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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

trying to conceive while breastfeeding

26 replies

cockenzie · 28/11/2004 22:23

We are trying for no 2 but i read that while nursing prolactin stops you from getting pregnant.Is it true?

OP posts:
morningpaper · 28/11/2004 22:25

My best friend got pg when her ds was only 12 weeks old and she was exclusively nursing! She was really keen to do it!

I SUSPECT that breastfeeding stops conception because most of my breastfeeding chums AVOIDED sex for AGES after having their babies....

I reckon if you go at it enough you could be lucky!

Good luck! xxx

pupuce · 28/11/2004 22:25

No.... you may well concieve whilst breastfeeding.
How old is your first child, how often is she fed?
Are you periods back (presumably not if you're asking)...

janeybops · 28/11/2004 22:33

My aunty concieved no 2 and 3 while breastfeeding. Or so my mum always tells me

mykidsmum · 28/11/2004 22:41

I used breastfeeding as a form of contraception after giving birth to my twins. Unfortunately I was ill advised and didn't look for any information myself. This resulted in my falling pregnant when my twins were 5 months old aaggghh!! In retrospect it was great as all my children have a wonderful bond and play (for the most part) beautifully, now 4 and 3. Breastfeeding works as a form of contraception if babe is fed regularly ie three/four hourly feeds during the day and NIGHT. I think you will find more info about this on the Kellymom website, can't find the address but type it into google and I'm sure you will find more. HTH xxx

Original poster
cockenzie · 29/11/2004 09:24

she is 9.5 months old
Her last feed is at 9.pm and she falls off to sleep.She still sleeps with us.Then she usually wakes a couple of time, maybe at 2am for a cuddle and then maybe at 4am and i may give her a little baby rice.then she sleeps till 6/7am and has her first b/feed
My periods are slowly regulating as i started after the cesarian on a 34 days cycle and am now on a 30 days.But what can i do to totally stop b/feeding?
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
cockenzie · 29/11/2004 09:25

What if you b/feed at night, does it still no stop from ovulating?

I read that the hormone prolactin suppresses the ovulation especially at night?

OP posts:
Pidge · 29/11/2004 09:29

If your getting periods whilst breastfeeding - then you can conceive. BUT you can also conceive without getting a period, because of course you ovulate before the period - so if you get pregnant on that first ovulation you would never get a period at all. That's why breastfeeding isn't a good form of contraception - because you can't tell if you've started ovulating again until it's too late!

Anyway, as I said, if you're getting your periods, no need to change anything on the breastfeeding front, just give it time ... and good luck.

Original poster
cockenzie · 29/11/2004 13:01

Thanks for all your help and especially the speed of your emails

I am also wondering why i am getting those strange cycles.

I used to be dead on 28 days but since the section or (is it to do with b/feeding) it has been very irregular (34days, 31 days, 30 days...) is it going to carry on until i get back on a 28 days cycles? i don't understand
Thanks

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 29/11/2004 16:13

I think it's the breastfeeding. I used to be 28 days, had a section, got my period back at 6 months, but I think it was pretty irregular until I stopped breastfeeding. Then it went back to 28 days.

lulupop · 29/11/2004 19:08

when you stop BF, your cycle will most likely return to normal. I had a section with DS and DD and this is how it worked for me.

If you want to stop BF, have you tried a bottle?

I also know plenty of people who conceived while BF... personally it scares the life out of me! Haven't let DH NEAR me without a condom since DD arrived!

Original poster
cockenzie · 30/11/2004 07:56

Lulupop

Hi.Yes i tried the bottle but she wont take it. She takes water though, but these days sometimes she goes on the nipple and don't even such but rests on it as if it was her way of cuddling.But now its getting sore with her sharp teeth and don't know how to make her accept the bottle. When she feeds on the sofa, she kinds of dances (!!) hehe... she puts her bum in the air and tries to feed....weird. She likes her juice though.But any advice pls for bottle?

OP posts:
Original poster
cockenzie · 30/11/2004 07:57

Pupuce

Is that also while breastfeeding at night?
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
cockenzie · 30/11/2004 08:01

Pidge

The annoying thing is , if i don't know exactly when my periods will oome i cant work out when i will ovulate...

I think however i can now work it out, as i was this month 30 days. if next month my cycle is 29 days, how would i work out when i ovulate? is there a way?Thanks

OP posts:
suzywong · 30/11/2004 08:01

Yes, very good question.

Original poster
cockenzie · 30/11/2004 08:04

Suzywong

Hi there

Are you also trying to conceive?

OP posts:
suzywong · 30/11/2004 08:07

NO

just got a bit fruity with DH this morning when I know I'm ovulating but BF at night as well. In my head we have almost certainly decided to stop at 2 but I think my body has other ideas.

Original poster
cockenzie · 30/11/2004 08:33

Suzywong

I know what you mean
Its so strange, i don't know if its due to hormons, but just before my periods i usually get very randy all the time. I don't know if you get physical signs when you ovulate? we decided to stop at 3 although i would personnally push it to 4.Luckily, hubby dont mind. I love kids too much.
How do you know or when do you know that you are about to ovulate?

OP posts:
suzywong · 30/11/2004 09:24

LOL it is scary isn't it?

Well, since you ask, I usually have rude dreams, breast tenderness and I can actually feel which ovary is releasing the egg.

I got my periods back after six weeks with both of them and bf ds1 til he was 16 months and ds2 is currently 15 mo.

I think my body is trying to tell me something. I really should try and keep my self to my self for the next couple of day

Pidge · 30/11/2004 09:50

Hi cockenzie - hmmmm - yes that's difficult with varying cycles isn't it. If you search on the TTC threads you'll probably find lots of info about temping, tracking cervical mucus and the like to predict when you're ovulating, if you're really keen to get pregnant fast. Otherwise I'd say just relax, enjoy the ttc and see what happens. Having said that I was lucky - once my periods restarted when dd was 9 months I slotted straight back into a 28 day cycle, even though I breastfed her till she was 2. Plus I wasn't keen to get pregnant until then anyway!

Good luck.

lulupop · 01/12/2004 13:36

Cockenzie, if she is 10 months maybe you could just abandon the idea of bottles entirely and go straight to a feeder cup? Most of my friends who have BF as long as you have done this successfully, as their babies weren't at all interested in bottles by that stage.

Do you actually want to stop BF?

Original poster
cockenzie · 02/12/2004 08:08

Lulupop

Hi - yes i do want to stop breastfeeding altogether although she refuses often anything else.it seems that its mostly an emotional comfort and she feels really comfortable with it but nipple doesnt!! hehe its sore with her teeth

OP posts:
cazzybabs · 02/12/2004 09:12

I tried to get pregnanat while still bf dd1 - took me a long time and only mamnaged it when she was 1 and a half and having one or two feeds a day. Must just be really infertile!

lulupop · 02/12/2004 09:27

not sure what to sugges re giving up entirely, as most people I know who've tried to give up beyone the 9-10 month stage have had some difficulty!

The quickest solution some have used is to leave baby with daddy for a night or 2, have a night on the town with friends, and leave daddy to offer formula from whatever receptacle the baby will take!

Whether or not you actually go out for the night, I think it has to be someone else who tries to offer it, not you, as she will immediately go for your breast.

Original poster
cockenzie · 02/12/2004 09:48

Cazzubabs

and was you b/feeding at night?

OP posts:
cazzybabs · 02/12/2004 09:50

UMm not really she was down to two or three feeds a day sometimes more and sometimes less.