Getting pregnant whilst breastfeeding

[Santalupin]

Hi all, hoping to get some advice on how to conceive whilst still breastfeeding. I’ve always been keen to keep the age gaps between my children small. I had my first child in Jan 21’, I conceived the first month I tried. For the second baby I started trying in Aug 21’ but didn’t conceive until March 22’, so it took seven months. I’m just assuming, but very much going with the assumption that it took a while because I was breastfeeding. I’d been combi feeding my first child since he was six month old, still nursing about six times though as he fed a lot through the night. I reluctantly stopped breastfeeding all together at 12 months in the hope of conceiving, and conceived two menstrual cycles after stopping, 14 months after my last pregnancy. I had my second baby in November 22, and now I’m looking to get pregnant again relatively quickly, maybe when she’s six months old. Does anyone know if it’s possible to really cut back the breastfeeding at six months, to maybe one feed a day with the rest formula, and then pick back up again full time once I’m pregnant?

I don’t think so. That would cut your supply. You could try pumping to get it back up but I think once it’s gone, it’s gone.

You can limit BFs. I only did 3-4 a day from 12 weeks (wasn't trying to get pregnant, just hated BFing!). Your supply will keep going at however much BFing you're doing by that stage as it's well-established.

Apparently night feeds especially and BFing round the clock are what makes a difference to fertility although I am a little sceptical as a friend got pregnant again (accidentally!) at 6 weeks PP despite EBFing round the clock. Whereas I didn't do a night feed after 8 weeks and used 50% formula and didn't get my period back until past 11 months!

You do get a lot more flexibility the longer you BF for - I had a month off in the second year due to antibiotics and just resumed where I'd left off after that

BUT pregnancy is notorious for both making the milk taste funny and affecting supply - your body is putting its energy into growing a baby - so you might struggle to get it back up again in those circs. You could probably carry on at the previous amount though (as long as the baby didn't mind the change in milk taste).

I got pregnant again with our second the first month we started trying. My first was 18 months and breastfeeding every 2 hours day and night (still is now at over 2) so breastfeeding didn’t affect our journey.

I was still bf (mornings and evenings) my 10month old when I fell pregnant. I continued to feed him for another 2 months... but I hated every feed.. cant say why but something switched and it became a real chore.

I have had friends who have had to stop bf whilst pregnant either through pain or because supply dries up.

I think everyone is different so there are no guarantees.

Breastfeeding aversion is a horrible feeling. I got it a bit with my 1 yo when my youngest was born. (And in labour omg) I was in and breastfeeding group where the topic came up a lot and the advice was always magnesium supplements - ideally a spray and on the back of the knees for best absorption. It worked wonders for me.

@suzyscat thanks... thats interesting. I was surprised by the strength of my sudden aversion to it as had been lucky and found bf very straight forward up to that point. I persevered till he was 12 months as I planned to stop then anyway... but i always assumed it was my bodies way of telling me it wanted that resource for something else... which I suppose makes sense if there is a deficiency.

I'll def keep that in mind if it happens again with baby 2 although there will be no more pregnancies after this one!

Oh thanks for this! I assume it’s safe in pregnancy?

I had it very strongly when I first became pregnant and it’s calmed down a lot now but it is still there. I really don’t want to stop feeding though as I do enjoy it and I’d like to tandem feed and know it’s just the pregnancy hormones so will try this 😊

It's not necessarily a factor. It took a year to get pregnant with my first but I was still breastfeeding about 10 times a day/night and got pregnant straight away with my second.
If you stop bf at 6 months, your body just might not be ready regardless. It's not giving your body long to recover, are you sure waiting a few more months wouldn't be wise anyway? Then your baby will be on solids and starting to be less reliant on milk anyway