Can BFing hormones interfere with pregnancy tests?

[Tapster]

I've looked up kellymom and its says no but I've also found evidence that often they don't work and you need to go to the GP for blood test to confirm as the BFing hormones can interfere?

DD 15 months and AF been regular since she was 7 months old. No sign of AF and had two BFNs got some pregnancy symptoms (most obvious ones are I am not shouting at my DH and I haven't felt like any alcohol for 2 weeks (both unheard of!). I've always had lots of milk but this morning DD obviously very frustrated that there was little there.

Need to change medication if I am pregnant as soon as AF due so don't whether I should book an appointment with GP for the end of the week or not.

It could be that I am testing too early as I've not been keeping close track of my AFs as haven't been trying for no.2.

no it does not affect it. i am still bf and have had a bfp. maybe you are trying too early.

The hormone that shows up in pg tests is hCG, which is only present if you are pregnant (or, in very occasional cases, can be produced artificially by very specific types of medication). I have conceived three times while bf and have never had trouble with a test. I have also had an accurate negative while bf.

(well, to be fair, with ds2 I did do one test that didn't work, but I was scared out of my wits and not all that careful about following the instructions. So not down to bf)

Hi,

I looked into this as I thought I might be pg (wishful thinking) and another MNer had reported she didnt get a BFP on a HPT and had to go to GP for blood tests.

But the blood test they do is for hCG which is what HPT test for.

Couldnt find anything on the net apart from sites saying that it doesnt interfere with HPT.

Will be interested in the responses you get to this post!

If you are pregnant and not getting BFP's it's just because the Hcg isn't strong enough to be detected yet, BFing or not often people get a BFP because of this.
With DD I had about ten tests including a doctors one before I finally got the BFP, they were even sending me for a scan to see why I was so late coming on combined with a swelling stomach!
Pregnancy tests are all based on HCG which is only in your system if pg, so bfing shouldn't change that.

Thanks for all your replies. Still BFN will hope either BFP or AF turns up soon. Will make appointment to see GP next Still have all the symptons though.

When I concieved dd2 I was bfing. I had a BFN at about 4+4 weeks (looking back it was probably a faulty test), and got a BFP at about 5+3 weeks.

When TTC dc3, I stopped bfing beforehand. I had a BFN at 4+2 weeks, and a BFP at 4+4 weeks. I miscarried .

So I don't see how bfing can mask HCG hormones.

good luck tapster!

Here's a quote from this fab website
QUOTE START
34. I'm breastfeeding. Can that affect my pregnancy test results? No. While lactating women do produce various hormones, none of them cross-reacts with pregnancy tests. A breastfeeding woman can use a pregnancy test and expect her results to be just as accurate as a non-breastfeeding woman. Using urine, that is. If you dip a pregnancy test in breastmilk you may obtain a false positive result. Stick to pee and you'll be fine.
QUOTE END

pmsl Babies Everywhere - that clears that up pretty conclusively!!!