Did you have to stop BF to conceive a second child? First child is almost 2

[BFmumttc]

Hi,

We are TTC our second child who will be 2 in the next few months. My first child still BFs throughout the night, morning, after nursery and in the evening. Basically on demand when I’m with her. I’m happy feeding her, it works for us. I’m worried that her feeding so much will prevent me getting pregnant again.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Did you have to wean completely? Any recommendations for hormone blood tests? Seen Randox do a few different ones for fertility hormones.

Thanks!

I’ve known loads of people get pregnant again whilst bfing. I did. Are your periods back? The only limiting factor here is that you still feed a lot and overnight and this will impact for some women.

@Darhon yes got my period back about 9 months, it’s pretty regular. That’s what I concern about, she still feeds like a newborn! I might do the Randox blood tests they’re not expensive and see what they throw up. Thanks!

I was still breastfeeding my then 2 year old DD when I got pregnant with with DS. She was still feeding bedtime, in the morning and sometimes in the night if needed. So don’t feel like you need to stop if you don’t want to get but still want to try for another baby.

If you’ve got your period it’s not likely to be the BFing tbh. But if you can, cut down a night feed as apparently they’re the ones that influence such hormones.
I conc dived when BFing and have 2 yr 11 months between one set and 3 years 3 months between the other set. It’s a good age gap tbh.

You shouldn’t need to stop completely but that is a lot and may be impacting, especially the feeding throughout the night. Does she need that much milk as well as her meals? Maybe cut the night feeds and then see if that has an impact.

Thanks all! I’ll see if we can reduce the night feeds a little and continue TTC until Christmas even before we think about weaning. Thanks!

I was still feeding 17 month old DS round the clock when I got pregnant with DD on the first try. My period had come back at 8m PP. I stopped breastfeeding him at about 3 months pregnant, I had been open to feeding him all through pregnancy but my milk dried up and I struggle with awful feelings of aversion, but luckily he took stopping well.

Struggled*

Yeah definitely cut the night feeds. They don't really need them after 12 months anyway

Started TTC when DS was 17 months old. Conceived at 18 months. Stopped BF at 22 months (he self weaned as the milk changed flavour).
I didn't do any blood tests or anything like that. I just bought ovulation tests and used them liberally to pinpoint when I was ovulating. I did that because I had struggled to conceive DS (it took 5 years) and ovulation tests were pivotal in conceiving him in the end. I expected to be in it for the long haul with DC2.
How long have you been TTC so far?

Hi I've not got any experience or advice but i want to start ttc for my third around Christmas/new year and I'm still bf my 6 month old. I'm going back to work PT next month tho so will see how it goes. I haven't got my periods back yet BUT i have been using cheap ovulation sticks and i got what i assume was my peak so idk!

I wish you all the luck OP!