PREGNANCY

11 things mums who got pregnant by accident know

Last modified on Friday 27 January 2023

The moment you see the positive line on a pregnancy test can be jaw dropping … especially if you got pregnant by accident.

From mistakes with contraception to old wives tales about fertility that you VERY quickly realise aren’t true, here are 11 things that mums who got pregnant by accident know.

1 That you CAN get pregnant while breastfeeding
Spoiler alert: it’s a common myth that you can’t get pregnant if you’re exclusively breastfeeding your baby.

In reality, you can get pregnant as little as three weeks after having a baby.

FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES

And that’s even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started.

Who knew?

2 That the ‘withdrawal method’ REALLY doesn’t work
Nope, don't try this at home ...

3 That missing a day (or two) of taking the Pill does actually matter
Life is so busy, it can be hard to remember to do everything you’re meant to. Including taking the Pill every day.

Oh well, at least being pregnant means you don’t have to remember to take it any more ...

4 That being sick while taking the Pill can SERIOUSLY mess things up
Yep, that week of having a stomach virus or ‘that’ cough did more than make you feel awful.

It also stopped the Pill from working.

Errrr ...

5 That drunken sex = accidental pregnancy
Hic.

Note to self: never tell your child that they were conceived after a night of 2-4-1 cocktails.

6 That ‘dry humping’ can make you pregnant
Yes, really.
It might sound unlikely, but according to experts from Australia's Family Planning NSW, you can get pregnant from 'dry humping', because semen can soak through underwear.

Uh oh ...

7 That even if your partner has had a vasectomy , you can STILL get pregnant
Cue your partner proudly telling everyone he has ‘super sperm’. *Blushes*

8 That the ‘rhythm method’ doesn’t work
Think you know your ‘fertile week’? Turns out, you can get pregnant at any time during your monthly cycle.

Including during your period.

9 That you can’t actually tell anyone it was an accident …
Unless you want eye rolling and the annoying, ‘but didn’t you KNOW you could get pregnant … ‘ comments.

For the whole nine months.

10 … especially not your child
Never.

11 That accidents are the BEST thing
Okay, you might not have planned your baby. But you are SO glad you had a happy accident.

Did you get pregnant while using contraceptives? Why not share your experience – and read other mums stories – in our Coffeehouse forum.