Expert: ruth kraft - 5/15/2009

Question
Ive been breastfeeding my daughter for 7 months now and Im
beginning to experience breast tenderness. my husband and I
did have unprotected sex without him ejaculating inside me.
Since I know I could still get pregnant, I took a pregnancy
test and it came out negative. I am having no other
pregnancy symptoms except constipation (which I had with my
first baby). What could be causing the tenderness??
Oh, I recently started feeding my baby solids, but she
hardly eats them and the tenderness is only in one breast.
Also, I have had a clogged duct before and I do not
recognize this as so. Please help.

Answer
of course the pregnancy is possible, but since that was negative , its more likely that you started solids, which indicates to your body that you are starting to wean. Because you are starting to wean, the hormones shift in your body and then you will start to ovulate.  which then can increase the chance of pregnancy. I found this out by getting pregnant with my son 6 months after my daughter was born because I fed solids twice, never had a period and got pregnant. so beleive me, its possible. even if she doesnt eat alot of them. its a missed feeding at the breast. which isnt a bad thing at 7 months old, but just how the body works. so likely its that hormonal change, but if you are trying to avoid another pregnancy right now, be aware that you dont have to have a period first . and the signs could be that your body is going to ovulate again :)  good luck!