TTC whilst breastfeeding

@BeThere yep same thing happen to my SIL. It was an "oopsie" as her DD just 9mo. Always find it funny how it seems so easy for other people to fall pg - especially those who didn't actually ttc.

Not sure if anecdotal evidence helps, but I've a friend with 3 kids, and she fed each up until they were 3 years old and got pregnant on the others in between. However I don't know how difficult it was

Also to add, I really hope you'll get BFP this cycle so you don't have to wean at all! ;) My DS has been very clingy since we stop bf and somehow it just nice that he asks for more hugs. x

@AriadneO Thank you! Hope we all will get our lovely BFPs soon! In the meantime let's enjoy some ! ha!

Oh OPKs are so confusing aren't they?! I'll see if this cycle after weaning will change my OPKs result.

I did hear about the annovulation cycle during bf - think I read it from kellymom. I don't know why but I'm just sad that bf makes us stop ovulating :( anyway! Good luck to us! x

@AriadneO well done on your bf journey so far! I am feeding my 2.5 year old and have fallen pregnant twice. I got my period back 6 weeks after I had her despite exclusively breastfeeding. I fell pregnant when she was 6 months old and again recently. Unfortunately they both ended in miscarriage but this wasn’t related to breastfeeding. There is hardly any research that says breastfeeding impacts on conception once your periods have started again. Sometimes it can effect the length of your cycle but if you have periods you are ovulating. If I were you I’d carry boobing your precious little one and carry on ttc. How would you feel if you weaned him now but still didn’t fall pregnant?

Hi Ariadne0

First of all well done for bf your LO this far! I haven't got success story yet. We've been ttc for 8months now. I have just weaned DS slowly since a month ago, and last Sunday was our last bf moment. I cried about it obviously, he did cry as well which made me cry again. But DH and I really want to have another and think bf might be the issue. Anyway sorry for giving you an essay

I got my ppaf when DS was 7mo. Then had few very long cycle (40-50days). Then slowly got back to regular (28-31days). I did OPKs but never got a positive - had slighty darker line around CD20ish - so even if fertilisation happened don't think LP is long enough for implantation). I also start taking Vitex since last month. And since the last bf I notice I feel something different: My skin is amazingly glowing, I suddenly crave for DTD (!), and felt that ov cramp. And this cycle I got more reliable OPKs and it's getting darker CD10. I don't know if it's weaning related or Vitex. But from Google I found that it might be because my prolactin level lower, so progesteron higher. I hope this will lead to a lovely BFP!

Some women got lucky catch the egg while bf - I know this well as SIL fell pg while still bf round the clock her 9mo DD. However I also read that in some women bf really affect progesteron level. So you might actually fell pregnant but it just wasn't viable. How's your cycle now? Are they regular?

I hope you're one of those women who doesn't have to wean at all. Wishing you all good luck and hope you'll get your BFPs soon! Xxx

Many many women conceive whilst breastfeeding so in theory it shouldn’t but from anecdotal things I have heard it seems that for some women a certain level of feeding does inhibit conception in some way.

I conceived while breastfeeding a 2.5yr old.

I know 2 women who accidentally got pregnant while breastfeeding 9 month old babies (they both warned me that breastfeeding was not a contraceptive!)

So anecdotally I know getting pregnant while breastfeeding is possible, but I don’t know whether it does reduce the odds of pregnancy or not.

I was breastfeeding my first when I fell pregnant with my second. He was 15 months but by that time I was down to feeding twice a day, once in the morning & again before bed. Pretty sure once your period returns breastfeeding shouldn't make any difference.

Fingers crossed for some good news soon

This is purely anecdotal but it seems that some women get pregnant easily while breastfeeding and others just can’t. My periods returned after a year with both of mine. I convinced dd2 first month trying when dd1 was feeding several times a day. Dd2 is still feeding and my periods have been back for 18 months or so and I can feel ovulation each month. I know others who have conceived while breastfeeding and others who haven’t been able to conceive. I know that’s not particularly helpful but in my experience the majority have been able to so hopefully it will happen for you soon.

Have you seen the Facebook group "breastfeeding older babies and beyond"? Lots of people explaining their experience and in general I think the consensus was that it shouldn't effect conception. Good luck x