Postpartum cycle tracking? How to confidently prevent pregnancy in this often confusing time

It is a total MYTH that nursing is birth control, so if you've heard that I'm sorry to say, you're out of luck. It is true that for some people, lactation may deter ovulation for many months or years. But it is NOT true for everyone, unfortunately.This is why there are so many unexpected pregnancies that come soon after a previous one. And honestly, unless you are planning on that, it can be pretty shocking and a lot to navigate a new pregnancy with a nursing babe and still healing postpartum.One of the most confusing times to track our cycles, especially if we're practicing FAM for contraception, is postpartum. A few weeks ago, I received a question about this on Instagram, so I figured, why not answer it here so everyone can benefit.So many folks would prefer to prevent pregnancy in this time if possible.But between the sleep disturbances, stress, depletion, body healing, and hormones adjusting of the postpartum time, cycles can be WONKY.And you won't bleed before you ovulate, so you can't rely on that to tell if you're fertile either...So what CAN you do? What's important to consider? What's reliable and what's not?I go into all my thoughts on this, pretty Q+A free-flow style today. I hope it feels like a helpful resource for you, now or in the future when you need it. Resouces:Get on the waitlist for a special offer: Natural Contraception Winter 2026 waitlistGrab the free guide: Track Your Cycle using FAMToday's shownotes: Cycle tracking postpartum?Episode 90: 5 effective non hormonal birth control optionsIf you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdomAnd if you love this podcast, leave a rating & write a review! It's really helpful to get the show to more amazing humans like you.  ❤️DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.Click here to send me a quick message :)