Does pumping rather than 'normal' BF help with the return of fertility?

[orangetickle]

Anyone know?

Took 12m to get my cycles back after #1 and don't want to wait that long after #2, so am thinking of pumping for a few feeds a day in the hope this might speed things up....

I think it must do because my midwife told me recently that I needed to use other sorts of protection as we are doing a mixture of expressed milk and bf at the moment due to feeding problems.

As my baby was two weeks old at the time of the discussion I told the midwife that my contraception of choice was currently abstinence!

You really want the hassle?! I wouldn't bother - expressing with a baby and toddler to deal with....?

My periods returned quicker after dc2 - by about 6 months vs 11 months for dc1 and I was EBF for both.

Badger you need to use other forms of contraception even if you are EBF and I would have expected the MW today that.

Orange, I don't know but I don't see why it would make a difference.

Makes no difference at all how the milk is being 'removed'. You are still making the milk and it is being 'taken' by baby (or pump!).

Return of fertility is variable and so BF alone is not a guarantee in terms if contraception.

Should have added that a mummy friend's cycle took ages to come back first time round and then much less time the next... hence her having a third baby rather more swiftly than planned!

Thanks. Was kind of hoping there'd be an easy answer, but seems not...

Guess it's just a wait and see game (perfect for my patient nature )