Is it possible that breastfeeding is stopping me getting pregnant?

[Southwest]

will probably post this in conception as well only thought you lot might know more.

Im desperately trying to get pregnant and running out of time age wise, previous attempt have been quick so we were wondering is it possible that I am not getting pregnant because I am still breastfeeding (ds2)?

I do think I was pregnant a couple of months ago but was reluctant to test and think I had a miscarriage.

AF is regular and prev OPKs have suggested I am ovulating.

Thanks

Can't advise you, but bf (esp if you bf during the night) does have an ovulation-suppressing effect.

Personally, I got pg with DC2 the week I stopped bf at night (when DC1 was 12 months) and pg with DC3 the month after I stopped bf at night (when DC2 was 13 months).

How old is your DC?

Whoops, I just read the last part of your post - if you are ovulating, then I don't think bf will be making a difference.

Bf can make the endometrium. - i.e. the lining of the womb - thinner so it's harder for the embryo to implant.

I can only advise you that I have a pituitary tumour which basically means I secrete prolactin - the hormone that is responsible for breast feeding (even when I am not pregnant, so I would produce breastmilk even though I had no baby!).

If you have too much prolactin it can suppress your ovulation and in my case I needed to take a drug to reduce my prolactin levels and stop my breastmilk so that I could become pregnant.

I'm not saying you have a pituitary tumour (it's extremely rare) but I am saying that if you are breastfeeding the effect is likely to be similar as you are stimulating the prolactin production.

Even if you are ovulating an increase in prolactin can stop the embryo's implanting.

Have a look into luteal phases - the gap between ovulating and your period starting - if the LP is too short then it implantation is unlikely (IIRC a normal phase is 12 days). Bfing can alter the LP to make it less likely a baby is conceived while the mother is intensively bfing though usually that effect drops off after solids are introduced (or if a mother mix feeds).

Have you tried charting your periods/ovulating to see what the pattern is there?

How old is your DC?

Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive (although not 100% reliable) so yes.

Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive (although not 100% reliable) so yes.

I am actively feeding a 13mo day and night she has 6-8 feeds a day and 1-3 at night and have just found out that we are expecting again. I've only had one period since having her which was 3 months ago. So it is possible to catch whilst feeding, hope you get the news you want soon x

Thanks guys

26 months tbh never really intended to keep going this long

He feeds to sleep (I really need to stop that) which can be almost nothing can be more, then feeds agin most mornings and maybe once most or some nights I'm a bit uncertain since he seems to be cutting down a bit anyway but he also seems to really like it and will ask for more sometimes during the day I always say no now!

Looks like I'm going to have to stop

I think my luteal phase is ok but I need to keep better records!

If your luteal phase is fine then bfing almost certainly isn't stopping you getting pg (luteal phase shortening is pretty much the last 'defence' of bfing in stopping fertility returning). This has lots of information on the ways bfing affects fertility (and the ways it doesn't).

On a personal note I have been bfing solidly since March 2006 and am now pg for the 4th time - I have conceived while bfing 12+ times day (4 over night) with DD1 when she was 11.5m, was tandem nursing DD1 & DD2 when I got pg with DD3 (DD1 was about 2.8y & DD2 was about 14m so was prob nursing 20+ times a day including some overnight) and conceived DC4 while tandem nursing DD2 & DD3 (DD2 was just over 4y & DD3 was about 2.2y so only nursing 6 or 7 times a day though 2 or 3 times were at night).

Just goes to show bfing doesn't have to equal no pg though it is a pretty good contraceptive in the 1st 6m providing certain criteria are met.

Good luck with TTC.

I bf dd until she was 2 and charted my temps while ttc no 2. I found that I had a long cycle with late ovulation and a 9 day luteal phase all of which can be linked to excess progesterone (i think) from breastfeeding..

I had 1 chemical pg and 1 mc before finally getting pregnant and staying pregnant. It's not impossible to conceive while breatfeeding, just harder. If you do want to wean then that would help.

Have you seen the ttc while breastfeeding thread? It's a bit old now but has some good advice on it.

Good luck.

No time as DD has just woken but yes join us on TTC whilst breastfeeding there are a few of us posting at the moment.

There's some good info on Kellymom as well iirc. The hormones produced by bfing can have a contraceptive effect (very effective during the first six months, nearly 100% if you're exclusively bfing with no solids) and wearing off with time. Different women are affected to different degrees though so there's no hard and fast rule. Personally we tried for DC2 for 16 months, incl acupuncture etc, and conceived (with a sticky one, had a couple of chemical pregnancies during the 16 months) within a couple of months of nightweaning so might be worth trying nights first and seeing how you go.

The TTC while bfing thread was a lifeline too, even if it did have me doing all sorts of stuff like drinking grapefruit juice etc :) Charting really helped me too but then I'm kind of obsessive/controlling, it's not for everyone. Good luck :)

All the best OP with TTC.

Like TruthSweet (Congratulations on your new pregnancy :) ), I am currently pregnant with DC4.

I fell pregnant with DC2 whilst breastfeeding one child and fell pregnant with DC3 and DC4 whilst tandem feeding !

In my case once my periods returns post childbirth, I find breastfeeding no barrier to conceiving.

I am lucky that my periods are absent for 15 months after each child, therefore the gap between each pair of siblings is 24 months.

It might be worth night weaning to see if your cycles improve, before weaning completely.

Oh thanks guys
I appreciate you taking the time to reply with so much info

And congrats to the newly pregnant!

I think it does slow you down, conceiving dc1was v quick but dc2 took about 6months, i'm sure it's because I was (still am!) rBreastfeeding dc1.
Best of luck!