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Original poster

Breastfeeding as contraception

69 replies

bfcontraconcerns · 13/02/2021 19:03

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

OP posts:
Norwayreally · 13/02/2021 22:37

My GP told me it is contraception at my 6 week check but I knew better because I got pregnant when my first DC was 6 months old and definitely EBF! Thought it was hugely irresponsible of the GP tbh.

It apparently blocks ovulation but it didn’t for me... I hadn’t had a period by that stage and DS was still waking in the night for feeds too.

Equimum · 14/02/2021 10:14

I would rely on it. With both my DC I exclusively BF, and DS1 particularly fed very regularly and was a big boy, but I had periods from 4-5 months!

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JaninaDuszejko · 14/02/2021 10:22

I was BFing when I got pregnant with DD2 (I was 39 and DD1 was 7 months old, we had sex once the last day of my first period after DD1 was born, DD1 was EBF to 6 months when we started introducing solids) and when I got pregnant with DS (41, DD2 was 2 so only BFing once every few days). I was super fertile and got pregnant the first month of trying with each child.

WarriorN · 14/02/2021 10:41

No! It's definitely not.

My periods didn't return for 2 years after ds1 due to bf, but I realised I'd started ovulating a few months before the actual period started. So you could have an "accident" at any point as there's no crystal ball.

Some women's periods return v quickly even with on demand bfing. So it's not reliable

KimchiLaLa · 14/02/2021 10:45

No! Was categorically told by HV to use contraception. Please do unless you want another.

Equimum · 14/02/2021 10:55

So, my post was meant to say ‘wouldn’t rely on it’!

Someone further up thread has said it’s 98% as long as you meet a set of criteria, including not having had a period. With DS1, he literally never went more than three hours between a feed, never had a bottle and my period returned when he was five months old. There was, therefore, a window, when I met all of those conditions, but had probably ovulated. Waiting for the period is a bit risky to me.

I do appreciate that lots of women sonny have periods while breastfeeding, but in my NCT group, the two of us with the babies that fed most and slept worst both had periods before 6 months and weaning (& so did a couple of others who were exclusively BF, although possibly going longer stretches at night).

TeachesOfPeaches · 14/02/2021 11:00

While I was in hospital after my c section, the midwives were handing out leaflets and explaining to new mothers that breastfeeding is NOT contraception

MatildaStoker · 14/02/2021 11:01

When I had my 6 week check with DC3, the GP blithely told me that I didn’t need to worry about contraception as I was breastfeeding.

He didn’t bother mentioning any of the conditions that apply - exclusive breastfeeding, baby under 6 months, period hasn’t returned and so on - and gave me a Hmm look when I said “yes, but only if...”
I thought it was really irresponsible of him, if I hadn’t already read up on the subject I could have easily left the room thinking that I’d be covered for contraception even if I was only breastfeeding DC3 once a day and my periods had returned.

Anyway. I wouldn’t rely on breastfeeding as contraception unless I was happy to risk another pregnancy close after the last one.

The big problem with the “periods haven’t returned” condition is that you’ll ovulate a fortnight before that first period, so if breastfeeding is the only contraception, there’s a risk you’ll get pregnant before you know your fertility’s returned.

Heatherjayne1972 · 14/02/2021 11:59

I wouldn’t rely on it!
A friend got pregnant 6/7 weeks after giving birth ! She was bf exclusively

Stompythedinosaur · 14/02/2021 12:06

The existence of my dd2 indicates that ebf is not adequate contraception!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/02/2021 12:13

My dd got pregnant when Gdd1 was 6 months old and she was still breastfeeding a lot. Didn’t realise for several weeks so first scan showed over 14 weeks!
Not at all a problem, since they had more or less left the timing of number two up to Nature - just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon!

So no, definitely not to be relied upon!

Dustyhedge · 14/02/2021 13:04

At both of my 6 week checks the doctors drummed in contraception and the fact you can be really fertile just after having a baby.I’m sure they mentioned it in the hospital as well and gave out some leaflets asking whether I wanted a coil. I’m surprised at the variation as I assumed it was standard advice.

WineInTheWillows · 14/02/2021 14:16

@Dustyhedge

At both of my 6 week checks the doctors drummed in contraception and the fact you can be really fertile just after having a baby.I’m sure they mentioned it in the hospital as well and gave out some leaflets asking whether I wanted a coil. I’m surprised at the variation as I assumed it was standard advice.
At my most recent six week check the GP said that breastfeeding was as reliable a contraceptive as condoms. I took this with a massive pinch of salt, but it goes to show how advice given varies.
NecklessMumster · 16/02/2021 19:27

I met all those conditions mentioned, honestly, and got pregnant. And I was 40. I couldn't believe it but just as well as couldn't have left it too long to have 2nd child.

Noteveryone · 16/02/2021 19:40

I don’t know why anyone would rely on this, it’s far too risky and plenty of women here showing it doesn’t work.

knittingaddict · 16/02/2021 19:42

@RandomMess

My periods returned straight away despite ebf.

Remember you ovulate before you have a period!!

This.

My periods always started within a couple of months of birth despite breastfeeding both of mine.

Also that was my understanding about ovulation. I certainly wouldn't risk waiting till my periods were back.

Yellowtopaz · 16/02/2021 19:51

I’m really shocked some GPs are giving out info that it’s contraception. Before leaving hospital I was told by midwives, then by health visitor and GP at my six week check not to forget about contraception.

naughtyball · 16/02/2021 20:03

With my first my periods didn't return for 18 months. Second was similar except I had a random period at 5 months then nothing again for w year. There is no logic to periods me breastfeeding so I wouldn't risk it unless you're ok with a pregnancy.

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