Does breastfeeding a 2yo affect chances of pregnancy?

[PirateDays]

Hi everyone,

I put this in the Conception topic as well but then thought I'd put it here as well in case people might have experience of this but not be ttc currently.

I have been ttc number 2 for most of this year and have had no luck so far, despite using OPKs.

I was just wondering if anyone knew if breastfeeding my nearly-3 year old could be playing a part? I have tried looking it up but most articles which reference breastfeeding sometimes impacting conception are about young babies where people are feeding far more frequently - my little one only has a feed in the morning and at bedtime now, although she does actually still feed a little in the night when she wakes.

My periods returned ages ago, and I am getting positive OPKs.

Just don't know whether I need to try stopping feeding altogether? Which actually feels more stressful than not getting pregnant 😅 but do I need to push through and do it? I am 36 so want to crack on with number 2 really.

Just wondering if anyone else found they only got pregnant once they stopped breastfeeding entirely?

Yes, I did. I stopped breastfeeding and was pregnant a couple of months after. My period had come back early, and my cycle was fairly regular, but I could tell my fertility wasn’t quite right. I think when I read about, the prolactin from breastfeeding suppresses progesterone, and prevents the hormones from working properly. So shorter luteal phase, lining not thickened enough etc. Some people can get pregnant while breastfeeding, but two babies now and unprotected sex while breastfeeding, and I didn’t get pregnant once til I stopped

Thanks for your reply, yes I'm wondering if this is going to be the case for me...sounds weird but every month I just sort of 'know' that I'm not going to be pregnant.

Maybe as a first step I'll definitely try and stop the feeds through the night as, if I recall correctly, those are the ones that trigger the most prolactin 🤔

I got pregnant when I was feeding - my understanding is either you’re ovulating or you’re not. There’s a breastfeeding older babies forum and breastfeeding tandem forum on Facebook which does have some useful knowledge in there (and also some less useful stuff).

I don’t think feeding a nearly 3 year old would stop you getting pregnant. I got pregnant when feeding my 18 month. I was 35 and, like you, didn’t want to stop feeding unless it was stopping me getting pregnant.

My daughter wasn’t sleeping well at night. As soon as I sorted that out, I got pregnant, so I concluded that it was exhaustion that was the problem!

Good luck!

I didn't get a period until I stopped BF my 19month old. Then when I BF my second until he was 2.5 again, no period/ovulation.
So I think it does affect your chances.

This is my understanding too. BFing prevents conception to the extent that it stops you ovulating, but if you are ovulating then you are not less likely to conceive because you are breastfeeding.

If you're having regular periods then bf isn't impacting your fertility.

Bf while pregnant can be painful and tandem feeding is bloody hard work.

If you continue to bf and get pregnant its worth some consideration of how you will manage tandem feeding/complete weaning/boob jealousy. Be aware of the possibility of nursing aversion which can be experienced towards the older child. Also that your older DC may return to bf like a newborn with the arrival of a newbie.

I've bf 3 DC and experienced all of the above. It was a wonderful thing to do but really bloody hard sometimes.

I've breastfed while pregnant 3 times so yes I would say it's possible! Although everyone is different. I always got my period back at 9 months postpartum each time aswell.

Similar to others, I became pregnant whilst feeding my 2.5yo once a day at bedtime. My periods returned when DC was 2.

I was breastfeeding my son when I got pregnant with my daughter. My son was 15 months old, my periods returned when he was 14 months, then I never got another period and when I did a pregnancy test it was positive, so I agree with others-if you are ovulating and therefore having periods, breastfeeding is not hampering your fertility.

Thanks everyone, interesting comments. I really hope it's not the case that it's impacting things and it's just a coincidence that it's taking a bit longer this time.

I suppose my concern is around what @january1244 mentioned about the shorter luteal phase etc, but then I can also see many people have become pregnant while breastfeeding on here so hopefully that won't be the case.

My periods have been back for ages, well over a year and I think it was only because I was on the mini pill that it took so long, so it doesn't seem to be impacting them, and I am getting positive OPKs each month as far as I can tell.

I guess I just feel a bit disheartened as once I started tracking ovulation the first time round I became pregnant quite quickly as I remember, whereas now nothing's happening despite tracking each month for the last 4 or 5. Although tbh I do have to admit it's a lot harder to get enough tries in around the right time with a toddler around!!!

@PirateDays hi there I’m hoping all went to plan for you and your currently pregnant. I was wondering did u end up stopping BFing in ttc or how things are going now.

im in a similar situation so looking for others experience ❤️

Hey @DmcinT , happy to report that I did in fact fall pregnant the very same month that I wrote this post 😊while still breastfeeding my little girl in the morning and at bedtime, and through the night (maybe once or twice for a couple of mins per night to resettle). I am now 28 weeks, due in June.

I eventually stopped breastfeeding my 3 year old in Jan because it had become painful due to the pregnancy. Fully expecting her to be wanting it back when the baby comes 🙈

Hopefully you will have the same luck😊

I didn't have periods until stopping feeding my DCs at 13 & 20 months, and it took 2 months for my cycles to re-start. I stopped feeding DS1 to be able to concieve DS2.

@PirateDays thank you so much for replying and huge congrats, lovely to hear this. We’ve been ttc since Sept last yr so it’s so reassuring to read ur message ❤️ wishing u all the best with the rest of ur pregnancy x

It depends on the individual.
I stopped bf at 2 yrs 7 months because I was worried it was affecting my fertility. Turns out I had started perimenopause. My periods never went back to the way they were previously and I never got pregnant again.

Still B-feeding a 3 year old didn’t stop my dd from having a ‘surprise’ 3rd baby….