Getting pregnant while breastfeeding

[Jellybaby13]

Hello!

I'm wondering if anyone's been in the same boat as me that can help?

My daughter is 10 months and she's been exclusively breastfed from 6 weeks (I had a lot of problems to begin with so she was both formula and breast up to then).

At 10 weeks the doctor put me on rigavidon contraceptive pill and this helped regulate my periods (I was put on mini pill at 6 weeks and I continued to bleed since birth). So I've had a regular period from about October/November until June.

I gave up the pill after my packs finished in April because of not wanting to go out due to coronavirus and because I thought 'oh well we'll use protection until September', which is when we intended to try again.

Anyway, my first period after stopping the pill was 26th April-2nd May then a week later I had another period from 7th-12th May. Since that I haven't had a period.

Now I'm presuming that the pill was controlling the release of the egg and now I've stopped the breastfeeding has stopped my periods altogether, has anyone else had a similar experience so I can confirm it?

We've been having protected sex using a condom but there was one occasion around 3 weeks ago now where we didn't bother but pulled out (yes I know this isn't a good form of protection 😂, it was an 'in the moment' decision).

The last week or so I've been feeling lightheaded/sick (though only a little bit sick) on and off and I've had shooting mild cramps that have only lasted a couple of seconds on and off. I took a pregnancy test on Tuesday morning to be safe because I was losing my mind and it was negative which is what I expected.

Then Tuesday afternoon I had pink spotting when I wiped and then a little brown on the pantyliner later in the day, I've had nothing since. I've got mild mild mild cramps right now.

Is this a sign that my period is coming back?! Can you get pregnancy symptoms when it's on the way back? I haven't got tender boobs and my uterus is still up high.

Or should I be retesting after the spotting?!

I want to continue to breastfeed/give breastmilk my daughter for as long as possible, my aim was 18 months as long as going back to work allows it but we also want the kids to be close together because of our age (I'm 31 this year, he's 36). So if I'm not pregnant, any advice on how to get my period back and still breastfeed would be gratefully received!

Sorry for the mega long post! If I need to see a doctor I will but I'd rather avoid it while COVID is around.

Thanks 😘

I didn't conceive DS2 until I gave up breastfeeding completely when DS1 was 2.8. I must be extra sensitive to prolactin or something. They've got a 3.5 year age gap and it's been perfect, they get on brilliantly. You are still really young btw, DH was 44 when DS2 was born, so don't panic! Good luck.

My DD breast fed on demand (a lot!) but I fell pregnant when she was 14 months after two periods. My periods returned again when my DS was 11 months old and I'm hoping to try for number 3 soon while still breastfeeding.

I'm a bit confused about what you mean about the pill stopping the release of an egg and stop breastfeeding. Are you still breastfeeding?

Dc2 was conceived while dc1 was 10 months, I was still breastfeeding and I took the MAP, so I would test.

So if I'm not pregnant, any advice on how to get my period back and still breastfeed would be gratefully received!

Night weaning is the most effective way.

You'd be wise to re-test in a few days, however, if you don't get a period. It's quite possible that you are pregnant.

@Jellybaby13 I’ve been breastfeeding for 3 years and have called pregnancy 4 times, so it’s absolutely possible (3 miscarriages and now 32 weeks). My friend also has 4 children and she fell pregnant whilst still breastfeeding them all.

Sorry should have said “fallen pregnant”

Still breastfeeding. She's having a really bad day with teething today (no teeth yet) so despite wanting to cut the feeds down, I've given her an extra feed now to help her.

The pill regulated my period, it stopped me bleeding non stop after birth but then gave me a monthly period...then when I stopped the pill in April I had two periods a week apart from each other at the end of April and beginning of May and since then I've had nothing....which makes me think that the breastfeeding has now stopped the ovulation process, does that make more sense?

I think I will retest in a few days. I'm getting cramping right now but still no period and still nothing when I wipe.

Can you get period symptoms when breastfeeding when you don't have your period? (Not sure if that makes sense haha!)

Thank you for all the replies everyone. If I'm not pregnant then I'm tempted to just not use protection and see where it gets us, we had discussed bringing it forward to August. Makes me feel better that some of you say you were feeding constantly and got pregnant.

DD is still very much feeding at night. Last night she was up every two hours (which was probably teething related) and she has to be fed back to sleep. I tried weaning her off falling asleep at the breast with naps about a month ago but there was so much tears and naps just weren't happening and I was so exhausted I just gave up on it!

Xx

Took another test today and it came out not pregnant so I must have some weird hormone things going on!

I got pregnant 3 times while breastfeeding.
I got pregnant with my daughter when my oldest son was 2 months, they are 11 months apart. I got pregnant with my youngest son when my daughter was 7 months, they are 16 months apart. I got pregnant with this baby when my youngest son was 5 months, they will be 14 months apart. All my pregnancies were planned and we were trying when I got pregnant.

I think breastfeeding really affects some people’s fertility. It certainly did me!
I breastfed until my little one was 20 months. My periods didn’t come back until he was 14 months and I got pregnant when he was 19 months. During during the 5 month period of trying my periods where a bit all over the place. They started with long cycles (36 days or so) and gradually decreased. I was doing ovulation tests and was also finding I was ovulating towards the end of the month not in the middle. This also sorted itself out over time. When my cycles returned to normal I fell pregnant the next month.
What I’m trying to say in a bit of a long winded way is I think for some people return to fertility while breastfeeding can be a gradual process and just because your periods are back doesn’t mean your body is ready for the next baby.
Personally I think it’s best just to go with it. I night weaned my boy at 18 months and it happened quite easily and quickly as think he was ready for it.