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Original poster

How long after weaning your BF toddler, did you fall pregnant?

33 replies

CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 20:34

Just looking for some people’s experiences, I know my journey will vary. I’ve been BF my DS for 27 months and we’re on day 4 of weaning- cold turkey. We have been TTC for almost a year with no luck, and I think it’s due to the feeding every 2-3 hours, even through the night. I’m so hopeful that I might convince this next cycle- but would my hormones have settled in just four weeks?

OP posts:
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Original poster
CPHB2021 · Yesterday 12:58

ForestWren · Yesterday 09:02

Good luck OP! I’ve been trying for baby 2 for a while now. My dd is just about to turn 2 and I just stopped breastfeeding last month. I got my prolactin levels checked just before I stopped entirely, when I was still doing a couple of feeds a day, and they were ‘normal’. But I’m hoping that stopping will help. Feeling quite sad about the whole thing! Our first was conceived quite quickly so I didn’t think we’d have any issues this time. Good luck to us!

Thank you. It’s really hard to keep morale isn’t it! Did the GP test your prolactin levels? Fingers crossed for BFP for us both soon!!

OP posts:
Soozikinzii · Yesterday 09:08

My 2nd and third child are 13 months apart both fully breast fed . 2nd till 9 months . 3rd till 18 months

ForestWren · Yesterday 09:04

Just to add - my period came back at around 15 months.

ForestWren · Yesterday 09:02

Good luck OP! I’ve been trying for baby 2 for a while now. My dd is just about to turn 2 and I just stopped breastfeeding last month. I got my prolactin levels checked just before I stopped entirely, when I was still doing a couple of feeds a day, and they were ‘normal’. But I’m hoping that stopping will help. Feeling quite sad about the whole thing! Our first was conceived quite quickly so I didn’t think we’d have any issues this time. Good luck to us!

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 22:06

DramaAlpaca · 02/11/2026 22:03

Isn't it amazing how different it can be? I got my periods back at four months postpartum while ebf and felt totally cheated. Then got pregnant with DC2 three months later, and I was still breastfeeding DC1. So there's 16 months between them. What's really weird is that it took eleven months to get pregnant the first time, so how I managed to conceive whilst breastfeeding is beyond me!

Totally! I’m really lucky to have three lovely children. All of which we conceived within 2 months of trying, so to have been TTC for the last year has been really disheartening. I have never been breastfeeding whilst TTC the others, though, so I don’t have anything to go on. I’m curious as to have quickly I fall pg now I’ve weaned him. Google suggests prolactin diminishes fairly quickly- so I’m hopeful! ☺️

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 02/11/2026 22:03

Isn't it amazing how different it can be? I got my periods back at four months postpartum while ebf and felt totally cheated. Then got pregnant with DC2 three months later, and I was still breastfeeding DC1. So there's 16 months between them. What's really weird is that it took eleven months to get pregnant the first time, so how I managed to conceive whilst breastfeeding is beyond me!

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 22:00

SpringOne · 02/11/2026 21:36

I think it's more common than we realise not to be able to conceive until fully weaning. I was getting a bit stressed about it before weaning myself (not the reason we did but was a consideration) as everywhere I looked it was people saying they got pg while bf (as you've had on this thread despite that not being the question!)
Good luck

Thanks! Yes it’s so disheartening. My HV said there’s not any reason why you can’t conceive whilst BF, but some people just don’t/cant. Especially if they’re feeding through the night still, which I was ( a lot 😅 ) really hoping it happens quickly for me, it’s been almost a year so far. I’m ready to see two lines!

OP posts:
DirtyGertiefromno30 · 02/11/2026 21:37

CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:20

Wow! I would have loved a close age gap. Super hard for you, I bet- but you’ll reap the rewards as they grow and are hopefully, into the same things!

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It was the best thing l ever did , honestly it was brilliant 🤗

SpringOne · 02/11/2026 21:36

I think it's more common than we realise not to be able to conceive until fully weaning. I was getting a bit stressed about it before weaning myself (not the reason we did but was a consideration) as everywhere I looked it was people saying they got pg while bf (as you've had on this thread despite that not being the question!)
Good luck

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:33

This has been really positive. I know it might not be the case for me, but it’s made me feel hopeful!

