Breastfeeding and pregnant? What are my chances?

[SunnySideUp2020]

Anyone had some luck and got pregnant while breastfeeding?

Or did you have to stop?

I did, am now 34 weeks but my DS was 20 months when I got pregnant so breastfeeding 3 times a day roughly. More for tantrumy days!

I did and was feeding 3 or 4 times a day but I think stopped over night. Has your period come back?

I was till feeding at night ds would have been 2 years 4 months. My periods had started but were erratic

Yes only had one period a month ago... My baby is 4.5 months old now and I BF day and night every 3 hours or less... 😐
So i guess it will be difficult to conceive for a while!!!

I mean until i cut down on the feeding...

I fell easily once the night feeds were dropped, earliest was little on was about 8 weeks and found his thumb so dropped night feeds on his own, that was a mc but followed by a new baby with 14 month gap

Just stopped bf DD at 2 Yr 10m old. I haven't been able to conceive yet. My leutal phase is too short. I'm hoping it will go back to normal now we have stopped.

I didnt have a 'first' period after second dd and fell pregnant when she was 6 months old :/ both my kids were full boob monsters and fed at least 3 hourly but i am also super fertile xx

@SunnySideUp2020 glad we're not the only ones already thinking about number 2! Are we mad?! I already can't wait to do it again and my baby is only 8 weeks old. Because it took us a while the first time around were keen not to leave it too long incase it takes a while again (plus we're not getting any younger!) but also know it might not take long and don't want two little babies and would prefer for her to be in nursery before we have number 2. I've told my husband whilst I'm still breastfeeding it will be unlikely, at least until my periods return anyway

Accidentally pregnant with my son when my daughter was 11 months. Was only feeding morning, before bed and when needed (e g. On plane, when sick etc).

@Fizzl
💗💗💗💗💗
So glad to see you here!!!
You are not alone indeed!
Since DDs birth i always knew i wanted another one soon and more time passes the more i want it😄😄
But like you breastfeeding so not much hope ...
But we are trying...

Thank you everyone who replied! Giving me some hope for the future i guess!

I did 15 months after ds was born. I then got an incredibly strong breast feeding aversion and it really spoilt the end of it for me as I was literally repulsed when he fed :( decided shortly after it was time for it to come to an end.

My DD was 6 months old and BF when I got pregnant with DS. I'd only had one period

It was also planned like that! I get asked that way more than I should

Yep I did, 5.5 months we started weaning and I had positive test at 6months postpartum🥳

I also kept BF until I was 3 months pregnant (DD was 9 months) so it is doable!!!

@SunnySideUp2020 I think I hoped this strong desire to have another would ease overtime (bloody hormones!). After the first 2 weeks (which were hard at times and I remember wishing the days away to get to an easier point and now feel sooo guilty/sad about that) I've loved every minute and can't believe how much she's changed and grown already! I look back at photos when she was first born and can't even remember her being that tiny it makes me all emotional. My own newborn baby is making me broody - how is that even possible?!

Next time around I'm just going to enjoy every day because now I truly know and believe that everything is just a short phase that quickly passes in those early days. I feel so much more confident and im excited to do it again now I feel like I kind of know what im doing (although im totally winging it and just taking a relaxed/go with the flow approach for now which seems to be working).

If your periods have returned I think you have a good chance because I guess that means you're ovulating again? My periods are nowhere to be seen yet so it's just a waiting game. My husband would like us to start trying again in jan and I said when baby is 1, but then we compromised on April assuming periods have returned.

How many children do you think you would like? I still worry that we could end up with two very close in age but don't want to wait too long and run out of time to potentially have a 3rd if it takes a long time (although so far we've been blessed with a good sleeper, my thoughts on that might change if the next one isn't as good 😂)

I did get pregnant with DC#2 while breastfeeding DC#1. Being pregnant resulted in my breast milk disappearing and so I was forced to wean DC#1. This was traumatic for both of us as there is nothing worse than a baby crying for you and wanting the comfort of breastfeeding, but you have nothing to give and they are so upset and think it’s you deciding to withhold nursing from them.

So I made sure that did not happen again and used contraception until each was self-weaned. This did increase the birth spacing by six months, but it was worth it to me to not have to go through that experience of my milk drying up again.

My MIL got pregnant twice whilst breastfeeding. She ended up with a two year old, an eleven month old and a new born. She then had a gap of five years and had two more in two years

Yes, twice. My periods were regular by then as they started as soon as the previous babies slept through the night. Only a few months in, mind you 😂

@Fizzl
You described word for word my thoughts.
I do the same. Look at pictures and gets emotional that i can't remember her tiny and wishing away sometimes the weeks then.
I have this strong feeling with the birth too.
It was so quick I regret not soaking in every little thing more. 😫

Hopefully with our second we will be making those memories... but i think we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. It's a massiveeee thing and super overwhelming. In those first weeks there was not enough hours in a day to do it all. Living in the moment wasn't really a thing 😃
I remember feeling good most of the time though. That's why i am not worried about going through it again. Just as you say now we know what we are doing, we are confident so less worrying more enjoying 🥰🥰

Let me know how it goes for you guys 😊😊

Sorry about spelling. Just woke up from another intense night 🌙🥲

I got pregnant with dc4 when dc3 was 4.5 months old. He was exclusively breastfed and fed 3 hourly but my periods had returned.

I know someone who fell pregnant when their baby was 5.5 months and baby remained EBF.

La Lache League have some excellent resources regarding breastfeeding in pregnancy and then tandam feeding.