. Could it just be her body getting back on track. When should we test for the most accurate test if we dont know when her period would be? Thanks
***UPDATE*** So Wednesday, September 1st, she tested again and it was negative. It has now been 14 days since we had sex. Since the last post above, she has been really sick (nauseous, throwing up, getting dizzy, diarrhea) on and off as well as cramping the whole time (Sometimes Strong) so from her previous experiences with having two kids and how she felt, she feels like she is pregnant. Some things to note, my wife started excercising and she has been very emotional during this. Can nerves create these symptoms? Do you think she still can be pregnant? Thanks in advance to everyone who has commented.
Hi K.,
While it is usually difficult to get pregnant while BFing, it is still possible. The body has some adjusting to do, as you mention and not everyone reacts the same. Since you mention cramping which is continuing, I think she should schedule an appointment with the doc, as I don't recall cramping at that point in the game.
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Sometimes that short PP you can have some random bleeding....sometimes just because you overdid it or whatever. It is VERY unlikely for her to be pregnant. Most women who are BF at least every 3 hours during the day and every 5 at night will not be fertile and most don't even get their period back for several months (I BF exclusively around the clock and didn't get anything back till around a year). It is only when the feedings start spacing out and you start giving supplemental food that really have to be concerned. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html
I would probably just go to the Dr to have things checked out. It is possible, but I think unlikely that it could be her cycle coming back. Cycles can be REALLY weird when you are first getting them back and you are BF. I think sometimes mine would start and then stop because the hormone the BF creates "turns it off".
And, FWIW, really should not be giving juice this young. There is no real reason to do this and it is backfiring as it unseals the digestive tract and some of the good the BF is doing as far as protecting from disease, esp in the gut. http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html
Are you worried that he is not having many BM? That is completely normal in a BF baby because the breast milk is digested so fully there is little waste.
Or is the ped telling you to give iron supplements which may be causing constipation? Those are totally unnecessary. Unfortunately, many peds are not up to date with that information http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron.html
If she is breastfeeding full time I think some women don't get their period while they are breastfeeding. As for the minor bleeding, you might need to ask her OB for advice. The most accurate test for pregnancy would be a blood or urine test done at the doc's office.
This could all be like you said, her body getting back on track but your wife might want to talk to her OB to make sure.
Women DO get their period when exclusively breastfeeding. Not all, but a lot. I did. I agree with the others though about making an appointment to have her OBG check her out.
Don't test again for at least 2 weeks and NO SEX until you know or unless you use protection. Women release eggs multiple times in a month no matter what. Not all of them are mature nor is lining always thick enough to have an embryo implant.
Use protection...if she and you aren't ready for her to have another child 10 months from now ;)!
If she's testing negative then this is probably just normal post-partum stuff. I find that most women state that their periods never return to the same cycle they had before getting pregnant, and getting it on any kind of a "normal" schedule can easily take a year or so (especially if breastfeeding). Wait a week, take one more test, if it's negative then that's your answer.
Hi K., I think she is just getting her periods back. They can come back all wacky especially when you are breastfeeding. I would wait a week and take another test just to be sure. A woman can get pregnant while breastfeeding even before she starts menstruating regularly , so be careful :) But I think in this case it sounds like she is one of the unlucky ones, like me, who doesn't get a break from their periods while BF.
If you don't want to get pregnant again right now you need to use a form of birth control every single time you have sex. You absolutely can not rely on breastfeeding as a form of birth control unless baby is nursing literally around the clock (and even then i wouldn't trust it). I have had at least 2 friends get pregnant while nursing exclusively and both prior to knowing they were getting their cycle back. A woman ovulates and usually has no idea.
Testing 7 days after sex usually isn't going to give you any accurate answers. When we had an oops moment I read something about waiting 19 days after unprotected sex to test when you weren't sure where you were in your cycle. It's probably her body getting back on track but there is really no way to tell. She could put in a call to her doc and see about getting a blood test or just wait it out to test at home again.
It might be her body getting on track. Because when you breast feed it is supposed to help stop you from having a period so you won't get pregnant. But if she is in alot of pain you should take her to the doctor, better to be safe then sorry.
