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AIBU?

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Original poster

to ask if anyone's fallen pregnant while bf'ing before getting their period back?

78 replies

SashaFierce99 · 02/02/2016 21:48

It's got to be pretty unlikely, right?

DP and I DTD on Thursday for the first time in months. Our baby has dropped feeds until bedtime and during the night only remain and I haven't yet had a period. Last week I felt crampy and thought it might be due but nothing has occurred. Now since DTD I feel crampy on and off, have lower back pain and (sorry for TMI) lots of snot like cervical mucus. All of which have been the first signs of pregnancy for me with previous DC.

I just feel 'full' in my tummy; I can't explain it. Surely pregnancy is highly unlikely in these circumstances? Has anyone here fallen pregnant before their period returned?

OP posts:
Headmelt · 02/02/2016 22:47

You can still be ovulating so it is possible to get pregnant. I think if you are not breastfeeding every 4-6 hours or leaving too long between feeds, bfing is not as effective as a method of contraception.

Bimblepops · 02/02/2016 22:47

I only worked out that I might be pregnant whilst talking to a relative at a family wedding, moaning about how fluey I felt, even though I knew I didn't have flu "the last time I felt like this was when I was...oh...oh..."
Dashed off to get a pregnancy test and that was that!

TattyDevine · 02/02/2016 22:47

Yes, my mum. With me Grin

Regretted it ever since I'm sure Wink

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/02/2016 22:50

I think I did, first period was so horrendous I can only compare it to a later miscarriage I had. However I did then get pregnant next cycle through sheer carelessness. 21 months between DS1 and DD1. I may have cried a bit.

tomatodizzy · 02/02/2016 22:52

Breastfeeding prevented me from getting pregnant. I was still breastfeeding my 3rd who was 18 months when I started TTC and 2 years when I stopped BF him. We were TTC for 6 months when we'd always got pregnant on first try before. I was down to only bedtime feed and as soon as I dropped that I fell pregnant, so for me breastfeeding was a great barrier. My BF days are over now so I had to get some proper contraception.

It is unlikely yes, but it does happen. Those symptoms could also be ovulation kicking back in.

Mistigri · 02/02/2016 22:53

It's very possible and my nearly 13 year old is living proof ;) Conceived when I was still bf my oldest who was 12 months at the time. I was 38 so not in the first flush of youth either.

That said, it's very early for pg symptoms, and it could just be a sign of your cycle returning.

23jumpstreet · 02/02/2016 22:59

Yes with twins 10 years old now.

Thatrabbittrickedme · 02/02/2016 23:11

I know several people this has happened to. I don't think it's even that rare tbh

Duckdeamon · 02/02/2016 23:13

Yes, and it's not uncommon.

Headmelt · 02/02/2016 23:54

My dsis's friend was ebf and found out she was pregnant again at her 6 week post natal checkup. Shock
My mw told me (before discharging me after having dd1) that you don't ovulate for at least 56 days after birth when ebfing. I was shocked she was giving that advice. I think she's trying to keep her work place busy Grin

AnotherStitchInTime · 03/02/2016 00:01

Yes ds (dc3) is here despite me still bf dd2 when he was conceived. In fact I had no idea until I was 3 months pregnant as after conceiving I had what seemed like periods every month. It was only DH saying to me my tummy looked like it had grown that got me thinking and pos.

FeralBeryl · 03/02/2016 00:03

Yep Blush another one here, thought it was a hangover at first. The hangover is now 2.

Tiggeryoubastard · 03/02/2016 00:16

The evidence is 6ft 1, currently downstairs playing cards and eating chilli with mates from rugby. At home for a few days from uni systematically emptying my freezer. Wouldn't be without him though.

georgetteheyersbonnet · 03/02/2016 00:38

My periods returned with a vengeance at dead on 4 months after DD, despite EBF every 2-3hrs round the clock. So if I had had by chance any thoughts of DTD two weeks earlier.... (not that DH would have got the option at that point after a "complex" tear....)

I read somewhere that the hormone that causes lactational amenorrhea is partly dependent on nipple stimulation - don't know how true that is, though DD was a very efficient feeder and could hoover out a full breast in about 5 minutes, so despite feeding frequently she never actually spent that much time actually on the nipple. (Thank goodness for me as it bloody hurt!)

AndNowItsSeven · 03/02/2016 00:38

Yes, I was breastfeeding three month old twins.

MistressDeeCee · 03/02/2016 00:49

Yes. I had DD1 in 1994, & DD2 in 1995. No inkling at all I was pregnant the 2nd time, massive shock I didn't think it could happen before periods resumed/whilst breastfeeding

CharmingChampignon · 03/02/2016 00:51

Yep - dc2 was conceived when dc1 was 10months, no period and bf v frequently. You ovulate 14 days prior to your period starting so it makes biological sense.

selsigfach · 03/02/2016 00:53

I'm BFing mys 14-month-old, no periods yet but I have been ovulating for the last few months.

TheVeganVagina · 03/02/2016 05:23

Yes i did.
Unfortunately the pregnancy ended at 12 weeks.

YokoUhOh · 03/02/2016 05:29

I gave up BF when DS was 2 years 8 months - my periods had only just returned - and got pregnant the next month. I'd not used contraception since he was born, so BF was a sure-fire barrier method for me!

anotherBadAvatar · 03/02/2016 05:38

Two close friends of mine- both unexpectedly due with their BF conceived babies in the next two months.

Am afraid it does happen!

luckiestgirlintheworld · 03/02/2016 05:46

Oh shit- sounds like you need to do a test OP!

AngharadTheSplendid · 03/02/2016 05:46

Nope, tried and tried and tried from 6 weeks postpartum until 6 months (we wanted a small gap). The only thing that brought back my fertility was stopping bf completely.

HMF1 · 03/02/2016 05:54

Sorry OP but yes I did DS2 was 9months & I was still breastfeeding when I got pregnant with DS3, I remember going to the clinic & talking to the nurse & heath visitor, whose comments were it's very common ( included the nurse as well).

agapimou · 03/02/2016 06:10

We are ttc no 2 at the moment but dd 14 months is still breastfeeding round the clock Sad I cant even drop a feed as she is boob obsessed and screams if I dont get them out on demand

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