TTC whilst breastfeeding

[Bizawit]

Looking to learn from others experiences. I find the advice online so unhelpful. Yes I understand it’s possible to get pregnant whilst breastfeeding. I know it happens all the time. But what is the impact realistically on fertility?

My DD is 19 months but still breastfeeding a lot. Including at night. I am trying for #2 but finding it very difficult to conceive. This is new for me. Does this mean there is something wrong - I am older, in les good shape etc etc., or is breastfeeding likely to be a major factor? I really don’t want to stop breastfeeding until my DD is ready , but I also really want another child, and I don’t want to wait...

Any advice/ experiences appreciated.

I didn't get pregnant til I dropped to one feed in 24 hours (bedtime). Age may be a factor though as I was 38 by then.

Yes it is absolutely possible to get pregnant while feeding. But if you have been trying for a while without luck then it is also an obvious element which could be preventing you from conceiving. Every woman is different so there's no way to know if it would change your situation unless you dramatically reduce feeds or stop. You could try taking some supplements such as Vitex Agnus Castus to see if that helped -I've always found those to be beneficial, whether it was a placebo or not I can't say though.

Its really hard to put a number on it because the impact on your fertility will depend on how frequently you are feeding, how much your kid drinks each time, your age, your nutrition intake... etc etc etc. But it is a known strong factor. I'd say if you reduce breastfeeding, it will up your chances.

Do you know if you are ovulating? That's really step 1 for knowing if you could conceive atm

I have a 7 month old via IVF. I've got frozen embryos and would like to have another soon. The clinic says there's no set time I have to wait but I mustn't be breastfeeding. It reduces chances enough that I could be squandering one of my lovely embryos.

I'm sad I won't be able to breastfeed until DS is ready to stop. I would say if you're struggling to conceive, it seems an obvious next step sadly.