Fertility Awareness after Childbirth

A woman’s fertility is in a state of transition following the birth of her baby. During this time, it is important that couples are aware of the hormonal changes occurring in the woman’s body, and how these changes affect her fertility.

Responsible parenthood is the virtuous decision to plan or to postpone conception. While having another child may not be the first thing on the minds of a new father and mother, they need to remember the constant call to prayerfully discuss and discern the timing of welcoming more children.

Since the time of postpartum infertility varies from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy, couples need to be conscious of the signs of fertility so they can gain confidence in their practice of natural family planning.

How soon a woman returns to her pre-pregnancy menstrual lengths depends largely on the type of baby feeding she chooses. A non-lactating mother generally experiences an early return of fertility because she is not producing lactating hormones to inhibit ovulation. However, the delay of fertility in breastfeeding mothers can vary. Those who breastfeed exclusively usually notice a later return of fertility than those who provide mixed breastfeeding.

The graph illustrates the average expected lengths of infertility for postpartum women according to how they feed their babies. Generally, mothers who formula feed their babies will have their fertility return by 12 weeks postpartum. Mixed feeding mothers have a varied return of their fertility, depending upon the level of breastfeeding. Some studies show that 97% of mothers who exclusively breastfeed can be assured of postpartum infertility for at least six months. In addition, continued breastfeeding can result in an extended infertility beyond six months.

The length of infertility is dependent upon many factors that are addressed in CCL’s Postpartum Class. To locate a class near you, please visit http://register.ccli.org/