Stopping bf to conceive

[milward]

I've bf on demand all my kids until 18-22 months. Only got cycle back at 18 months - when they seemed to cut down on bf - although still had snacks through the day & bf before bed & in morning.

Would like to become preg & as age is against me I'm thinking of stopping bf at 6 months with my ds4. He's nearly 4 months now. Worried about how it would be not to bf. What formula to feed him with instead & how he'll sleep. I bf at night & he goes back to sleep.

Anyone else had to stop bf to conceive? How did it the stopping bf go?

[sweetkitty]

Sorry can't help you as I got my periods back after the first month despite BFing, fell pregnant when DD was 9 months old. I was told that if you leave more than 4 hours between feeds you could ovulate.

What about cutting down first and seeing if your cycle comes back rather than stopping completely?

Good luck x

[NotQuiteCockney]

Stopping bf at night always brings back my period. Is that what happens at 18 months, with you?

It's possible to stop bf at night, particularly after 6 months, but still bf in the day.

[milward]

Thanks notquitecockney (you're helping with my dilemmas today!!)& sweetkitty.

Was thinking of stopping bf at night to see if cycle came back - just feel nervous about the no sleep aspect (silly really) Feel preassure on the age aspect as well.

[NotQuiteCockney]

If you stop bf at night, you will get more sleep.

Not everyone gets their cycle back by stopping bf at night, but it is pretty common. (Obviously it can take a month or so to come back.)

If you're thinking of having two kids fairly close together, keeping feeding your DS as long as possible is best. If you can face tandem feeding, it would make your DS a lot less jealous of the new baby.

[milward]

Interesting point notquitecockney - will mull this over.

[FrannytheQuinoaEater]

It's tricky with the pressure you must feel as you get older. A friend went through this and was advised to think carefully how she would feel if she weaned her child to conceive another child....and then found she was unable to conceive.

Don't want to put negative thoughts into your head but it always stuck in my mind. My friend did eventually wean but she took it very slowly. It was quite emotional for both her and her daughter, but her daughter was old enough to understand what was going on, which I think helped my friend to handle it better. I hope you can make a decision that works for all of you.

[harpsichordcarrier]

here's my experience
I got pregnant within one month of stopping contraception while still bf three times a day
I was 35
why don't you give it some time to try and conceive first?

[milward]

Thanks hc & franny.

Hope the same thing happens to me hc!

I'll cut down at 6 months & see what happens. Will still bf but will see at what point my cycle returns. It's true that I might not conceive - I've had unexplained infertility between dd1 & dd2 - really stressful.