thread: Anyone conceived whilst B/Feeding ???

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    758

    Anyone conceived whilst B/Feeding ???

    Hey All
    Just wanting to hear of any experiences of anyone that has conceived whilst breastfeeding?

    If so -
    Were you exclusively Breastfeeding? or part breastfeeding?

    I have a 7 week old bub and we really want as small a gap as possible so we have started trying, I don't have my cycle back yet and am part breastfeeding, part formula.

    Just wanted to see if others have fallen pregnant whilst breastfeeding etc and what anyone thiks the likelyhood is that we may be blessed. (I fell in the first 2 weeks of trying last time!)

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Perth
    486

    I have been BF for 15 months and no sign of AF yet. I would so like to TTC #3 but it seems I am going to have to wait. DD wants milk mainly at night and once during the day. I have heard of lots of women who have fallen PG while BF but it depends largely on the woman and when the body kicks in with hormones again. Some get AF early while BF and some wait until after 18 months. I think if you are supplementing you should get AF sooner rather than later. Good luck with TTC!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    I was BF when I conceived DS2.

    DS1 was 9 months old when I conceived and was BF 5 times a day still. And I had always been BF no FF. (he is still BF now at 21 months and DS2 is 3 months)

    AF returned at 6 months and we decided when he was 8 months old to TTC we didnt think it would happen so fast as took 12 months post MC to conceive DS1.


    Good luck

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    758

    Thanks for the replies.

    I am probably dumb and have worked out it must mean period or cycle returning but what actually does AF stand for?
    Also is there a place i can go to find out all the meanings for the letters/initials etc?

    Anyway, back to this post.......... glad to hear it does happen, I suppose all we can do is try, hubby will be pleased, the more trying the better

    I look forward to hearing some more success stories

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    AF is aunty flo or period!!

    Link to abbreviations and jargon

    https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...-acronyms.html

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    In Paradise
    2,022

    I breastfed and didnt didnt my periods back until 8 months post partum, I have been bfeeding for 1 year 5 months now and we are ttc number 2....

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    758

    Of course!! Cool abbreviation!!! Love it

    Thanks for the link.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Ontario, Canada
    1,624

    I conceived this bean (#5) while breastfeeding. It happened when I started DD4 on solids and she started sleeping through the night. With the others though, I didn't conceive for about a year after baby was born, and we didn't use any contraception. I usually breastfed until 9-10 months.
    All the best!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    Sydney
    3,861

    I was BF DD1 (bub #3) when I concieved DD2, she was born 13mths to the day apart. GL

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    I was full time expressing for DS2 when I fell pg. My milk slowly dried up by 10 weeks. Unfort I Mc that pg.. I was then BF my DS3 when i fell pg with DD. My milk dried up again at 10 weeks by that time DS3 was 21 months so he weaned himself.

    Only difference was I always get my Af back within 4-6 weeks of my post partum bleeding stopping..

    HTH

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Newcastle NSW
    1,688

    I felt pg while bfeeding DS. He was 12months old and feeding 3 x perday butnot over night. I got af a week after his first b'day then fell pregnant straight away. Wishing you lots of luck for your next one

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    My AF came back when DS was 9 months old. I was still BFing him when I fell pg, but he was about 21 months old. He was still feeding often & AF was still not regular, but I was obviously ovulating sometimes!
    It did take over 12 months of AF coming back for me to concieve, but we weren't actively trying. Infact I was due to get my depo needle & DH was working away. It was the week after new years this cheeky little one snuck in. The only week DH was home & from what my body was doing, I think it was actually the first time I did ovulate!

  13. #13
    Registered User

    May 2008
    where the V8's roar
    1,855

    AF returned when DS was 4 mnths old and he still feeds overnight. I can feel when I ovulate which I didn't prior to having DS so that is a way I use to avoid getting pregnant at the moment

    Hope your cycle returns quickly and you are sucessful with TTC

  14. #14

    May 2008
    Melbourne, Vic
    8,631

    Re: Anyone conceived whilst B/Feeding ???

    AF returned for me when DD was around 6mths and we conceived new bubs when she was 7mths!

    She had stopped feeding overnight, had started on solids but was still have 4-6 BF a day.

    She had exclusively BF since birth, no formula.

    Hope that helps, GL with your journey!! We wanted a little break too - it's a great idea if you ask me

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Brisbane
    1,621

    Conceived DS2 when DS1 was exactly 12 months - we exclusively BF'd till at least 6 months. At time of conception, DS1 was down to two BFs a day - when he woke up and when he went to bed. I didn't get AF back ... suffice to say DS2 was a bit of a surprise package.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    758

    wow, thanks for all the replies!!
    Fingers crossed I have the success you guys have had!!

    A fwe more questions -

    Some of you didn't get AF back and still conceived, does this mean you must have caught on the first ovulation since your last bub, therefore didn't get AF back?

    Also seems to be a few comments specifying you were or were not feeding in the night, does this affect falling preg??

    Do you think it may be worth doing ovulation tests, in the hope I may catch the first ovulation kicking in again after bubs? (I did start temping but it seems all over the place?)

    Anyway, I suppose the more we DTD the more chance we have, hubby will be happy with that!!


    Thanks AGain

  17. #17
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    Shar, breastfeeding is an effective contraceptive for the first 6 months only, and only if:

    - the baby is exclusively breastfed, ie no formula or solids
    - the baby feeds at least once through the night
    - AF has not returned.

    In your case, the baby is not exclusively breastfed so you could fall pg. No-one can really tell you your chances, it is different for everyone.

    To answer your other questions, feeding during the night maintains a higher level of hormones in your body than just feeding during the day, so therefore this is helpful in preventing pg. It is also possible to ovulate before menstruating, therefore falling pg before having an AF is possible. Research has shown that the longer it takes for AF to return after the birth, the more likely it is that you will ovulate first.

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Victoria
    116

    Just to add another question. Once AF returned was it regular straight away?

    I got AF back at 7weeks this time round (BF bubs) so can I assume AF is back for good, or could it be a while before I have another?

    Thanks Ladies