Expert: Norman Solberg - 1/9/2009

Question
I am 6 weeks postparatum and am exclusivly brestfeeding. I had finished my post partum bleeding a week ago and then I started having some red spotting/staing, about a 1 1/2 tsp worth yesterday/today and my breasts hurt and my nipples feel exactly like they did when I first got pregnant....VERY sensitive. My husband and I are not using any protection. Could I possibly be pregnant? Or could this be the start of my cycle coming back or is this just more post partum bleeding?

Answer
It is very rare to get pregnant at 6 weeks while you are exclusively breastfeeding.  That said, nothing is impossible, so if your symptoms continue I'd get a pregnancy test.  It's more likely that your hormones are starting to rise again causing the breast changes.  A little bleeding at 6 weeks is also not unusual.  It takes time for everything to get completely back to normal.  Since it may be the start of your ovaries functioning I would start using some kind of birth control if you don't want to be pregnant again.