Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding?

Last reviewed June 19, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineYes - breastfeeding lowers fertility but doesn't stop it, and you can ovulate before your period returns; the lactational amenorrhea method only works if your baby is under 6 months, you breastfeed exclusively day and night, and your period hasn't returned.

Yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding lowers your fertility but does not switch it off, and you can ovulate before your period returns - so pregnancy is possible.

How breastfeeding affects fertility

Frequent nursing raises prolactin, which suppresses ovulation. This natural effect is strongest when feeding is exclusive and frequent. As feeds space out, your baby sleeps longer, or you introduce solids or bottles, ovulation can resume.

The lactational amenorrhea method (LAM)

LAM can be up to about 98% effective at preventing pregnancy, but only when all three conditions are met:

• Your baby is under 6 months old
• You're breastfeeding exclusively, on demand, day and night
• Your period has not returned

If any one of these stops being true, fertility can return quickly and you need another method.

Bottom line

If you don't want to conceive again soon, use contraception while breastfeeding. Many methods are compatible with nursing.

Femora helps you watch for signs of returning fertility while you breastfeed.

Check your fertile days: fertile window calculator