Can breastfeeding affect a positive pregnancy test?

Understanding the Impact of Breastfeeding on Pregnancy Tests
The question of whether breastfeeding can affect the results of a pregnancy test is one that many nursing mothers ponder, especially if they suspect they might be pregnant again. The good news is that breastfeeding does not interfere with the accuracy of pregnancy tests.
How Pregnancy Tests Work
At the core of this reassurance is an understanding of how pregnancy tests function. These tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, hCG levels rise significantly, and this is what the tests are designed to measure. Importantly, the hormones associated with breastfeeding, such as prolactin, do not mimic hCG and therefore do not lead to false positives or negatives in pregnancy tests.
Expert Insights
Experts, including representatives from ClearBlue, a leading brand of home pregnancy tests, affirm that breastfeeding should not affect the results of a pregnancy test. They emphasize the importance of testing at the right time—ideally after a missed period—to ensure the most accurate results.
However, some nuances exist. While breastfeeding itself does not cause false results, it can influence a woman’s menstrual cycle. Regular breastfeeding can delay the return of ovulation and menstruation, which might lead some women to test for pregnancy sooner than they should, potentially resulting in a negative test when they are indeed pregnant.
The Bottom Line
In summary, if you are breastfeeding and suspect you might be pregnant, you can confidently take a pregnancy test without worrying about the breastfeeding hormones affecting the outcome. Just remember to test at the appropriate time for the most reliable results. If you have any concerns or experience unusual symptoms, consulting a healthcare provider is always a wise choice.

What causes hCG levels to rise if not pregnant?

An elevated β-hCG in the absence of viable pregnancy can occur for multiple reasons and has a broad differential diagnosis including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pituitary hCG production, trophoblastic disease and phantom hCG.

What happens to your body when you get pregnant while breastfeeding?

Your milk supply may also diminish, contributing to your child’s refusal to breastfeed. On the other hand, you may be able to breastfeed throughout your pregnancy. Depending on how you feel and your milk supply, you may find yourself breastfeeding an older child and a newborn baby simultaneously.

Why would a pregnancy test show positive if I’m not pregnant?

This is called a false-positive. A false-positive might happen if you had a pregnancy loss soon after the fertilized egg attached to the uterine lining. You also may get a false-positive if you take a pregnancy test soon after taking fertility medicine that contains HCG .

What are the side effects of breastfeeding while pregnant first?

If you are breastfeeding while pregnant, you may notice a few side effects. Morning sickness can sometimes be worse during a feed. This may be due to hormonal release in your body, hunger, thirst or tiredness. Your nipples may feel tender as a result of pregnancy hormones, which for some mums can be very painful.

Can breastfeeding cause false positives?

However, the findings of our study indicate that breastfeeding in the first week of life contributes a low but acceptable false-positive rate for saliva PCR.

How do I know if I’m pregnant while breastfeeding?

Signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding may be subtle and difficult to distinguish from other postpartum symptoms. However, here are a few potential clues to look for: A dip in your milk supply. “You’ll most likely experience a rather sudden drop in milk production when first becoming pregnant,” says Kurke.

When should I take a pregnancy test if I am breastfeeding?

So, if you’re breastfeeding, having sex without using birth control, and think there’s a possibility you might be pregnant, you should take a standard pregnancy test on the first day of a missed period or two weeks after having unprotected sex.

Is it harder to detect pregnancy while breastfeeding?

In fact, when babies are exclusively breastfed, especially during their first six months, it is very unlikely that the mother will have any periods. This means that it is very difficult for women to track their periods or know if they have missed one, which is typically the most common indicator of pregnancy.

Can breastfeeding throw off a pregnancy test?

Many mothers wonder whether breastfeeding will affect the reliability of pregnancy tests. It does not — pregnancy tests measure the amount of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in blood or urine, and hCG levels are not affected by breastfeeding.

Can breastfeeding delay positive pregnancy test?

Many mothers wonder whether breastfeeding will affect the reliability of pregnancy tests. It does not — pregnancy tests measure the amount of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in blood or urine, and hCG levels are not affected by breastfeeding.