Breast Feeding and TTC

[evie2000]

Can anyone offer any advice. My 16 week old baby is exclusively breastfed. I am keen to try to conceive a second child within the next few months and so far my period has not returned. I didn't really want to have to give up BF but wonder if this is the best option to re-start my system or are there other ways of getting it going again. Not sure if anyone knows.

WOuld really appreciate anyone's ideas. For info I feed 7am, 11am, 2.30pm, 6.15pm and 10.30pm.

Thanks so much.

Most people find that once they stop feeding overnight fertility returns. I'm pregnant and still breastfeeding three times a day and was feeding six times a day - similar times - earlier in the morning and later at night though - when I conceived.

Do you have any signs of fertility (cervical mucous etc)?

Thanks Whomovedmychocolate (a name I can relate to!!) no signs as yet. wondering whether to drop a feed - at the moment I express for the 10.30 feed at about 10pm but I could possibly try and express earlier or even use the milk expressed from the morning for that feed so my body gets a full 12 hours without feeding - perhaps that is the first step. I don't want to start dropping feeds if it has no impact but equally quite keen on getting going. congratulations on your pregnancy. how exciting. hope you're feeling well and managing with your dd too!

Not much point really - for a lot of people they don't return to full fertility for nine months anyway. Whatever they do.

Hi evie, I hope you don't mind me saying this and I don't wish to cause offence but have you considered waiting just another 10 weeks before you start dropping feeds? Dropping feeds will impact on your supply and you may have to start feeding your baby formula top ups. At 26 weeks you'll be able to introduce solids and your baby may well start dropping feeds then anyway.
I know you may have very good reasons for wanting to conceive your next child quickly but it doesn't make sense to me to introduce formula when you've established breastfeeding so well.

For what it's worth, I have been bfeeding my dd for 2 years now and am 9 weeks pregnant. You could be fertile even if your periods don't start so breastfeeding may not make any difference anyway.

Good luck whatever you decide

I dontbelieve it - no offense by any means...thanks for your thoughts. I hadn't considered that naturally the milk will become less as he goes onto solids so what you say does make sense. What concerns me is dropping feeds and my fertility not returning anyway so it would have been as waste (if you know what I mean!).
thanks again for your thoughts. congrats on your pregnancy too!

whomoved - I think you are probably right that there isn't much I can do but thanks for you comments too.

DS1 was one of those angel babies who slept 12 hours at night from 8 weeks but my periods only started once I started him on solids at 6months. So I don't think that moving the night feed earlier would necessarily have any effect if you are making all his milk iyswim.

evie2000 - I've not had a period since umm oooh 2006 actually. I thought I was getting my periods back a month before I conceived this baby but it turned out I'd conceived and had an early miscarriage. But then went on to conceive again the following month and I'm now 36 weeksish. So don't worry about the whole period thing - it's not essential.