Laine Ferguson is a Millennial Mom-of-Two, Birth Doula & Childbirth Educator based in Nelson, BC, Canada. Through her work supporting expecting and postpartum families, she is passionate about helping parents feel informed and empowered in their fertility journey. Laine brings an approachable, evidence-informed perspective to conversations about fertility, birth, and postpartum recovery - rooted in both professional experience and her lived-experience of modern motherhood.
The postpartum period is full of surprises. Some beautiful. Some exhausting. Some… hormonal (Read: sweaty, very sweaty).
One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough: Fertility after birth.
Many folks assume that if they’re breastfeeding, they can’t get pregnant - you could, or you could not! Or that their fertility won’t return until their period does. Postpartum bodies don’t follow a universal rulebook - and understanding what’s happening in your unique body can make a big difference in how confident you feel during this season.
More than anything, it’s about tuning back into your body and feeling confident in what it’s communicating.
Two things that people frequently don’t know are:
- Fertility can return before your first postpartum period
- Breastfeeding can delay ovulation - but it’s not foolproof ‘birth control’
First Things First: Fertility Can Return Before Your Period
Here’s something that surprises a lot of families I support:
Ovulation happens BEFORE your first postpartum period.
That means you can ovulate, and potentially conceive, before you ever see that first postpartum bleed. To complicate things, the first 4 - 6+ weeks, your postpartum body is already going through its initial postpartum bleed, called “lochia”, which is not a regular menstrual period.
Breastfeeding can delay ovulation for some people because the hormone, Prolactin (which helps produce human milk), can suppress the hormones that trigger ovulation. But this doesn’t happen the same way for everyone.
Some people won’t ovulate for many months.
Some will ovulate within weeks.
Most fall somewhere in between.
There’s no one “normal” timeline - just your timeline.
What About Breastfeeding as Birth Control?
You may have heard of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). It can be effective, if (BIG if):
- Your baby is under 6 months old
- You’re exclusively nursing day and night
- Your period hasn’t returned
But real life shifts quickly. Babies sleep longer (yay!). You introduce a bottle. You pump. You start solids. And your hormones respond to those changes.
Nursing alone isn’t a guaranteed form of birth control - especially as routines evolve.
Knowing when you ovulate is the most accurate way to plan or prevent pregnancy.
So How Do You Know When You’re Ovulating?
Ovulation is when your body releases an egg. It’s triggered by a surge in a hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone). That LH surge typically happens about 24–36 hours before ovulation.
Some people notice body signs like:
- Clear, stretchy cervical mucus (egg-white consistency)
- A subtle shift in how their body feels (tender breasts, bloating, cramping or abdominal pains)
But postpartum, especially while nursing, those signs can be harder to interpret - or you just have too much going on that you can’t even recall if you’ve brushed your teeth that day.
During this time hormones are still recalibrating. This is where ovulation testing can be really helpful.
Using Ovulation (LH) Testing Postpartum
OVRY’s Ovulation Test Strips check for the LH surge that signals ovulation is approaching.
In the postpartum season, this can:
- Help you confirm when fertility is returning
- Reduce guesswork if cycles feel irregular
- Support you whether you’re trying to prevent pregnancy or hoping to conceive again
- It’s not about obsessively tracking, it’s about tuning in and noticing changes. When you can see what your hormones are doing, it’s easier to make informed decisions.
And What About Pregnancy Testing?
Because ovulation can happen before your first period, pregnancy testing can also play an important role postpartum.
You might consider testing if:
- You noticed ovulation signs but no period followed
- Your feeding routine changed and fertility may have returned
- You just want peace-of-mind
Using a reliable pregnancy test, like OVRY’s Pregnancy Test Strips, gives you information when you need it. Pregnancy testing can be part of normal reproductive wellness routine, especially when your cycles are unpredictable.
Postpartum Fertility Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All-Bodies
Some families want to space pregnancies carefully, or avoid conceiving altogether.
Some are open to whatever happens.
Some are ready to try again sooner than expected.
All of these are valid.
Empowered fertility isn’t about managing every detail - it’s about feeling informed and confident in the decisions that feel right for you and your family.
Rebuilding Trust in Your Body
After pregnancy and birth, it’s common to feel disconnected from your body. From my own personal experience, the symptoms I experience before and during ovulation have evolved from pre-kids, and again after each of my two births. Learning how ovulation works again, and using tools that support fertility awareness can actually help rebuild trust in your intuition.
When you combine body awareness with supportive tools like ovulation and pregnancy testing, understanding your postpartum fertility can shift from fuzzy to intuitive.
The postpartum period is already a season of transformation. I hope leaning into understanding your body can be something that grounds and empowers you, not something that surprises you.
The TLDR;
Understanding your fertility gives you useful information in either direction - whether you’re trying to conceive or not.
- Know that ovulation may return before your first postpartum period
- Track body signs & symptoms of ovulation (BBT, cervical mucus, etc.)
- Practice regular Ovulation (LH) Testing (get a big box!) to take advantage of (or avoid) your fertile window
- Track using a cycle tracking app that does not use an algorithm
- Don’t rely on bleeding patterns alone
If you’re preparing for birth and want personalized, evidence-based support, Lains offers Virtual 1:1 Childbirth Education and Birth Planning sessions designed to help you feel empowered and ready for birth. For families local to the West Kootenays, she also provides in-person Labour & Birth Support in Nelson, BC, offering continuous support throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.
Book at FREE consultation at thebirthlaine.com or connect with her @thebirthlaine.