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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

Has anyone gotten pregnant whilst breastfeeding?

47 replies

parkrunsandpinot · 05/04/2022 20:51

We are just starting to think about TTC #2.

Still feeding #1 1-3 times during the day and a little overnight.

Periods all over the place and a very short luteal phase. Worried it's going to take a while.

Any success stories or advice out there for me?

Trying hard not to become obsessed but we aren't even trying yet (will start later this month) and it's all I can think about.

OP posts:

SearchingTheSkies · 05/04/2022 21:49

Hi @parkrunsandpinot I'm in a similar situation. Bf'ing dd1 (21 months), short luteal phase of 7 days. Period returned 4 months ago and last two cycles seemed a normal length of 29 days. BFN both cycles. Can breastfeeding cause the short luteal phase? Pre dd my luteal phase was 10 days.

DramaAlpaca · 05/04/2022 21:49

I did, when DC1 was 7 months. I thought it would take ages as it took almost a year to conceive first time round, but it happened on the first cycle.

2ndTimeRound90 · 05/04/2022 21:51

@parkrunsandpinot
No my cycles weren't at all back to being regular. I had come off the Pill a few months before and when they returned they were still very long and all over the place - that's why I used ovulation sticks, as wasn't sure when I was actually ovulating any more!

Original poster

parkrunsandpinot · 06/04/2022 04:22

@Tootle10 I think night weaning is my plan to be honest. Can I ask how you did this please? :-)

OP posts:

Flittingaboutagain · 06/04/2022 04:30

@Emelene that's so lovely. I'm TTC number two and want to tandem feed if baby is happy with the taste of pregnant milk! It would upset me so much to wean her off it in order to have another baby.

2littleloves · 06/04/2022 08:51

Helllo! Yes I got pregnant with baby no.3 whilst still breastfeeding. My second was 17 months but was feeding very frequently still. It's possible to get pregnant whilst breastfeeding even without a period although this is more rare but if your periods have returned and especially if your little one is weaned onto solids also then there should be no problems in terms of breastfeeding preventing pregnancy. Good luck OP 💗

elliejjtiny · 06/04/2022 08:56

Yes, 3 times while breastfeeding and once while exclusively pumping. My periods were back and regular 6 weeks after each birth though.

MangoLipstick · 06/04/2022 11:52

Hi op,
My periods didn’t come back till dd was 16 months old, I was still bf alot in the day and during the night at least twice.
My periods were all over the place though, one cycle was 45 days, the next one 23 days, it was bonkers, but we did manage to conceive on cycle 5 which sadly ended in a mmc at 12 weeks in Jan.

I’m still bf dd who is 2.5, about 3 times during day/night , so not as much as before.

Onto cycle 3 of ttc. I’ve noticed the last 2 cycles since my mmc, my LP has been pretty short, 10 days then 9 days, so I’m taking Vit B6 and Vit C to try and lengthen it abit.

I conceived dc1 after 2 months, so it feels a lot longer this time around. It has crossed my mind a few times that maybe bf is causing some kind of issue with my fertility, in terms of ovulation/LP , but then again, we did conceive last year, so I’m not sure.

Tootle10 · 06/04/2022 18:18

@parkrunsandpinot I basically moved into the spare room and let DH handle all the wake ups (he would comfort and cosleep with them). DS1 was 2.5 so we explained in advance that there would be no more milk at nighttime and I had a few books that we read to help prepare him too. With both we used a gro clock to help show when it was no longer nighttime and they could have milk.

After a few nights (I think it was 3) I moved back into the bedroom and we continued to co-sleep. They would start the night in their own bed and at some point wake up and join us in our bed. It was relatively painless really!

Original poster

parkrunsandpinot · 06/04/2022 18:38

@Tootle10 thank you!!

I think it may be more difficult with a 14 month old. But let's see how we go

OP posts:

koalalala · 06/04/2022 18:39

Yes my son is 2 and I'm 19 weeks pregnant with #2. I'm still breastfeeding now.

koalalala · 06/04/2022 18:42

Meant to add he is currently feeding 3x a day and atleast once overnight but often more!

Bluechinavase · 06/04/2022 18:46

Yes. Second conceived when first was 7.5 months old and was getting 1 feed a day

minniep · 06/04/2022 18:50

Not me but my poor grandmother had 16 children. She used to laugh her head off at people who said you couldn't get pregnant while breastfeeding. At one stage she had one in January and another in November of the same year.

