Ok so what are the chances of falling pregnany when exclusively breastfeeding?

[LullyMummaOfOne]

Hi, my DS2 is now 8 weeks old and im exclusively BF. at my 6 weeks postnatal check the nurse told me i can not have the coil fitted until i have a period. the problem is im unlikly to have a period until i stop feeding (i didnt have one for 7 months with my first DS) so my question is...can i fall pregnant when feeding? Should we get the socks out!!?? (blush)

advice welcome- thanks

[cazboldy]

You can have a coil before you have a period! I did, when my bf dd was 11 weeks.

but you have use condoms for 2 weeks before and have a neg pg test to make sure.

ask at your fp clinic

[BertieBotts]

Yes you can get pregnant while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding reduces your fertility and so some people do use it as a contraceptive - this is called the Lactational Am..something(!) Method, or LAM, you have to fit a certain number of criteria:

-Baby under 6 months old
-Feeding completely on demand
-Not using any breast/milk substitutes, including dummies and the occasional expressed bottle
-Still feeding at least every 4-5 hours in the night (I think)

Still then I wouldn't trust it unless I was familiar with FAM and knew my own fertile signs, or if I wasn't going to be that bothered if I did get pregnant again! There are thoeries that say it can never be 100% accurate in our society as we don't carry our babies constantly giving them constant immediate access to the breast.

But as Caz said you can have a coil fitted before you have a period if you want one.