TTC whilst breastfeeding

[helvetica01]

I have a baby but already thinking ahead to DC2 as I'd like them to be quite close in age. I'm breastfeeding DC1 and plan to do so until she's at least 1, with solids introduced at 6 months, but ideally longer than 1.

My question is, how impossible will this make conceiving DC2? Is there anything I can do to make it more likely? Your stories of how long it took you to conceive whilst breastfeeding would be appreciated! Cheers.

We started TTC DC2 when DC was about 7 months old.

I EBF'd for 6 months, and my period returned at 5 months, which I was surprised about (it turned up like clockwork when DC2 was 5 months old, too, still EBF).

Continued to BF DC1 until about 13-14 months.

Conceived DC2 after 2 months, so DC1 was about 9 months old.

I guess it depends on when your period returns - regardless of whether you're breastfeeding or not.

Good luck! We wanted a close age gap - DC are 18 months apart and great friends.

Plenty of women breastfeed all the way through a second pregnancy and then end up feeding both at the same time! Just depends on your body really. I breastfed DS until over 2 years then had to stop because my period still hadn’t returned. It came back within a month of stopping. With my DDs I pumped for twins, yet it came back around 9 months. I think it can be quite unpredictable.

Remember, you ovulate before you get your period so you will have no indication that’s going to happen. I personally know two women who got pregnant by accident this way because they thought they had contraception covered by breastfeeding.

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like the period is a good indicator (I haven't yet had mine). I'm currently on a POP so no accidental pregnancy just yet :) I was actually considering an implant (Nexplanon) but maybe there's no point having it just for say 6 months?