My sister in law just had a baby a few weeks ago and is breastfeeding.  She told me that she heard that since she is breastfeeding she does not need to worry about birth control, because you can’t get pregnant when you are breastfeeding.

I decided to do a bit of research on this to see if it was true or just a myth.

From what I read on Breastfeeding.com, breastfeeding does provide short term birth control, but only if a woman answers yes to all three of the following questions:

1. Is your child under six months of age?
2. Have you still not gotten a regular menstrual period?
3. Is breastfeeding on demand the ONLY way your child is receiving nutrition – no supplemental formula or foods?

Breastfeeding can suppress ovulation and the hormones that cause your eggs to mature so there is a birth control benefit to breastfeeding.  Once a woman answers no to any of these questions listed above breastfeeding would not be providing any birth control for the woman.

The bottom line is this: breastfeeding probably does provide some short term birth control, but if you aren’t planning on having children in the near future you might want to consider using another form of birth control.  Check with your doctor to see what method would be best for you and your situation.