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."

I got pregnant whilst exclusively (all "criteria" met) breastfeeding a three month old who was the result of fertility treatment

EBF here with both DC -met all the conditions. Periods back at 12 weeks on the dot with both of them. At that point they were both feeding 2-3 hourly day and night, had never been apart from me at all, never had formula etc. I didn't 'cheat' - was fully committed to EBF and fed both until 2.7 and 2.11 years.

When I was being discharged from hospital with DD pretty much the first thing the MW said to me was "don't rely on breastfeeding as contraception, and don't forget you can get pg before you have a period". This has been reiterated by pretty much every MW, HV & GP I've seen since. She's 13 weeks now, still EBF, period not back yet (which is actually really nice!).

Also, I really don't want to click on that link, so please someone tell me what the chuff breast milk jewellery is!

Oh. That sounds...interesting.

Think I'll pass!

wOt I've got a Clearblue machine that tells me I've been ovulating for 6 months, I've got a possible luteal phase defect but also not DTD v often because my libido has gone walkies since DS (nearly 3 years ago). I'm definitely the longest real-life example of no period after childbirth I know of! And I definitely have secondary infertility because I've been trying for ages :(

I suspect it is typical DM poor research or poor sub editing.

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 (disclaimer : I hope I've got the terminology right. Our conversation was about age gaps, not the detailed IVF process)

I got pg with ds2 when ds1 was 4 months old. I was exclusively breastfeeding ds1.

My MIL was told you can't get pregnant whilst breastfeeding, great she thought.... there's 10 1/2 months between DH & his sister!!

My periods returned 4-6 weeks after delivering dc2 despite exclusive breastfeeding

I thought from the title it was your mother was the one who believed this and I was coming to post to say mine too She conceived me when bf my then 3 week old sister Oooops!

Just to add - not literally whilst bf her I hope!

In the Sixties there was a hilarious play/TV drama called The Bandwagon about a young woman of exaggeratedly working class background who has quins and whose explanation is My friend Sal said it was safe standing up - and the HV told DW that You can't get pregnant while breastfeeding is the middle-class equivalent!

well, my mum was bf my oldest brother.

my second oldest brother is 11 months younger.

says it all really. It is not a reliable source of contraception.

I got pregnant twice after having my first child, both times I was breastfeeding.

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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