DM - You cannot get PG while BF

[DragonWithAGirlTattoo]

I know its the DM, but really?

"It has also meant that Jessy will remain an only child with the couple, who had planned to begin further IVF when their son was six months old, told conception won't happen while Ms Krevantin is still breastfeeding"

But the extended breastfeeding has made conception impossible

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3211362/Mother-breastfeeds-son-four-says-keeps-ADHD-control.html#ixzz3k08v0SPf


A spokesperson from bpas told MailOnline: 'Women are coming to our clinics having become pregnant by mistake.
'Often, their GP has told them that breastfeeding is an effective form of contraception.
'It is an excellent for of contraception - if you do it exclusively. If you miss one feed, it is not reliable.
'Exclusive breastfeeding can provide highly effective contraceptive cover, but only if strict criteria are met.'

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2282763/Unplanned-pregnancies-rise-new-mothers-wrongly-rely-breastfeeding-contraception.html#ixzz3k09cOj5T




I thought this was an old wives tale and google says...

"Yes, women can get pregnant while they are breastfeeding because although they are less fertile during this time, they may not be infertile. You may not get your period for a few months after childbirth but your body will release an egg two weeks before you resume menstruating again."

[Rivercam]

The reason why you can't get pregnant when fully breastfeeding, is because you are too tired to have sex...! ( sorry, Tongue in cheek )

[TheIncomparableDejahThoris]

Varies, innit.
I religiously used condoms "just in case I've just ovulated", because I was determined not to be caught out.

So obviously, I turned out to one of the lucky ones who stayed period-free for about three years thanks to breastfeeding a very much weaned toddler!

Irony, eh?

[thegiddylimit]

I got pregnant twice while BFing. I know several people with very small gaps because they got pregnant while EBFing. I know others who didn't conceive until after the older child's last BF. Fertility varies a lot.

I was told at my 6 week post partum appointment that EBFing was an effective form of contraception. Luckily I didn't follow the doctor's advice because my period returned when DD2 was 4 months old despite exclusively BFing her until she was 6 months. Having read about a LOT about it I suspect because she was a really efficient feeder she just wasn't on the boob long enough to provide enough stimulus to suppress my periods (she didn't go longer than 6 hours between feeds at night).

[snowpo]

Anyone beat me? I was BF only, no period yet, got pregnant when DS1 7weeks. Nice one!!

[Orrla]

Some IVF clinics won't treat you if you are bfing. A good friend of mine was told by a well known London clinic that they were happy to do a natural cycle with frozen embryo but if further intervention was needed she would need to stop

I imagine with all the hormone medications used during the IVF procedure, there is a worry that its not all that safe for the baby to absorb via breastmilk? It can be hard enough to get prescribed anything stronger than a paracetamol by a GP if they hear you are still breastfeeding!

Plus, as the raised prolactin levels that create breastmilk mean that ovulation is affected, then why the hell would you hand over thousands of pounds for an IVF cycle and not give yourself every fighting chance of a successful outcome?

FWIW, I was infertile for 3 years and had a clomid baby. Almost as soon as weaning began at 6 months, I got pregnant despite the breast feeds staying the same.

My sister got pregnant while breastfeeding. She also thought that it was an effective contraceptive. She has no excuse as she is a nurse, and I teased her mercilessly for that one.

[theycallmemellojello]

Apparently the birth rate went up in the industrial revolution as women started to go out to work, breast fed for shorter periods and hence got pregnant again sooner.

[iMatter]

12 months between dc1 and dc2. I was exclusively breastfeeding a very hungry dc1 when I fell pg with dc2.

Shocked didn't even begin to describe it.

When I went to the GP he said it sometimes happens to women who are "carrying extra weight" but as I was a size 8/10 he told me I was "an anomaly".

[EmilyHarrison]

I couldn't get pregnant whilst breast feeding even just once a day and my periods didn't come back till I stopped. I think everyone is different so you won't know if you can get pregnant till you try??

[Pleasemrstweedie]

16 months between DH and BIL because MIL believed this.

My periods came back spot on four weeks after both DDs, despite EBF. I didn't take the chance.

[SignoraStronza]

It would have worked very well for me (had I not had tubes tied at cs#3 anyway). My period had just returned, a fortnight shy of dc3's first birthday. I know exactly when I ovulated again (pain, cm, extra rampantness etc) and that it hadn't occurred previously.
Dc feeds at bedtime, once at some point between midnight and 3am ish and then again at about 5am. During the day will have a quick feed to sleep mid morning and occasionally in the afternoon. Eats like a horse too. So for some women, whose periods haven't returned, I can see how it would be an effective form of contraception.

[AndNowItsSeven]

I believed the big fat lie, until I was breastfeeding twins and conceived when they were three months old.

[ShoeJunkie]

My DSis is also proof that you can indeed get pregnant while bf!

[middlings]

DD2 is proof that you can that you can get pregnant when BF! And s very welcome surprise she was too

[littledrummergirl]

2yrs to fail pg with ds1. Breast fed for a year and had a 2 month break before starting again with ds2.

[PigeonPie]

My DS2 is also proof that you can get pregnant whilst bf!

[Allthatnonsense]

I am currently exclusively demand breast feeding my twelve week old and have just had my first post birth period. Baby feeds every two hours and never goes more than three and a half hours between feeds.

I was a bit surprised as thought that I wouldn't have a period until weaning. My HV said very common and normal.

[OwlinaTree]

I didn't get a period until 2 weeks after i completely stopped breastfeeding at 13 months. I was only feeding 1 feed a day for the last 2 months. I was a bit worried about it as many of my friends had started again. We are all different i suppose.

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

Like blib my experience was certainly not that HCPs say that BF is an effective form of contraception - all those I encountered after both DC were very careful to ppoint out that it isn't!

[BlueBlueSea]

Our bodies are amazing!!

When you have a baby breastfeeding helps get you tummy flat again by contracting the muscles whilst BF. I remember it felt as if I was doing sits ups.

It is also designed to not ovulate until our young are weaned. Modern life though does change this, and everyone is different. Ideally we would not ovulate whilst BF. It works for some and not others. I exclusively BF DD till she was 5 months, then I went back to work. I had my first period 3 weeks after going back. One week for my body to realise that it was not BF (apart from night time feed) then ovulate then two weeks for my period to arrive.

Did not rely on it for contraception though.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

DD2 is proof that you can get pregnant while breastfeeding.
:)

[abigamarone]

My second was exclusively breast fed, on demand, for 10 months or so. My period returned bang on 4 weeks after his birth. Dropping the odd feed over time made absolutely no difference to them.

[nortonhouse]

a close friend has children 11 months apart due to this kind of "advice"...

[LarrytheCucumber]

My aunt believed you couldn't get pregnant while breastfeeding which is why my cousins are a year apart.

[MrsMook]

My periods haven't resumed until 2 months after my final BF. It was nice having a long break from them, and a bit of an incentive to feed beyond 12 and 18 months. I still wouldn't use it as my main method of contraception though!