Is b/feeding a toddler 2/3 times a day likely to affect my chances of conceiving?

[beansprout]

Have been ttc no.2 for a while now. I understood that once solids were introduced, i.e. not feeding full-time, fertility would not be too affected.

I've had my periods back since June and did not think that feeding ds would be an issue. However, it has been suggested again as a reason for not conceiving. Am I being tremendously thick? I know plenty of women have conceived while still feeding, but is it likely to be a factor in not conceiving?

I don't see why.

What's the REASON behind that? I would have thought if you were ovulating, then you were ovulating.

I thought it was the release of prolactin?

hi beansprout

hope you're still watching this thread. I'm in same position and been wondering the same thing. Tried cutting out feed number 3, to see if it would help. have had to take DS for a drive when he hasn't settled for a lunchtime nap wihtout any milk tho!

trying again next week. seems everyone is pg with no2...

Er, not if I'm anything to go by!
Allow me to introduce you to ds2, conceived when breastfed ds1 was 8 months old...

If you ovulate, as MP says, you ovulate. I took clomid to conceive DS1 as I didn't ovulate (or at least, not regularly or predictably) - cycles were all over the place and ranged from 38 days to 54 days.

Then I bfed DS1 till he was nearly 17mo and when he was 12mo and still feeding fairly regularly in the day (but only occasionally in the night), I fell pg with DS2 - cycles were equally erratic and long, but I'd only had two periods since they came back iyswim.

Perfectly possible to fall pg when bfeeding, but if you're worried whether you're ovulating or not, your GP might be able to do you a blood test - although they'll also probably tell you to stop bfeeding because they like doing that...!

And just to echo porpoise, am currently bfing ds2 as i type. conceived while bfing ds1 three times a day when he was 9m. my perid had come back once, tho not regilar (ie i'd had one but it was more thzn a month later i conceived).
if you've got periods you're presumably ovulating (a blood test can tell you), but maybe the bfing makes it harder to conceive in other ways - i mean it changes the cervical mucus doesn't it?
good luck anyway

ds1 ws 11m not 9m when I got pg. doh!

Oh look what I found on google (surfing the net while bfing, sorry!)
"The reason that breastfeeding offers a level of birth control is the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is released during breastfeeding. It suppressess ovulation. The more you breastfeed, the more prolactin is released. Even when your menstrual cycle returns you may have high levels of prolactin, depending on how often you breastfeed."

To use breastfeeding to prevent conception, I was told that you have to be feeding at least every six hours, any less and it is very possible to conceive.

I got pg when my ds was 7 months old and I was bf-ing him. I think my milk must have changed in early pregnancy, because he then self-weaned in three days. I was since told that the "flavour" of the milk can change during pregnancy, and also your supply can be affected.

I exclusively bf my dd when she was born and was feeding on demand - which was pretty regularly as it is with newborns, and my periods still returned after only 6 weeks, I thought it was the lochia starting again it was so soon afterwards! Fortunately we were using protection, so did not have to put to the test whether I could get pg again so quickly!!!!

I know friends of mine who did not get their periods back till 18 months after giving birth, and they only bf for less than a year. So it is a very individual thing, but bf should not be a big factor.

I hope you concieve soon.