is it possible and if so, how common?

[strawberrypip]

hello,

I have an 8 month old who is breastfeeding still and eating 3 meals a day. baby breastfeeds during the night when waking for comfort still. unsurprisingly period hasnt returned yet.

question is. have any of you fallen pregnant again whilst still breastfeeding at this level? is it common or not so much? I imagine the odds are not exactly great with my periods not returning. how old was your breastfed child when you conceived again?

thanks! keen on there not being too much of a gap if I'm lucky enough to fall again!

[Awkwarddough]

I didn’t fall pregnant while breastfeeding but my periods returned 3 months after giving birth while exclusively breastfeeding, so yes I could have got pregnant then if I had wanted to.

[strawberrypip]

oh wow that was quick! no sign of money whatsoever atm - guess will be a bit of a waiting game!

[strawberrypip]

*mine not money lol

[DramaAlpaca]

DS1 was 7 months when I conceived again, on three meals a day and still breastfeeding regularly including during the night. My periods had already come back at 4 months postpartum so I knew I could get pregnant. I wasn't expecting it to happen so quickly though as it took ages to conceive the first time. There's a 16 month gap between the boys.

It's interesting how wide the variation is, some women get their periods back quite soon postpartum even though ebf, others don't get them back until they stop night feeds, others until they stop breastfeeding altogether.

[strawberrypip]

I would like there to not be too big an age gap but I suppose these things are not always up to the individual! baby does use feeding as comfort all throughout night so I'm not overly surprised that periods havent come back but judging from both if you it can certainly happen!

[NoGinNotComingIn]

I fell pregnant when I was breastfeeding a 9 month old. My periods returned at 6 months and I'd had 2 cycles exactly 28 days so I thought I was back to normal. The day my period was due I could feel I had cramps so we threw caution to the wind as I was convinced I'd come on my period any moment. My period didn't appear so I took a test a week after my period was due but it was negative as I anticipated. After 2 weeks late my friends persuaded me to test again and it was positive! When I went for my scan I was 2 weeks behind and working the dates back I'd ovulated the day my period was due! 6 months earlier than planned but a happy surprise!

So yes it is possible to get pregnant still feeding but your periods might not be back to regular cycles which makes trying hard unless you have a lot of sex or track your cycle.

[MiniDoofa]

Definitely possible!!! 12 months between my youngest two for this reason. 😀

[MichelleOR84]

My son was exclusively breastfed and I got my period at 4 months postpartum. I fell pregnant at 11 months . He was still nursing 3 times a day .