Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding?

[kittyz]

Hi all,

Currently still feeding my 6 month old, but due to my age I would like to start trying for another baby very soon. I would like to be pregnant by the time I return back to work after mat leave in September. I'm hoping I'll be able to conceive pretty quickly, as we got pregnant with my baby after 2 months.

I feel kind of upset at the thoughts of finishing breastfeeding, particularly at night, as that is our cosy/special time.
My period still hasn't returned, so I'm wondering do I need to cut back on feeding and allow my period/ovulation to return before trying.

I feel my baby would miss the feeds too, and I have NO idea how to get her back to sleep without the boob!

Any advice would be appreciated

Thank you

Yes you can but you shouldn't cut back on breastfeeding until your baby is 12 months (unless you're planning to top up with formula instead). Milk should be your baby's main food until 12 months. My period returned when my baby was 12 months old but you can start ovulating and get pregnant anytime.

I got pg 3 times while breast feeding. One ended in a mc, but I have no reason to think that was anything to do with breastfeeding. My periods returned at about 6 months (baby slept through for 12 hours from 6 weeks old), 4 months (baby fed every 2 hours until 9-10 months and didn’t sleep through until age 2) and about 9 months (baby waking up some nights but not others at that point).
So, I think breastfeeding doesn’t really affect when your periods return too much, although I guess for some women there might be a correlation, for me, there was no correlation.

For me, it was important to parent the child I had, rather than rush to get on again quickly, but I was in my 20s so age not an issue. There’s 4.5 years between my eldest and youngest, with the middle one completely half way between them. How old are you?

Hi OP, I'm still breastfeeding my 17 month old and my periods returned when he was about 8 months, which coincided with him eating more and drinking less milk. I was still feeding at night until he was about 12 months old although only once. I did not consciously reduce any feeds except for encouraging food intake, in line with health visitor advice. Perhaps yours will come back in a few months too once you start weaning.

@Fairylillie Thanks for your reply. With all due respect though, please do not tell me how I should feed my baby. I will feed my baby how I choose.

I'm looking for advice re. conceiving while breastfeeding.

Thanks

Hi @Maryann1975

Thanks for your message.

Good to know. I might take an ovulation test to see if i am ovulating and take it from there.

I am turning 40 in a few weeks, so that's why there's the hurry. Ideally i'd leave it a few years, but this isn't an option for us.

Thanks for your reply.

@Asiama, yeah maybe that will be the case for us too! She'll be onto her solids soon, so maybe :-)