Moosh18 · 07/04/2022 10:04

I finished BF Back in December, have only had one very minimal period and one very heavy since then! Makes ttc impossible as I do not know if or when I will ovulate! It's so frustrating!!!

Skylark1990 · 07/04/2022 15:56

I am also TTC while Breastfeeding OP :) My LO is 19 months nearly, and she still feeds at night (planning to properly night wean in a couple of months). I'm currently 8dpo and waiting to test haha.

Been trying since Dec and have one chemical pregnancy and then a few health problems, so haven't fully tried every cycle... I know plenty of people who have BF and conceived another baby though (as so many others have said :) ) so I am absolutely sure for most people it's possible.

My period returned at 4months pp, and it became regular about 6 months pp. I have read it can take a while to be regular so try not to be disheartened if it does take a few months. Chances are though it'll be quick if you conceived first child quickly!

Heartening to see all these stories :) Best of luck!

WhiskeyMakesMeFrisky · 07/04/2022 15:59

Sorry I know it's a serious subject but I hope you don't mind me sharing .....

When I read the thread title I immediately thought 'oh no I could not have sex whilst breastfeeding, I might drop the baby'

My brain is broken!

Skylark1990 · 07/04/2022 16:01

Just to say on night weaning, as you mentioned wanting to do it. We did night wean when my LO was 14 months and it worked for a while until she started teething/got sick, and then it was easiest to bf her again at night! Hence need to do it again soon .

What we did is similar to a PP, tried a bit of spacing with both me and hubby in the room (we cosleep with her, always have) so me refusing boob a bit then when she was more used to not always getting boob at night, we had my partner sleep with her and I'd go in the other room and he would handle the wake ups and comfort then bring her through from a certain time e.g. 5am. So initially I did a 10mpm-5am approx no feeds rule (dad snuggles instead), then it changed a bit depending on the situation. But I think this is probably one of the gentlest ways you can do it. I also explained to her milkies would be in the morning and she did understand quite well, even at 14m!

If you are not cosleeping you could do similar but just start to try to settle her without boob and then have your partner do some of the settles, then move towards him doing most/all for a time if she wakes in the night. Gradually is great and it is often a stop/start sort of thing so don't worry if there are set backs.

I also didn't stop feeding to sleep at bedtime - she still adjusted to less/no feeds at night! xx

4butstilllearning · 07/04/2022 16:11

Yes - DC2 & DCS 3 are 11 months apart. No period before conceiving DC3 and was exclusively breastfeeding. Everyone is different though! Hope it works out for you. DC2 & DC3 are great friends, despite being hugely different personalities.

thomas1988 · 21/04/2022 10:44

Our families benefit from many aspects of breastfeeding.
Self-discipline in life
Better eating and health care for the whole family
Practicing reluctance to do bad deeds.
Makes everyone in the family receive the benefit of all, especially my wife and children, the results are most evident in this matter.
Our family also relies on breastfeeding as a natural contraception.
This makes our family's 4 pregnancy periods about 3 years apart.
which my wife and I did not interfere in that natural process
We currently have 8 daughters in our family.
out of 4 pregnancies
(female twins 2 all 4 times)
Sofia and Jojo
10 years 1 month
Anna and Elsa
Age 7 years 2 months
Daisy and Minnie
4 years 1 month
Callie and Olife
Age 1 year 4 months
In the 2nd/3/4th pregnancy
My wife has not seen a return of her postpartum periods even once.
But my wife and I noticed that every time we were about to conceive a new
Signs of ovarian mucus are always detected 2-3 times.
Shortly after my ovulation was detected, my wife became pregnant again.
Our family will continue to do this for as long as possible for the wellbeing of all family members and the effect of natural contraception that my wife and I have agreed and intend to always be.

Monsterjam · 21/04/2022 10:48

I conceived at around 4 months postpartum. Must have been 1st ovulation as periods hadn’t restarted and I was exclusively breastfeeding…. This was after 4 yrs of IVF!

stopthepain · 21/04/2022 17:52

My mum fell pregnant with my brother when I was 5 months old. She breastfed me. Her menstrual cycle has always been regular though.

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