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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.

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Original poster

Making Babies Whilst Breastfeeding

22 replies

Thinking · 30/05/2007 21:40

Our child is currently 10 months old and breastfed with some solid food and although I have had a couple of two day bleeds...I have not had proper periods since before I was pregnant.

We are not really trying/not preventing a second child...so kinda trying but I have no idea where to begin.

Can we conceive whilst I'm breastfeeding ?

Are the limited couple of days bleeds...real periods ? (Unsure as I was on the pill for many years before we got pregnant, so unsure what is a real period IS for me)

Is there anything we should or shouldn't be doing, or should we just relax and see what happens ? But when would I test if I have no idea where I am in my cycle ?

Any advice welcome

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 30/05/2007 21:58

Apparently it's a lot more common than you might think - even if you haven't had a period!

I would just relax and have lots of sex. That's normally a very efficient way of getting pregnant

Original poster

Thinking · 30/05/2007 22:05

I hope so

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 30/05/2007 22:17

Me too - I'm trying to work out how long I should wait before testing because I feel distinctly odd and my nipples hurt.

Original poster

Thinking · 30/05/2007 22:23

Sounds promising...Last time I just KNEW I was pregnant. How do you feel !?!

But 'distinctly odd with hurting nipples' sounds damm good

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whomovedmychocolate · 30/05/2007 22:24

sticky in all the right places for pregnancy that's how I feel. Grumpy/tired/wishing to kill MiL (the latter is normal though)

Also slightly elated and confused.

Either pregnant or I have the start of Alzheimers!

Original poster

Thinking · 30/05/2007 22:25

LOL, Pregnant I hope then.

What will this be for you ?

First...second ?

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whomovedmychocolate · 30/05/2007 22:28

Second. Well I hope you find yourself pregnant very soon. Then we can be whingy together about piles and things.

Have to go feed my monkey DD now! Goodnight!

Original poster

Thinking · 30/05/2007 22:32

Goodnight and good luck

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mum03 · 31/05/2007 11:04

Thinking - I wanted to encourage you that you can get pg while bf, I did when ds was 7 months. Also those couple of day bleeds could well be your af, like you I was on pill before ds and since then all my af's have been very light, with only a couple of days of light flow followed by only light spotting for a couple of days. So it does sound like you are in a good position to assume you might be ovulating and get going on the ttc! Just relax and see what happens but try to get as many sessions with your dh in between the af's. I know it is not easy with a small child around! PS remember to take your folic acid too.

NappyValley · 31/05/2007 13:40

Thinking I have 2 friends who have conceived without much effort while breastfeeding. WhoMovedMyChoc (fab nickname btw) offers some excellent advice.
SEX SEX SEX - which with a 10mo can be harder for some than others.

Original poster

Thinking · 31/05/2007 14:52

Opps...Better get the Folic Acid tablets out of the cupboard and start taking them straight away just in case.

Mmm, If the light bleeds are AF's then I am a week off another AF. So baby dancing for fun for another 3 weeks ish.

Even though we are not really planning, I want to have an idea where I am in my cycle so I can stop my weekly couple of glasses of wine when I'm in the two week wait

And yes finding the time and energy to DTD with DH is interesting with a 10 month old in the house

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 01/06/2007 16:25

Ooh I knew I'd seen this page and couldn't remember when you asked.....

Also, a woman who is currently breastfeeding and has not yet had a normal menstrual period may not have the 'tell tale' sign of a missed period (because many women will not have periods until their baby is partially or fully weaned off the breast - perhaps 6 to12 months or more). It is possible for a woman to be fertile and conceive a subsequent baby about 8 weeks after giving birth. Breastfeeding (as an only form of contraception) tends to be only reliable for about 30% of women, especially after their baby is 3 to 4 months old. Breastfeeding women who conceive a subsequent baby may notice they become incredibly tired and exhausted (more so than they already are!) and possibly notice an increased sensitivity to their nipples (particularly when their baby latches and suckles at the breasts). They may also feel nauseated or sick, due to morning sickness. The taste of breast milk often changes when a woman is pregnant again, usually being more 'salty'. This change can cause some babies to fuss at the breast when feeding, or they may temporarily (or permanently) refuse to breastfeed.

mum03 · 01/06/2007 20:09

I know my breastmilk changed when I got pg because my ds suddenly self-weaned in three days, just refusing the milk, obviously did not like it anymore!

whomovedmychocolate · 01/06/2007 20:17

Oh bugger Mum03 - in that case, I might be peeing on a stick fairly soon, DD has been fussing madly today, pulling off, gurning and refusing to feed. But scoffing anything else in sight including my mail this morning!

Original poster

Thinking · 02/06/2007 23:23

That is interesting, as my DD has been reluctant to nurse recently and refused a morning feed yesterday

I am very tired, very hungry and more wet 'down there'. I assumed I was going down with something and that DD is teething but I wonder.....

I am very unlikely to be pregnant atm but I feel pregnant but more likely to be wishful thinking.

Let me know if you POAS

OP posts:

mummypigoink · 02/06/2007 23:28

I conceived while bf my 10 month old at the first month of trying. didn't put her off her milk!!!!

I felt pg with dd2 and poas on probably the first available day. wish they'd had those digital ones then ~ I think they look quite cool.

NappyValleyMum · 03/06/2007 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

deestingsduznotappen · 03/06/2007 20:02

I'm trying toooooo, but DS1 6 months and one week, breastfed 4 times a day (eating solids)! No periods, no pregnancy yet!

mummydoit · 03/06/2007 20:06

I conceived DS2 while DS1 was only five months old and still bfing. Hadn't had a period. Plus we'd had to have fertility treatment to conceive DS1. It certainly can happen! I knew I was pg at six weeks because I went off coffee and alcohol, same as I had first time round.

berolina · 03/06/2007 20:10

I have got pg 3 times while bf - sadly mc twice, but that was nothing to do with the bf, of course. Am now 25 weeks pg - and still bf my 2yo I did have my periods back, though (they turned up when ds was 6 months and still being bf every 2 hours in the day and 5-6 times at night - and were immediately regular as clockwork ). If there's one thing bf is not, it's a reliable contraceptive! I suppose it might have more or less of a contraceptive effect from woman to woman, but if you have had bleeding it's very very likely you're ovulating. Good luck.

Original poster

Thinking · 05/06/2007 21:41

Thanks for the positive posts ladies

I hope I am fertile despite my breastfeeding that would be brillant.

Any how I am off to bed, I have been so tired recently, might have to up my iron intake.

OP posts:

2Happy · 05/06/2007 21:46

I haven't read the whole thread but in answer to your question, it never stopped me!! ds1 was 10m old, bfed with solids when I got pg with ds2. I had only had one period randomly when he was about 8m old, they never came back and then I got preggers. I tested when the morning sickness kicked in, lol!

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