Trying to concieve whilst bf

[homerton]

My dd is now 8 months and is excl bb and is baby led weaning as well. My periods have not returned yet and as I took a long time to concieve dd (was about to start IVF) I would like to try for no2 asap. I know it sounds mad but is there any way I can keep bf and hasten the return of af or shall i just start her with a bottle and stop bf. She still feeds at night a couple of times. Thanks for any advice.

Try and stop breastfeeding at night, then see if your period returns.

Don't stop breastfeeding unless you want to stop.

agree with stopping bf at night - see how your body reacts to this.

Again, try to stop bf'ing at night.

It may not take so long to conceive this time.

you might concieve without having a period first!

Hi Homerton,

My DD is 11 months (today). My periods came back two months ago once she started sleeping six hour stretches at night. I got pregnant last month but miscarried. We are trying again. I have very definite signs of ovulation (cervical mucous etc.) and did have positive ovulation tests before my periods came back so it is worth trying.

I think you just have to go for it and keep your fingers crossed. BTW I intend to go on bf even when I do achieve a viable pregnancy (although my nipples did get very tender for the few weeks I was pregnant before) so don't think you have to wean just to have a baby. Good luck!

thanks for that everyone. i also have had signs that ovulation is imminent but yet no show. it would be great to crack sleeping for 6 hourly stretches too!

homerton, you are right on the cusp of that bit of development (well your DD is!) Have you got a night time routine sorted out. Stick to it rigidly and make anything an hour before bedtime horribly boring. No happy songs, just quiet talking. We have a 'no fun after baths' rule and it really helped get her into the idea of sleeping.

Having said some nights it takes till 9 to get her to bed, but then she does sleep till at least 5am. It'll come. Don't worry.

That's good advice wmmc thank you its probably a bit too free and easy here no real routine yet although the end of maternity leave beckons so i need to sort it out. Good luck on trying for no 2 sorry about your miscarriage.

check out "kellymom" on web, or other advice about "ecological breastfeeding" or "spacing children through breastfeeding". these can give advice on how to use breastfeeding to NOT get pregnant, so do the opposite. so, stop feeding at night, don't nap with your baby, sleep in different rooms if possible, etc.
saying all that, im now up to a year and down to 2 bf a day and STILL my period hasn't come back. im keen for it to return (for other reasons) and really hoped stopping at night would do it, but it hasn't.