How fertile are you 10 months after giving birth??

[BooseysMom]

Hi,
Is it true what they say about a woman being highly fertile a few months after giving birth?? I have a 10 month old and am still EBF and have not had a period yet - bliss! The last week however I have had signs of fertility returning - crampy pains, increased mucus and clear egg-white like mucus. I am not taking any contraception and have taken one risk by having unprotected sex! My OH would love another baby, but as we have a baby who wakes every 1-2 hours every night and has always done since birth, I'm just too exhausted to even consider a 2nd one! The birth was horrific resulting in a episiotomy and 3rd degree tear from a forceps birth in theatre. That worries me less though than the exhaustion of coping with a newborn and a toddler at the grand old age of 42!!
Anyone got any similar experiences?
Thanks
xx

Well given you don't have to have periods to ovulate, if you don't want another baby yet, then you need to use contraception.

I conceived by second child when the first was about 7 months. I was taking the mini-pill, breastfeeding, hadn't had a period, and could count the number of times we had had sex on the fingers of one hand.

Don't take any risks if you don't want another baby yet.

Thanks for the replies. Something is driving me to take the risks though as for one thing, time is not on my side being 42 and I think I do want a sibling for our DS. So I think that deep down I do want another one, but there is never the perfect time. If I'm not having periods, when can I do a preg. test??

If you can remember when you had the egg-white mucus, you can do a pregnancy test about two weeks later: that's about when your period would be due, so about when you would do an over-the-counter test.

I hope you get the result you want.

Hi MehsMum, thanks for the advice. I had the clear sticky mucus yesterday (it has changed today to wetter cloudier mucus), and we took the risk yesterday! I never know what I want but often just let nature decide for me! Suppose it's more fun that way - If I wasn't such a worrier!

No problem.

See my post earlier this evening... Not breast feeding anymore, but DS is 10 months.

Just found out I'm 4 weeks pregnant! It was a one off bonk!

I became pregnant with dc2 when dc1 was 11 mo and still breastfeeding, so definitely possible!

EBF is fine as contraception only if some very specific criteria are met.

1. Baby is less than 6 months old.
2. Periods haven't returned.
3. Baby is EBF on demand day and night.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/

If you really don't want another one, you really need to think about contraception, but it sounds like perhaps you might like one. Hope it all works out for you!

Hi mummaduke, congratulations on your fantastic news! I have a week or so to wait before I can do a test.

Hi DinoSnores, thanks for the info. My periods haven't returned but I think my fertility is coming back as I have on and off cramping and fertile mucus. I have to just wait and see Thanks!

I conceived dd2 5 weeks after dd1 was born (to put in context she was very sadly stillborn but my milk still came in, I still very much had a baby). Dd3 was conceived 10 months after dd2. Dd4 was conceived 11 months after dd3. Dd5 was conceived 13 months after dd4 was born (still following!).

So, five children born in six years and 20 days. I definitely believe women are pretty fertile after giving birth! I had to give up breast feeding twice to conceive (I was also 34+ when having the dcs and had previously experienced infertility).

Very fertile after having a baby. I had sex once when our twins were three months old and am pregnant again.

I got pregnant with twins when dd was six months old... Just saying :)

boosey, ALL those criteria need to be met so your baby is too old to rely on BFing (and is eating food as well, I'd imagine) so I'd very much imagine that your fertility is returning.

soontobesix, wow, that's impressive and will be lots of work, but it will be wonderful having them close together in a few years time!

Yes , we are still getting over the shock am hoping they will all get on really well. Depending on when they arrive I could have Irish triplets .

TTC for 27 month. Finally got pregnant with DS1..
Had gall bladder attacks in third trimester. Got induced and was told to wait and see. Normally gall bladder would settle after birth.. 3 month later I had an Emergency surgery.
Again was told because it took us so long to conceive #1 and just recovering from surgery it will take a while to conceive #2..

DS1 just turned 5 month when I found out I'm 4 weeks pregnant with #2...

Currently 37+2 weeks pregnant. DS is 12 1/2 month old..

So yes I think women are more fertile shortly after giving birth

I stopped b/f #2 at 10 months, had sex once (ex was a twice a year man...if that) and conceived #3.

Hi imip, thanks for the msg. So sorry to hear of your still born. Your story of five children born in 6 months does definitely show you are most fertile after each birth! I have a feeling I am pregnant again and I'm not going to let myself be scared this time as the first time I was terrified. I want this one to be different.

Hi Soontobesix, I can't imagine having twins and then having another! How do you do it?!

Hi Corneliusmurphy; ditto above, but in reverse!!

Hi Stupidhead: Wow, that's scary!

Hi hartmel, Good luck with your pregnancy!

All these stories are proving that you are def. most fertile after giving birth - and I thought it was just a wive's tale!
Thanks to everyone for replying.
xx