How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Giving Birth?
Congratulations! You've just welcomed a little bundle of joy into your family. You could still be on that exhilarating high that comes after bringing life into the world. You could also be feeling weighed down by all of the sleepless nights and added stresses of parenthood.
Whether you're in superhero mode or feeling the grime of day 3 in the same sweats, you're probably wondering when you'll start seeing your pre-newborn life start to return — and this may include having sex. According to the Mayo Clinic, the general rule of thumb is to wait between 4-6 weeks before jumping back into the sack. However, this is something you should discuss with your medical care provider, just to be on the safe side.
You might be excited to have sex if you've missed that physical connection with your partner. Or, you might be excited because you feel the strong urge to give your precious little baby a sibling! Before you start the creation of life process from the very beginning again, here's what you should know.
You may want to give yourself time to heal
First off, don't believe the widespread belief that you can't get pregnant while you are breastfeeding or if your period hasn't returned. The National Health Service confirms that neither of these assumptions is true. Both of these factors might make the chances of conceiving less likely. However, you can put a new bun in the oven in as little as 3 weeks after your freshly baked creation has come out.
Pregnancy so soon after delivery is possible, but it is not recommended. March of Dimes encourages new mothers to wait at least a year — preferably 18 months — before putting their bodies through pregnancy again. This is because getting pregnant so soon after giving birth increases your risk of premature delivery or your baby having a low birth weight. In addition, your body itself may not be fully healed from your first pregnancy. You need time to build up your nutrient supply again and heal from any infections that may have occurred during the first delivery.
It's wonderful that you want to expand your family. However, it might be best to wait at least a year before getting pregnant again, for the sake of your health and your next baby's health.