am I being careless thinking breastfeeding is enough of a contraceptive?!

[RolsGirl]

My DS is 6 months, and still feeds on demand throughout the day and night, so I haven't been bothered worrying about getting preggers again(although I definately DON'T want to be for a good while!). I have heard mixed things about this- that it's ok as long as he still feeds at least every 3-4 hours, that it's ok til food replaces feeds- he is taking some solids- has been for about a month- but he still feeds just as much (if not more because he's teething so is ALWAYS hungry). TMI I know, but is it OK as long as DH pulls out?!

If you want another baby, carry on as you are.

If not, start using contraception now.

As soon as you introduce solids, you can't use lactational ammenorhea as a method.

And remember, you may well ovulate before you have a period.

Its so simple to arrange, I don't see why you wouldn't, tbh.

Yes you are being careless.

You will probably ovulate before your period returns, so you just don;t know if you are fertile.

In societies where food is scarce, bfing can be a very good contraceptive. But if you really don;t want to get pregnant, don't rely on it!

Ask my midwife. She was EBF DC1 and had DC2 11 months later (unplanned).

Well, my mum did that. My brother is just over 14 months younger than me.

Yes. My granny BFd all hers, did not use contraceptive and at one point had 4 kids under the age of 2.

The only reason I have relied on this is because I don't want to go on the pil as there is still little research into the effects it can have, especially on baby boys. I know there are other alternatives. What are the least chemically invasive, tried and tested contraceptives you have tried? Apart from condoms, it seems like they all cause rather undesirable side effects. I plan on going on the pil as soon as I stop breastfeeding- which I want to do til DS is one.

Start another thread asking when periods came back for women who bf. It will def scare you into using another form of contraception! (4/5 months here for the record with dc1. Around 9 months with dc2 who was still feeding up to hourly at night!)

What about the coil (not the Mirena one)? Get it fitted and forget about it. When you want to conceive again get it removed. I had a bit of backache after mine was fitted but once it had settled down it was fine.

Thanks easilyconfused. I want to know what types of contraceptives are safe when breastfeeding too.

"Apart from condoms, it seems like they all cause rather undesirable side effects."

yep - so use condoms.

Well i don't know your body but i'll tell you my experience i've had two children and survived with no contraception up until i stopped night feeds between 10mths and 1 yr old and in both situations i thien had a kind of half period, a small gap and then two normal periods after which i got pregnant with my son. i was still breastfeeding when i got pregnant with him, just a lot less.

Having seen a similar pattern this time if i had a third child i would feel very safe about it until my body showed me that it was ready again...but like i said, thats me.

They don't recommend homonal contraception whilst breastfeeding and without it you can't be 100% certain but i hate most forms of contraception for one reason or another so get the scales out and weigh your pros and cons...hope that helps.

Glad that you all sound certain . The midwife in charge of my anti-natal classes said it was fine to use it as a contraceptive- so there are some mixed messages out there. I realise now it is careless. Luckily I have not been having loads and loads of sex so I'm sure it's fine . I am not going to have careless relations again.

My periods came back at the 10 week mark and I was EBF.

See your GP to discuss a plan of action regarding contraceptives.

I know one family who have children 10 months apart because they thought BF was a reliable form of contraceptive.

Kind of always ends up boiling down to condoms with us really as hormonal contaception has sent me loopy int he past and I'm too scared to try again. Nowt wrong with condoms though Well, if you ignore the fact that dc1 is the result of a failed condom can't win can you!

I think the trouble with relying on bf is that you have no way of knowing once you have ovulated. Once your periods come back and your cycle settles down then natural methods of family planning are more reliable but while bf is a good method of spacing children naturally in developing countries our diet and abundance of food seems to negate this natural effect and many women begin to ovulate pretty soon after birth.

I was still ebf when I got pg with dc2 - dc1 was 6 months and I had no signs that I was ovulating/about to get my periods back or anything.

Definitely get some condoms for now

Lightbulblady- do you mean that you felt it was fine until you stopped night feeds? but how could you be certain? It is complicated- I hate condoms as much as the next person, and the hormonal ones are just nasty. But I realise I sound a bit spoiled/selfish because that's life, huh> Gotta do things you don't wanna do sometimes

Out of curiosity, why not the Mirena apple?

I used it before trying for DC2, (due any day now) but I would reach straight back for it again as it's direct to the uterus rather than having to go through your system, therefore the least chemically invasive other than condoms?

Or is there something in the fine-print where Mirena don't recommend it themselves?!

(Sorry to hi-jack!)

whats mirena apple?

RolsGirl - I believe there are rules about how to use bf as contraceptive..... baby less than 6-months old, no more than 4 hours between feeds, no dummies/bottles or something like that.... Anyway, I had DS 18.5 months DD due to not thinking about this, doh.... I now have a copper coil - might be worth investigating for you as no hormones and nothing to remember/buy....

mirena is the other type of coil that is impregnanted with hormones which act locally (in the uterus) to stop eggs being released... read this

My mum was EBF me, I am 10 months older than my brother.

thanks PomPotty. I am llowing those rules, mainly cos DS is so hungry. Also I never wanted to use bottles or dummies. I thought solids would cut down his feeds but if anything they seem to make him more hungry for breast milk! so that's why I thought it might still be ok- especially as my anti natal midwife said it was fine!

I have a friend who exclusively breastfeeds who has a gap of 11 months and another gap of 13 months. So yes, you are being careless if you don't want another child. I am that anyone over about 12 thinks the withdrawal method is reliable.

a midwife told you not to worry about contraception whilst BFing?

honest?