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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding???

26 replies

Cookie8 · 19/07/2010 21:57

Hi! New to Mumsnet, had a baby boy who will be 1 at the weekend, would love to get pregnant again but I'm still breastfeeding day and night and I haven't had a period yet. I know it does happen that women get pregnant whilst breastfeeding, but I don't know if its worth stopping to increase my chances (would be a shame 'cos I love it and its so easy) Any advice??????

OP posts:
katiepotatie · 19/07/2010 21:58

In a word, Yes. DS is living proof!

StealthPolarBear · 19/07/2010 21:59

oh yes
My periods came back when DS was 18 months, I had two 45 days apart, then I got pregnant with DD

katiepotatie · 19/07/2010 21:59

oh and my best friend got pregnant with ds2 whilst breastfeeding too

Pannacotta · 19/07/2010 22:00

Yes, I got pregnant with DS2 when DS1 was 18 months old and feeding twice a day, I was having periods by then, yours may start again any time...

CharlottesClan · 20/07/2010 16:39

same boat here, 1 year old and ttc whilst bfing. af due this weekend so will let you know!!

pud1 · 20/07/2010 16:41

me too. got pg with dd2 when dd1 was 10 month and didnt have periods. twas a shock

skidoodly · 20/07/2010 16:41

DD2 conceived when DD1 was 13 months or so and still breastfeeding.

WorgenFreeman · 20/07/2010 17:09

I fell pregnant when my son was 7 months old, and he was still breastfeeding, had just about started on solids, but showing little interest! I had not had a period!

There is just under 17 months between him and my little girl!

We had tried over 2 years to get pregnant with my first, then the second was a huge surprise! Without even trying, or planning to try!

pregnantteen · 20/07/2010 17:39

im only 15 and pregss
i havnt told my family yet
any suggestions?

sheeplikessleep · 20/07/2010 17:44

pregnantteen - i had to respond to your post. is there someone you can talk to in real life? a teacher, a friends mum?

pregnantteen · 20/07/2010 17:51

im too scared to talk to anyone,its beacause im muslim and muslim parents are not very understanding, i have to tell my parents but do not know what to say, can you help me please?

QueenofDreams · 20/07/2010 17:57

pregnantteen - where is the father? how old is he? is he also muslim? would he support you? how devout are your parents? Do you feel they would cut you out of their lives if they find out?
It is hard - I come from an evangelical christian family and I wasn't married to my partner. So I was terrified of telling my parents. The differemnce for me is that I was already grown up and living with my partner, not 15 and living at home.

pregnantteen · 20/07/2010 18:01

i dont live in a home, i live in a council flat they kicked me out when i just had a boyfriend. the father lives with me, he is not muslim but is hindu, which goes against my religous view and parents will. He is supporting me 100% but is stuggling as his job is not permanent, thus making our lives very difficult to handle, as i go to school.

sheeplikessleep · 20/07/2010 19:27

pregnantteen. you need to speak to someone in real life about this. why not try ringing childline or brook www.brook.org.uk/.

good luck, i wish you all the best, whatever you decide and remember, it's your decision.

nannyl · 20/07/2010 19:35

yes best friend got PG while pregnant

(it was planned) she has a 15month age gap

char3mum · 20/07/2010 19:44

Yep i got pg with ds2 while feeding ds1, there is an eighteen month gap, sadly ds1 stopped bf when i became pg, one school of thought is that preg hormones effect the taste of milk, he was full weaned still sad though

lilysmemo · 20/07/2010 21:21

I was going to ask the same q - but was under the
impression that bf was a fairly reliable method of contraception if bf exclusively and regularly for the first 6 months- and providing all post birth bleeding had stopped, and periods had not recommenced- anyone know the facts here??

Pavlov · 20/07/2010 21:22

yes.

belleymum · 20/07/2010 22:25

I was exclusively BF DC1 and had not resumed periods when we conceived DC2.
Breast feeding IME has no contraceptive effects.
Luckily we had planned to have more children and decided not to use any method of contraception and see what happened.
I didn't think I was physically capable of conceiving and carrying as I felt so rough.
13.5 month gap between my DC.

tambourine · 20/07/2010 22:41

if only to present the other side of t'coin, i thought i should share my experience. after taking 5 years to conceive dd, i wanted to try again as soon as possible. i didn't get my periods back until she was 16 months (and still feeding at least 5/6 times in 24 hours) and then am convinced i conceived -was doing opks, know we swi at right time, was a week late, pg symptoms,- twice in following 7 months (am a uni tuber, so that was pretty high rate for me!) but didn't get positive test. i honestly think my hormones weren't letting it implant- hence no hcg to make positive pregnancy test- anyway, decided to stop bf when dd was 22 months, with her cooperation, and ba ba boom, next month bfp and now 6 weeks pg. i only offer this as cautionary tale, i've read that there are three phases to your fertility returning after bfing, and i think its apparent that like so many other things its different for everyone. I hope your hormones have the good grace to be fast movers, not like the slackers i have on board! good luck!

QueenFee · 20/07/2010 22:46

there is a TTC whilst BF thread on here with quite a lot of info about it - I will just go and find a link

QueenFee · 20/07/2010 22:48

here

lilysmemo · 20/07/2010 22:51

I'm not ttc- my daughter is 8 days old! I want to know if it is safe! Lol

QueenFee · 21/07/2010 19:02

there is an in depth article about it on kellymom
Will come back later with a link. (on my phone)

QueenFee · 21/07/2010 19:16

here

I have to say i've never taken the risk before, however after TTC whilst BF I think I might as it's proving difficult!

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