Stop breastfeeding want to get pregnant?

[TTCfirstbabyx]

Hi there,
I was just looking for some advice/ to hear other people's experiences who have been in the same situation. I have an 19 month old who I am breastfeeding I have gradually been trying to cut down over the last month and get rid of day feeds- it has been hard but we are getting their despite the upset 😞 I am still feeding her to sleep and if she wakes in night to get her back to sleep (nothing else gets het to sleep :( ). I want to start trying for my next baby but what is the liklihood if I'm still breastfeeding I have my periods back but I know your hormones are still affected. If I did fall pregnant I worry I would be depriving the baby of some nutrients. But then again I don't want to deprive my daughter of the comfort and benefits considering WHO says to go to 2 years. I really don't know what I should do? Has anyone else been in this situation what did you do?
Thanks if anyone replies xxx

Your growing baby will always take what it needs from you. If anything it's you that might be depleted.

Some people's supply reduces, some people develop feeding aversion, and for some people it makes no difference at all.

Since you're winding BF down anyway it doesn't seem like a reason not to ttc.

I got pregnant when DD1 was just over 2, and still being breastfed a couple of times a day. I think pregnancy affected my milk as DD1 weaned herself off completely by the time I was about 8 weeks pregnant.
If you want a second child, I would start trying now. Your milk may be unaffected, and if it is affected that might not happen for a month or so even if you fell pregnant immediately. So your daughter will in all likelihood be 2, or very nearly 2 - and even if she stops before 2, you've breastfed her for a long time and given her a lot of benefits. She won't lose out by stopping a couple of months before turning 2, if that's what ends up happening.

For me it was the night feeds rather than the day feeds which affected my fertility.

If you try some gentle night weaning, your periods will probably return.

Kellymom has some good information on BFing and fertility here.

And as others have said, don't worry about depriving her, she'll take the nutrients she needs from you, that's why you need to take a decent supplement when you're BFing

When I was TTC number 2 I was still breastfeeding DC1 and I just couldn’t get pregnant.

DC1 was still breastfeeding during the day but not during the night. I’d also had my regular menstrual cycle back for well over 18 months.

After 10 months of TTC I went to see my GP who advised it was most likely the breast feeding. She explained that some of the hormones involved in lactation can affect the endometrium wall which means that even if an egg were to implant it would be impossible for the pregnancy to continue and so the lining would shed and appear as a normal period.

She said that for the last 10 months my egg could have been fertilised every single cycle and go on to implant, but it was the hormonal effect on the endometrium layer that was preventing me from staying pregnant.

As a result I stopped breast feeding cold turkey. By this point DC1 was 2yrs and 8 months old so it was a bit easier to explain to him what was happening. I then conceived (and stayed pregnant) on my next cycle.

Hi

My DD was 15 months old and I was BF morning and night, when I luckily fell pregnant (currently 3 months). I've only recently stopped the night feeding to sleep due to having the flu.

In my experience I can't say breastfeeding affected my ability to conceive (I am mid 30s and first time round it took me over 1 year TTC). Second time it was on cycle 2.

Again. in my experience my child still feeds the same quantity and my supply hasn't changed. Although I find that as they are growing, breast milk is not as filling and maybe more for habit/ comfort reasons??

Being pregnant has personally not affected my DDs growth, or the growing baby. Do what's right for you. Good luck!

I got pregnant whilst breastfeeding, nursed throughout pregnancy and combifed.

I don't know about statistics or anything. I didn't even have a period between babies.

I have a friend who did the same, though had periods in between children and a slightly bigger gap.

I'd thought my milk might dry up during pregnancy but it didn't.

I have heard breastfeeding can effect fertility but we weren't actively trying, though did want another child.

Forgot to say that I got PG whilst BFing, twice!