Ttc breastfeeding

[1990fran]

Hi all

I gave birth a week ago, it took us a long time to conceive with him we feel very greatfull to have him. We do want more children always loved the idea of 3, my question is I read online ttc whilst breast feeding its near on impossible as periods dont return etc unril you stop BF or stop feeding through the night, I am BF him day and night at the moment, does this mean ttc for another wont work? Wondered if anyone else has managed to, I know everyone is different I just need to know chances etc so i can weigh up options, im 30 now and with how long it took to conceive first time I dont want to leave it to long or want a huge age gap between them, any advice or stories would be really appreciated, thank you x

I think it’s different for everyone.
For me, my periods didn’t come back until my son was 18 month old, he was EBF and started solids at 5 months. I was pregnant again within 2 months while still breastfeeding.

Hi op, it really varies person to person. I know some people whose periods returned breastfeeding and others who have had to stop completely.
I stopped breastfeeding at five months to encourage my periods back for TTC. Over the next nine months I had three periods which were getting lighter and further apart so spoke to my GP. The GP checked my hormones and couldn't find anything wrong with me so started me on Metformin and I was pregnant within six weeks.
I completely regret how focussed I was on TTC when my son was so little and wish I'd enjoyed the first six months with him breastfeeding. My advise would be to enjoy the next six months then look more into it. My GP was more than happy to run blood tests and prescribe me Metformin. At 30 you still have time for two more, give yourself time to recover and enjoy your little one. My baby will be born before my son turns two and that was with months of problems with my periods. Congratulations on your baby!!

Hi OP, congratulations on your new baby! ❤️

I think it's just different for everyone - I'm currently 10+1 weeks pregnant and still breastfeeding my 14 month old. When she was around 9 months she dropped all day feeds and only fed during the night, then when she was 11 months I finally got my first period back after having her. I got pregnant again straight away!

So far so good, though sometimes my nipples feel a bit like they're on fire during feeds!

Hey Op, it took me ages to conceive DS, I bf exclusively but got my periods back at 3 months pp, at 10 months pp we started TTC (I was still BF'ing about 6x a day) got pregnant the first month! I would say don't start TTC until you're ready to get pregnant as I had thought it would take nearly a year like the first time but was surprisingly fertile! I gave yo breastfeeding at 16 weeks pregnant x

Hey Op,

Our first also took us a few years, with multiple MC along the way. We started to ttc when still feeding. My LO was 6 months EBF. Once we began weaning to food, I spaced out feeds overnight and introduced/swapped one bottle per week (initially BMilk, ran outta supply at about 8 months and switched to formula).

Only had one period. Irregular. But ovulation sticks had begun to pick up something (never peak). Yet, we got lucky and conceived (I think we were down to three/four feeds in 24 ish hours). I will say, for me, I had hoped to continue to feed in pregnancy but found it too painful, my let down/flow changed and my LO began biting. So pregnancy meant I gave it up earlier than I would have liked (ebf till 8 months, combi till 9.5, formula from then till 1). Baba’s due in May, I’ll have two under 16 months.

From reading lots, it does seem to be very individual! two of my mum friends have fallen when still BF, others have had to wean completely before cycles returned. Best of luck xx

I had one period at 8 months pp. Stopped breastfeeding at 9 months and was pregnant within 2 weeks of stopping feeding..unplanned. found it made me super fertile (clearly!)

Mine returned at 6 months post partum and I was still breastfeeding.

My periods returned around 9/10 months pp whilst still breastfeeding. I was no where near ready to start ttc again however but would have been fertile if I had wanted to

You'll have a 6 week call with your GP to discuss contraception so have a chat with them for advice about when to start.

I'm pretty sure my Midwife said not to rely on BF as contraception so if you want to get cracking you should be ok! Congrats and good luck!

I know someone who didn’t even have their period and worked out they were pregnant after thinking breastfeeding was a good form of contraception. It only works most of the time if baby is feeding 2-3 hours around the clock. Any longer and you can fall pregnant. My periods returned 4/5 months while ebf

My first was ebf and my periods came back properly when she was just 3 months old (I was not impressed). I generally only had to feed her once at night so I suspect that was related as my second was later (can't remember when) and he hated sleep.

I was (accidentally) pregnant again when my first was 8 months and was still breastfeeding between meals.

My friend also got her first period very early (she also was not impressed) and she was also ebf.

Seems to vary massively so hope you can enjoy the next few months of bfing without too much pressure re ttc.

Good luck with the little one.