Breastfeeding as contraception

[bfcontraconcerns]

So, I’ve been researching it. My baby is 6m. Not started weaning yet.
No bottles, totally ebf. No dummy. Contact naps on me in the day and we co sleep at night.

My friend tells me this provides good contraception (is it LAM method?) anyway, I’m not sure as for the last month my baby sleeps 6-8 hours at night with no feeds - so I’ve been taking the mini pill as well but am I wrong or is my friend ? 6-8 hrs seems a long time
I dont fully understand how this works and the pill doesn’t suit me that well but if I need it I need it ! Just wondered if anyone knew more about this

Well, I got pregnant again when my ds was 4 months old and I was ebf so you definitely need contraception

Only do this if you aren’t worried about getting pregnant again, breastfeeding is not reliable as contraception

Had your periods returned ? Mine haven’t yet, I think I’ll just be extra cautious and stay on the pill tbh because I think the 6-8 hrs no bf at night is going to mean my periods will return plus going to start solids next week

Yeah, DS was conceived when I was still bfing both his sisters. Not really a contraceptive.

I got pregnant 6months pp, still breast feeding round the clock.

Not contraception

My grandma used breastfeeding as contraception. She had 8 kids, biggest gap was 15 months, smallest was 10.

I had one half hearted period, not a full cycle or proper return of AF

Also I am 39 (if that makes a difference as I know it’s meant to be hard after 35 to conceive and I must have been lucky) but I’m still feeling like it sounds a risk !

Anyone that says breastfeeding is contraception is wrong.

I got pregnant with my second while my first was cluster feeding.

Not at the exact same time 😂🙈 that sounded wrong.
I meant dd1 was still feeding round the clock and dd2 was conceived.

I'm looking at the eighteen year old result of thinking breastfeeding might be a contraception 😂

How small an age gap are you prepared to have?

I didn't have periods until 2 months after the final feed at 13 and 20 months, but you just can't tell if you're ovulating ready to start up again in a couple of weeks, so it's a risky strategy.

@Mrsmummy90

Not at the exact same time 😂🙈 that sounded wrong. I meant dd1 was still feeding round the clock and dd2 was conceived.

🤣 that really would have been multitasking !!!!

@BogRollBOGOF

How small an age gap are you prepared to have?

I didn't have periods until 2 months after the final feed at 13 and 20 months, but you just can't tell if you're ovulating ready to start up again in a couple of weeks, so it's a risky strategy.

I had a c section so was told to wait 12-18 months before getting pregnant again (not sure how that’ll work with age though 🤷‍♀️)

It's actually 98% effective as a contraceptive as long as:

• baby is under 6months
• baby feeds AT LEAST every 4 hours in the day & every 6 hours at night
• your periods have not returned
• there is no, as not one, single bottle feed or longer stretch without feeding

Very, very few people can say with all honesty that they meet all those, forgetting that one 5 hour stretch or that one night they slept through etc.

Since your baby is now 6months and is sleeping longer stretched you NEED contraception. You may not be fertile (I wasn't until I completely stopped feeding at 2yrs 4 months) but you may be.

Hmm I was always told you never know as you can always ovulate before your periods return. Personally wouldn’t risk it unless I was happy to get pregnant again so soon

It won’t be 98% effective any longer, but probably closer to 95-90%.
The question to ask yourself is how you’d feel if you are in the 5% or 10%, and act accordingly.
(TTC while feeding my 19month old probably 3-5 times per 24 hours but no sign of ovulation yet!

DM believed this. I was exclusively breastfed. I got a DB for my 1st birthday.

I know someone who fell pregnant when their baby was very young, because they thought it was a reliable method of contraception! It is not.

I have never ovulated while BF even up to 2-3 years, but we still use contraception juuuust in case. If you definitely would not be happy about a surprise pregnancy, don’t trust it.

What @WatchWatch said. My GP actually told me this.

It cannot be used as contraception after 6 months and when breastfeeding reduce/solids are introduced

My periods returned straight away despite ebf.

Remember you ovulate before you have a period!!

May I suggest some reading:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/sex-and-contraception-after-birth/

In particular:
“ You can get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of a baby, even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again.

Unless you want to get pregnant again, it's important to use some kind of contraception every time you have sex after giving birth, including the first time.”