Did you get pregnant while breastfeeding?

[Saranza]

I didn't (phew) - though I think lots of that was down to my DD knowing the rules about how to make it work better than me. I knew she has to be EBF and less than 6 months old. And that my periods had to have stopped. I did try to give her a bottle (of painfully expressed milk) but she turned it down. Wouldn't take a dummy either. Since then I've heard that expressing and dummies can stop bfding working as contraception - she's a clever girl.

The thing is some people are treating me like a crazy person for ever using lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). So I'm getting nervous of telling people about it, even though there's load of evidence.

If you did get pregnant, how old was your baby and were you following - or aware of - the rules for making it work as contraception?

Thank you!

[sweetkitty]

I got my periods back when DD1 was 6 weeks old, DD2 was conceived when she was 9 months and still BFing, I knew the rules and we actively TTC no 2, with DD2 & 3 I had to drop feeds at about 11-12 months to make my periods come back so I could TTC. They were more frequent feeders though and fed throughout the night. Sorry that doesn't help much does it.

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

Well I did but I was ttc and ds was almost 2.
From what I've heard it can be very effective if you follow it properly. Lots of people don't understand it though and say things like "well my periods came back after 4 months"

[megandraper]

Both DC2 and DC3 were conceived within 4 weeks of me stopping BF (at 12-13 months). I am still BF DC3 at 16 months and no periods yet. (She feeds a lot during the night, still). BF is a very effective contraceptive for me.

[Saranza]

Thanks sweetkitty, really helpful. It sounds like DD1 wasn't enough of a feeder for the method to work - at least your periods coming back gave you a warning sign..

[FrankensteinWippery]

Yes. When DD1 was 8 weeks old.

[Saranza]

And more examples of it working - when the rules are being followed. Thanks guys, starting to feel less crazy already

[amirah85]

I did,dd was over a year and we were ttc.the only thing is,u never know when ur period is going to come back,and u do ovalate before having a period so how does that work?

[Saranza]

Spoke too soon. Oh dear - any idea why?

[FrankensteinWippery]

Nope. She was EBF. This was almost 19 years ago, and I had absolutely not had a period at that point. So I have 11m between the first two!

[Saranza]

Hi amira85 - about 98% of the time you don't ovulate before your first period - that's how it works. The prolactin suppresses ovulation..

[Saranza]

Thanks FrankenWip - not great! Or maybe it all turned out OK??

[blackteaplease]

I did but was ttc and dd was over 1. My periods came back at 8 months after the 1st attempt at night weaning. But i wouldn't trust Lam as a form of contraception.

[FrankensteinWippery]

They're fab! It was a bit of a blur, but DD2 was an awesomely good baby and pretty much slept forever! Oldest now at university, second one off next year.

[Saranza]

Thanks blackteaplease. What is it about Lam that make you uneasy?

[Saranza]

Thanks Frankenwhip, that's good news!

[blackteaplease]

I don't think that's right op. The prolactin does suppress ovulation but you will ovulate roughly 2 weeks before your periods return. This is usually triggers by a decrease in nightfeeding.

If you then carry on feeding your cycle length and ovulation date can be different to pre-pregnancy.

[blackteaplease]

Because all it can take is one missed feed at night to bring back fertility and you won't know. Id rather use condoms unless actively ttc

[Saranza]

Interesting. Well there's only the one study (that I've found) that actually tested urine to check whether a woman was ovulating before her first period. It confirmed the 98-99% effectiveness. It's a bit old though, and was only of 100 women: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1967336 Another study might be helpful.

Dropping night feeds is definitely a risk factor though - would mean the rules weren't being followed.

[MoominmammasHandbag]

DS was EBF. My periods came back when he was six months. I got pregnant when he was twelve months and cried my eyes out

[Saranza]

Fair enough blackteaplease - each to their own.

[Saranza]

MoominmammasHandbag (cool name). Were you expecting bfding to work as contraception at that time?

[Saranza]

Of course you were Moomin - I'm being dim, sorry.

[amirah85]

When we started ttc I didn't start my period yet,I got pg without having a period at all,so I must have ovulate pefore having a period.dd was still feeding often,at night as well.its a good back up plan,maybe to use together with another natural method but I wouldn't use it on itself if I really didn't want to be pg,it depends of many things,the way your body works its not the same as everyone else

[Saranza]

Thanks Amira. How old was your baby when you got pregnant? Was s/he getting any solids?

[Pochemuchka]

Yes, twice.

Both were EBF and I was still feeding DD a lot during the day whereas DS had nothing during the day but fed all night (while i was asleep, thankfully!)
Neither had a dummy and I didn't express for either of them.

My period hadn't come back either time and I got pregnant both times at about 12 months (22 months between DC1 and 2 and will be the same between DC2 and 3).

We were TTC DC2 (by that I mean we were having lots of sex and letting nature take its course!) but with DC3 it was pretty much an immaculate conception. Sex one time in about 6 months and along came DC3.

No idea if any of this info is useful OP!