Stop breastfeeding to conceive

[ShouldIBuyOrShouldIGo]

I came off the minipill 5 weeks ago. DD is 11months old and I work fulltime so whilst I am still breastfeeding it is down to evenings and weekends. I had a few light bleedings when I was on the pill - its one of those pills that you don't take a break from. So far I have had no period and 4 bfn - so many because I had such cramps, bloating and vomitting that I thought I was pregnant.
So no period means no ovulating right? Could it be breastfeeding? Reading up on it it seemed unlikely that so little feeding would cause this... Just interested in others ideas and experiences. Fwiw last time I came off this pill I got my period back straight away and concieved within 3 months.

Whilst TTC #2 I was still breast feeding my son (aged 2). He probably fed about twice a day and maybe more frequently if he was unwell. Sometimes due to my shift patterns at work he wouldn't feed for over 48 hours.

I caught pregnant on our first cycle of TTC #2 but unfortunately had an early miscarriage three weeks later.

As we continued to TTC I was getting BFN month after month and I was getting so disheartened. Somebody did mention to me that breast feeding could be the cause as although it doesn't affect conception the hormones involved mean the egg can't implant into the uterine wall properly therefore an actual pregnancy can't be established. I was told that technically my egg could be being fertilised every month but when it came to it then implanting the breast feeding hormones were preventing it from happening.

After ten months of failed cycles I decided that I was going to stop breast feeding just in case it was having an impact and I caught pregnant on the following cycle and am now 15 weeks.

Despite EBF DS1 my periods returned when he was 4 months old and they settled into their normal regular cycle pretty quickly. I wasn't using any form of contraception for 12 months after his birth and then I had a Mirena Coul put in and my periods remained completely regular.

Many people who come off the Pill go months and months without having a period so in your case it may actually be that what's going on as opposed to breast feeding stopping ovulation.

I suppose you could give it a few more months to see if your periods return and if not then you may have to ask yourself whether it is the breast feeding and whether you're prepared to stop in order to TTC.

I didn't particularly want to stop BF DS but after ten failed cycles of TTC I knew I had to accept that maybe the BF was the problem. I really wanted a sibling for DS, I was aware of an ever growing age-gap and after 2.5 years of BF him I felt I'd done my time

Thankfully he adapted pretty well to the breast feeding stopping cold turkey so now I'm trying to enjoy having my breasts to myself again before it all starts again in 6 months time!!

Good luck on your TTC journey

We ttc dc2 for 15 months. For the first 12 months I was bf dd1, once or twice a day. Decided to stop bf to see if that helped, fell pregnant 3 months later. Who knows if it made a difference but I am now snuggling 1 week old DD2 .

Thank you ladies. And congratulations to you both! DD might have made the decision a bit easier by biting me whilst feeding yesterday! Maybe its time to stop...

I was down to one feed a day with 18 month old dd1 & had no periods (no pill or anything). Ovulated for the first time 2 weeks after her last feed.

I think I'm going to join you ShouldIBuy - a frustrating week in limboland (my opks ran out before I got a +, so not absolutely sure when AF is due) involving many BFNs, was compounded last night by hearing that 2 of my NCT buddies are pregnant and both due in August! I so badly want to join the club!
AF returned for me in September, I've had signs of ovulation most months, but in case breast feeding is impeding things, maybe it's time to stop....

I conceived last month on first cycle ttc #2 (am still feeding my almost 2 year old & he feeds a lot for his age I guess). It ended in a chemical pregnancy, which would support the theory that conception is possible but implantation isn't.

I know many many women who fell pregnant while bf, and fed throughout and then tandem fed, so don't automatically assume it's this.

Read around the subject a little - I do know one lady who took agnus castus which helped, but again it's worth reading around it.

Exciting stuff curliegirlie, I know the frustration well. I have put extra pressure on myself as I v unhappy working fulltime and want to go down to part time. If I'm pregnant though I will stick it out to get much better maternity pay.. So that gives me 2 months before I need to go and talk to my boss...

Hi there. I bf my son until he was 29 months old. My period only returned when he was 27 months. He fed evenings, through the night (we coslept) and occasionally through the day for naps.

I thought my period would never return! I fell pregnant while still bf (second cycle).

So there's a good chance that you are still amenorrheic due to bf, especially if you feed overnight. However, that doesn't mean that you need to stop breastfeeding to conceive.

I ended up weaning my son as I was so worn out in my first trimester I couldn't handle the bf too. But plenty of people manage to continue.

It seems to be a very individual thing re the return of periods. It might be worth talking to a GP first - it would be upsetting to wean to later find out there was another reason that your periods had returned.

sorry - I mean had not returned

I was breastfeeding my 18 month old dd 3/4 times a day and night when I got pregnant. I conceived the first time we tried and I'm currently sitting breastfeeding my 3 week old dd2. It's definitely possible to get pregnant when breastfeeding and I continued for most of the pregnancy until dd1 weaned naturally. I also know quite a few other women who have got pregnant while breastfeeding with no problem.
As for biting, a short sharp 'no' and removing your dd from the breast as soon as she does it will make her stop pretty quickly.

My wee ones both went through a biting phase but it didn't last long. I think they just enjoy causing the reaction!