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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

Periods are back, still breastfeeding- can I get pregnant?

16 replies

karrliz · 23/07/2023 09:27

My periods returned to normal at about 8 weeks PP, even though I was exclusively BF.

My DD is now 1 and I BF roughly 3x a day. I am still having regular periods, so wondered if this means that I am fertile and can conceive?

We are TTC now and using ovulation tests but it's still flashing high fertility on day 8!

If my periods are normal and I'm BF can I still get pregnant? Anyone get pregnant whilst BF?

OP posts:

Notlookingforwardtochristmas · 23/07/2023 09:28

Of course you can get pregnant!

greenthumb13 · 23/07/2023 09:28

Yes you can get pregnant. Use protection

Thethingswedoforlove · 23/07/2023 09:28

Yes you can ! And yes I did.

greenthumb13 · 23/07/2023 09:28

Sorry I mean don't use protection because apparently you want to get pregnant!

Bozzicle · 23/07/2023 09:41

Yes. I did.

Original poster

karrliz · 23/07/2023 09:50

Thethingswedoforlove · 23/07/2023 09:28

Yes you can ! And yes I did.

Thank everyone! Out of interest, did it take any longer to conceive?

OP posts:

WannaBeRecluse · 23/07/2023 09:52

Yes you can. I conceived five while breastfeeding. The very first month.

Thethingswedoforlove · 23/07/2023 10:02

I conceived my first dd in the first month of trying and my second dd also in the first month of trying - I was breastfeeding when I conceived dd2. She was exactly 1 at the time.

pbdr · 23/07/2023 10:05

It seems to be very variable how breastfeeding affects individual women's fertility. Some women will fall pregnant at 2 months postpartum while exclusively breastfeeding and having not yet even had a period, some women will not be able to get pregnant even if they are only nursing their 2 year old once a day.
It's certainly very possible you could get pregnant, but your body may need you to be feeding less (or not at all) before it happens for you.

Ttcmumma · 23/07/2023 10:30

Hey Hun,

Breastfeeding stops your falling pregnant due to the high prolactin levels your pituatry gland is using to produce the milk. High prolactin can suppress your normal cycle and ovulation, stopping you from falling pregnant. However it's not impossible and depends how high your prolactin levels are. My prolactin is currently quite high as a result of a missed miscarriage and I am trying to conceive again. I've been told it COULD make it more difficult for me to concieve but it's certainly possible. Also considering your cycle has returned as usual it's unlikely your prolactin levels are suppressing your ovulation or cycles, I'd say it's fairly likely you'll manage to concieve within a reasonable time frame if you have no other fertility issues xx

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 23/07/2023 10:35

I did when TTC for DC2, on the first try so just be aware you may be highly fertile.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 23/07/2023 10:37

My DC1 was only 9 months so I was still breastfeeding quite a lot too.

Original poster

karrliz · 23/07/2023 20:09

Thanks everyone! Did anyone else track ovulation and found it happening later?

I'm just getting such anxiety that it's day 19 and still no ovulation smiley on my test- still says highly fertile!!!

Getting so worried that I cant ovulate whilst BF... and the thought of stopping BF just makes me feel so sad.

OP posts:

WannaBeRecluse · 23/07/2023 22:48

karrliz · 23/07/2023 20:09

Thanks everyone! Did anyone else track ovulation and found it happening later?

I'm just getting such anxiety that it's day 19 and still no ovulation smiley on my test- still says highly fertile!!!

Getting so worried that I cant ovulate whilst BF... and the thought of stopping BF just makes me feel so sad.

I didn't ovulate while nursing for over a year, but I also wasn't having periods all that time. As soon as I did have a period I was pregnant that same month following.

FaeTheGreenWitch · 07/12/2024 10:05

With my first I was 6 months-ish PP when my periods returned (few weeks after I started to introduce solid, I guess he must have start breastfeeding less but I didn't really notice). We started to try straight away but didn't track my ovulation or anything like that. Got pregnant again 10 months PP.

When my second come into the world, I was tandem nursing both of my boys (and still am). My periods did not come back until about 15 months PP, started to track my cycle, trying to have a regular sex around and on ovulation. I'm 18 months PP currently and nothing yet.

I have had csections with both and my first 2 ovulation were very painful and I was achy all over, especially around my scar, really not pleasant so not sure if that had something to do with not getting pregnant. I'm just on the end of another ovulation and this one wasn't painful or uncomfortable, wouldn't even know that I had it if I didn't have a bit of egg-white discharge and my app informed me. So maybe...this one is the one 😊 will see in couple of weeks 😅

Emmzo · 07/12/2024 13:16

I was BF my first and AF hadn’t returned. Found out I was pregnant again with my 2nd, must’ve happened soon after DS turned 1 going by her due date. There was no trying or tracking involved, just one night where we weren’t careful!

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