Can you get pregnant while BFing?

[inneedofaholidaybigtime]

Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding exclusively - no bottles / formula etc? I know that technically you can always get pregnant whether standing up, knickers on, sun shining, last day of the cycle etc etc, but it's very unlikely, right? Only token amounts of other food as DC only just started weaning. Context is I would rather not get pregnant again just yet but we do want another DC and don't want a massive age gap so it wouldn't be a disaster if it happened. Just wondered if anyone has any personal experience of getting pregnant while breastfeeding? Fast forward a few months and I'll likely be trying to get pregnant anyway. No periods yet at 6 months pp. Can't really be bothered to worry about contraception and not DTD that much anyway for obvious reasons!

I ebf and all 3 babies were two to three hourly feeders in the day for months and 4 hourly at night by 6 months. My periods returned at 17 weeks with all 3. I was unimpressed.
Baffles me in this day and age that people think things like breastfeeding and withdrawal are effective contraceptives

LetBartletBeBartlet and SparklySneakers actually if you research LAM you'll see this can be very effective. Obviously certain conditions must be met and it's only for first 6 months. I agree anyone who definitely doesn't want to risk pregnancy would be unwise not to use contraception.

@MichonnesBBF it's very normal, with my three bf babies I haven't had periods back until after 6 months, to me it was one of the big advantages. With my combined then formula fed baby my cycle was back by 8 weeks.

You can get pregnant when breastfeeding, and it becomes more likely the older your baby is. You can get pregnant before periods return as you typically ovulate 2 weeks before a period, so may not necessarily know.

Kellymom has a really interesting resource called "The transition to full fertility". There are way to increased likelihood of pregnancy when breastfeeding without needing to wean.

However bear in mind there is a 1/10 chance of twins if breastfeeding when you fall pregnant.

I know this has been discussed upthread but the average time for periods to return if breastfeeding is when baby is 14 months, and they can remain irregular for some time. It is also common to have what some cultures call a "warning flag" period where you have you first period (or two) without having ovulated.

@SweetheartNeckline what's this about 1/10 chance of twins?! I have never heard that before!! Is that true?!

@Ninkaninus the full context is that it was a long road to get DC1 for various reasons and so I suppose I am relaxed about when DC2 happens on the basis that DC2 (if it happens) would be another wonderful blessing and not one I would take for granted. It is for this reason that I don't see the point in using contraception!

A study by a Dr Steinman found that twins occur in 1.1% of pregnancies, but 12.4% of pregnancies when the mother is lactating at the time of conception. I've never read the actual study so can't comment on it's methods but from what I know about twins and breastfeeding it would seem to make some sense; the body works harder to ovulate in the first place so is more likely to kick out an extra egg!

Ok that makes sense. Sorry if I sounded confrontational but I think sometimes it can be a bit of a wishful thinking, oh it’s not likely to happen, situation and sometimes it takes a bit of a challenge to get the point across that no, if you’re not using contraception, you’re pretty much trying.

It sounds as if you’re quite relaxed about the possibility of becoming pregnant, so I think what I’d do in your position is find out how relaxed your OH is, because when it comes to babies it’s important that you’re broadly on the same page.

I can’t believe people still believe you can’t 😐

The twins thing is mentioned in some health website articles but can't see it anywhere scholarly so I wouldn't panic about needing to buy two cots just yet...

@LetBartletBeBartlet how are you not less fertile if you're not having periods?!

One of my friends who fell pregnant by mistake, baby no 1 less than 3 months old, went on to have twins. Three babies under 1 year old...

@waitingonasmiley42 - I completely agree, but as she says herself that she is past the six month mark, your point is irrelevant in this case surely?

@inneedofaholidaybigtime - before you get to the 'bleed' portion of your period, you need to have released an egg. It is this egg which can then be fertilised during unprotected sex.

Therefore, there is going to be a point, before your first period, when it is entirely possible to get pregnant. The 'bleed' isn't the starting point in the process.