Sort of TTC whilst Breastfeeding, should I take folic acid?

[Dalrymps]

We want a small age gap for DC3, Ds2 is 4 months old. We aren't actively ttc as such in that were nit charting or temping or anything like that.

We're just leaving it to chance and if it happens it happens. Dc2 is ebf at the moment so chances are pretty slim until he feeds less/ starts weaning but I know there is still a little chance.

Anyway, my question was, should I be taking folic acid even if we are ttc so casually?

[Dalrymps]

[Smile]

[mountainmonkey]

I guess taking folic acid can't do any harm. Maybe I should be taking it too- not ttc but still bf 10 month old ds and not exactly doing much to prevent it happening

[amistillsexy]

"Dc2 is ebf at the moment so chances are pretty slim until he feeds less/ starts weaning but I know there is still a little chance."

Lots and lots and lots of chance, actually...it happened to me and plenty of others. Don't forget, your body is still full of those lovely pregnancy hormones and that's when it really 'wants' to get pregnent! (that's why when I couldn't get pg at first a midwife advised me to go on the pill for a while, then come off it, and then ttc...and it worked, too!)

If I were you, I'd be careful what you wish for. I was still ebf my ds2 at 5 mths when i got pg with my 3rd. Exhausting and leaves no time to enjoy the milestones of the one because you're too busy watching over the other. I feel they all got a raw deal (and it nearly destroyed me, and my relationship with DH). Believe me, bf DS2 ten minutes after giving birth to DS3 may make you look like an Earth Mother, but the reality is a little different!
IMO, bf is NO substitute for contraception, and running round after a newly toddling toddler at 8/9mths pg is no fun!

[Dalrymps]

Thanks for the warning but I'm hoping to get pregnant and if it happened tomorrow I'd be happy with that. I'm sure it will be very exhausting but not everyone experiences these things the same. I'm expecting it to be very hard work, I'm prepared for that. I was just meaning the statistics state there's only a small chance at first so was wondering with this in mind whether to take folic acid.

I am not planning to bf much past 6 months tbh, I have found it very difficult so getting this far has been a bonus for me. Guess in that case I won't be tandem breastfeeding. I do appreciate the warning and your oppinion on the matter I really do..

[pozzling]

I would take the folic acid- it can't do any harm, can it?

[Dalrymps]

I don't think it would do any harm, after all you take it when pg don't you?!

Eek amistillsexy, on second thoughts your post has made me feel a bit less confident about this whole thing. Not enough to stop me going ahead but still... I've done some research on small age gaps here on mn and there really is a great variety in peoples opinions.

The only conclusion I have come to about it really is that there is no perfect age gap and there are good and bad points to all. You make it work cause you have to. I have got experience of running round after the most energetic toddler on the planet while pg anyway so that's one thing that won't take me by surprise!