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FlyOnTheWall89 · 02/11/2026 21:24

I conceived baby 2, 2 or 3 months post periods starting again post baby no 1 and I was still breastfeeding. I was 11m post partum when we conceived.

ElectricThrowAddict · 02/11/2026 21:23

TheBayHorse · 02/11/2026 21:02

Me too. My periods hadn't re-started and I had no idea I was pregnant.

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Same - 2 under 2!

OP, I think everyone is just so different it is impossible to say. I hope it happens for you soon.

OhHobnobs · 02/11/2026 21:22

Conceived while BF! Continued to BF throughout pregnancy and then tandem fed for 4m. My BF journey was non stop for about 5yrs!

2.5y between them.

SwayzeM · 02/11/2026 21:22

Yogafiend · 02/11/2026 20:38

As you said journey’s are very different. I conceived whilst breastfeeding. My 2nd and third child are only 18 months apart.

I did the same. Feel pregnant with my 2nd when my oldest was just under 6 months and had started weaning shortly before. Still having regular day feeds and 1 night feed.

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:20

DirtyGertiefromno30 · 02/11/2026 21:19

Straight away , l stopped breast feeding when my Dd1 was 6 months old and was pregnant the next month . There's 16 and a half months between them

Wow! I would have loved a close age gap. Super hard for you, I bet- but you’ll reap the rewards as they grow and are hopefully, into the same things!

OP posts:
DirtyGertiefromno30 · 02/11/2026 21:19

Straight away , l stopped breast feeding when my Dd1 was 6 months old and was pregnant the next month . There's 16 and a half months between them

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:18

SpringOne · 02/11/2026 21:13

Yes, similarly I think I couldn't get pregnant while bf. My periods returned at 18m, weaned at 20m and got pregnant a couple of weeks after weaning. Hope it's the same for you!

Thank you- me too! My periods returned at 15 months but nothing yet! I’m really hopeful it is the breastfeeding causing the ‘issue’ and hopefully we convince quickly now he’s weaned!

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Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:17

PlainJaneDoeADeerAFemale · 02/11/2026 21:14

Never. We did try naturally, IVF a few times and again naturally after DS but had secondary infertility. Give it a few cycles after stopping BF and then get checked. If he's 27m you likely weren't producing vast amounts to meet his needs because he's on meals.

I’m sorry to hear that, hoping you were successful with your IVF journey. Yes, it’s on my radar. We are TTC no.4 but have not TTC whilst breastfeeding with any of the others, so I’m not sure if my body can get pg whilst feeding or not.

The issue was, he wasn’t really eating. A few snacks a day, maybe a whole meal every two days as he was just feeding SO much! So I do think that I was producing quite a fair amount. I will be going to the GP in the new year if I’m not pregnant though! ☺️

OP posts:
PlainJaneDoeADeerAFemale · 02/11/2026 21:14

Never. We did try naturally, IVF a few times and again naturally after DS but had secondary infertility. Give it a few cycles after stopping BF and then get checked. If he's 27m you likely weren't producing vast amounts to meet his needs because he's on meals.

SpringOne · 02/11/2026 21:13

Yes, similarly I think I couldn't get pregnant while bf. My periods returned at 18m, weaned at 20m and got pregnant a couple of weeks after weaning. Hope it's the same for you!

Keepgoingonand · 02/11/2026 21:11

CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:09

Oh wow! I hope this is the case for me!

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I was down to breastfeeding at bedtime both times, at 13-14 months, but that seems to be enough to completely stop ovulation for me. Unless the timing is pure coincidence. Baby 3 has been BF for longer than the older two (as I’m not worried about wanting to TTC again), and periods have still not returned at 20 months.

PurpleLovecats · 02/11/2026 21:11

I conceived no 4 when still bf no 3.

Original poster
CPHB2021 · 02/11/2026 21:09

Keepgoingonand · 02/11/2026 21:08

Two weeks, twice!

Oh wow! I hope this is the case for me!

OP posts:
Keepgoingonand · 02/11/2026 21:08

Two weeks, twice!

TheBayHorse · 02/11/2026 21:02

Yogafiend · 02/11/2026 20:38

As you said journey’s are very different. I conceived whilst breastfeeding. My 2nd and third child are only 18 months apart.

Me too. My periods hadn't re-started and I had no idea I was pregnant.