Is breastfeeding stopping me getting pregnant?

[Babyworrying]

My periods returned when dd turned 1. Super regular from then - positive ovulation tests each month and ewcm at same time….

BUT no bfp at all in 14 months now 😞

Dd still breastfeeds probably 4-6 times a day (some feeds are v short 3-4 mins, others like at bedtime long feeds)

Could it be bf stopping me conceiving or is it unlikely given that cycles are regular etc ? Do I need to totally give up or just cut back

I dont know for sure the ins and outs of breastfeeding and pregnancy.

In my experience we were TTC for 3 months for baby #2 the first 2 months I was BF a lot and despite DTD very frequently I did not fall pregnant. The third month I cut breastfeeding almost completely. To just once a day and then we had a weekend away so had a whole weekend without BF around ovulation. That month I got a BFP.

I don’t think breastfeeding was helping us conceive

I've just stopped breastfeeding due to two chemical pregnancies (and I fell first time with my 1st).

I have a short luteal phase which I'm sure breastfeeding is responsible for.

I'm utterly sure that breastfeeding hinders fertility.

If you haven't, nightwean and see if that makes a difference!

Interesting. I stopped breastfeeding some months ago but my boobs haven’t shrunk yet so I suspect I’ve not finished lactating yet. I can’t conceive despite fairly strenuous efforts over the last few months. I’m interested to read other experiences…

Thankyou I think I’m going to drastically cut down hopefully to once a day then try to phase it out totally as I can’t think of anything else to try that might help ! I think this month it’s just really got to me as nothing is happening at all

I think so. Check your luteal phase - the time between ovulation and period. If it is short that can have an impact.

It seems to be fine - I always get my period 16 days after a positive ovulation test . This is what’s making me so confused. I’m going to start bbt to see if I definitely do ovulate as I’m worried maybe I’m getting the LH surge so getting a positive opk but then something isn’t happening?

or maybe the bf affects implantation ?

whatever it is I’m so fed up of it now it’s just 14 months feels like forever !

I also worried about this, and my GP did a blood test to check that I definitely ovulated. Once I knew this, I felt more comfortable that breastfeeding wasn't necessarily causing not conceiving. I still cut down night feeds - maybe you could do just a feed before bed and one in the morning?

You can't rely on BF as a contraception, but it is generally believed to make the mother less likely to conceive.

BF is very unlikely to impact conception if you are ovulating as normal. In higher risk pregnancy’s where there is a risk of premature birth some women will be advised to stop breastfeeding…. But in these cases they would also have to stop sex and other things that are safe in low risk pregnancy’s.
Perhaps have a look into the research behind this for some reassurance. I have read some very negative and mis informed posts on here about BF and conception/pregnancy so I went in search for reliable sources of information before TTC while BF.
To give you some hope from personal experience… we conceived 1st cycle while I was BF. A close friend of mine had a shock when her 1st was 5 months and she unknowingly conceived her 2nd. So it is very possible! Unfortunately as you know there are a whole host of reasons why conception may not occur. I really wish you the best of luck and I hope it happens for you soon.

This is one of them posts where google would be more informative than mumsnet !!!

My post was based on in pre-pill days, children were breastfed longer as it was believed to help space out the children - i.e. delay regular ovulation after childbirth. Might be some truth in it. I think it was a factor in the complaining of pushing formula onto nursing mothers in the third world.