Boyfriend thinks I can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding

Dear Pastor,

I am 19 years old and I have a six-month-old baby. I am living with my boyfriend, and we have resumed having sex since giving birth. My boyfriend does not want to use the condom, so we are always fussing over that matter. He said that he was reliably informed that I cannot get pregnant as long as I am breastfeeding my baby.

Pastor, I do not want to have another child now because my goal is to go back to school. I spoke to a nurse and she said that a breastfeeding woman can get pregnant. My boyfriend has great respect for you. He reads your column every week. So please answer this letter and whatever you suggest, I will do.

Unnamed.

Dear Writer,

I must remind you that I am not a medical doctor. The proper person to address this concern to is a medical doctor, and I hope that you will do so soon. I will only make general comments.

It is a fact that women who have given birth have become pregnant just few weeks after the birth of their babies. I know a pastor's wife who got pregnant a few weeks after giving birth. I could not understand why a man would impregnate his wife so soon after she went through such experience of giving birth. But when they were relating their story to me, they did so with great delight.

Some men do not have sex with their women until three months after she has given birth.

What I will say to you is, don't rely on this man to protect you. Talk to your doctor and ask him whether he would suggest that you go on the Pill. Learn to protect yourself, because this man may find great delight in impregnating you again.

Pastor