Did you have to stop BFing to conceive?

[8DaysAWeek]

DS is 19 months old and I've still not had a period since he was born.

I've reduced feeds dramatically to 1-2 a day, and still nothing.

I know I can get pregnant while BFing, and I've been trying to "catch the first egg" for 6 months now, but did anyone eventually just decide to stop BFing in order to start properly ttc? If so, how did you do it and how soon did you period come back?

It's amazing how different our bodies are & what variation there is in when periods come back when breastfeeding.

My periods came back after only four months when I was fully breastfeeding & I was pregnant again two months later, having only dropped a night feed. It was a bit of a shock tbh as it had taken ages to conceive the first time.

I'd have loved to have breastfed for longer but DC1 weaned himself at 9 months, when I was about 12 weeks pregnant, he just seemed to go off the taste. It's wonderful that you've managed so long OP.

I was feeding my three year old and my 18 month old when we conceived dc3. Period came back at five months with dc3 in spite of loads of feeding. Funny how different everyone is.

A group that makes you feel guilty is not worth staying in.

After my first my periods came back at 4 months postpartum despite bf round the clock. I was very cross! Got the coil in at 6mo pp and didn’t get pregnant in the intervening couple of months. After my second I had to completely stop (tried cutting down but no good) - stopped bf about 11 months, period came back a month or so later. Had one period and then fell pregnant - planning to feed this little one a bit longer this time and hoping it keeps periods away again!

8daysaweek yep reality slap from me! You've totally smashed it, seriously! (.)(.)

I had a period two days after my pp bleeding stopped. Even though I was EBF. Does that mean they may come back now my implant has been removed even though I'm still feeding?

I got my periods back at 4 months whilst EBF my first son.

When he was about 2 years he was still breast fed and my cycles were regular and me and DH decided to TTC #2.

DS1 wasn’t breast fed overnight but was still having about 2 feeds a day, sometimes more and sometimes less. Due to my job I sometimes didn’t see him for 48 hours so I was also having periods where I didn’t breast feed for 2-3 days.

Whilst TTC#2 I continued to breast feed and we were struggling to conceive. As the months passed various people passed comment that the fact I was breast feeding may be playing a role in me not being able to conceive despite having regular cycles. I was quite dismissive though as I was only breast feeding about twice a day but as the failed months continued I spoke to a doctor who confirmed that due to the hormones involved in breast feeding it can prevent pregnancy in some women regardless of how often or little you breast feed.

I didn’t particularly want to stop breast feeding DS1 against his will but my wish to have a second child was stronger and we’d been trying for 10-11 cycles already and didn’t want to leave it any longer. So after speaking to that doctor I went cold turkey on the breast feeding and then 6 weeks later I got my BFP.

Some women can get pregnant whilst breast feeding and others can’t.

Unfortunately I was in the group but couldn’t and I guess nobody knows until they try.

Good luck

Thanks for the support folks! And hearing your stories makes me feel a lot better.

His last feed was in the very early hours of Sunday morning. It's weird and quite sad that I didn't know then it would be his last, especially when it wasn't a very pleasant one as I was tired and angry that he was attached to me instead of sleeping. But on Friday morning we had a lovely boobie nap together so I'll hold onto that.

Today has been a nightmare though. 19 months and I've never once got him to nap without boob (though his dad and the nursery manage fine). 1 hour of hysteria later and he's currently asleep on my chest.

Can only get better!

I did everything I could, night weaned, increased calories, had big gaps between feeds, but nothing worked. I've stopped now

So what worked eventually then??