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As the title says, would you stop BF to TTC? I have been BF DD2 for 14 mnths. She is still going strong and AF has shown no signs of returning. I would like to start TTC #3 as I don't want too big of an age gap between DD2 and #3. And a whole host of other reasons. Would you stop BF to TTC?
No, I wouldn't and didn't :) For me, optimising DS's health was more important than compromising it to create anothery. That and for various reasons I wanted as large an age gap as AF would allow, so I let BFing run its course of effectiveness.
There is no need to wean completely, though - dropping one feed here and there should kick start ovulation :)
FWIW, I got AF back after 26 or so months, but didn't actually ovulate till about 30 months and fell pg at 31 months...all whilst breastfeeding DS whenever he wanted to BF, without dropping anything on purpose. He fed a lot, too before I fell pg - 4 times a day was normal, at least.
Good luck :)
I did, I stopped feeding DS4 so that we could conceive as I had never been able to fall pg while b/fing.
But saying that, I fell pg this time around while still feeding Julian 4 times a day/night and only had AF twice before I fell pg. I got AF back at 14 and a half months.
I've also heard of some women that have fallen pg while b/fing and haven't had AF back, so you could still fall pg. Maybe trying fertility friend and start charting your temps and just see if there is a pattern, you just never know.
If you cut back gradually, you may find your cycles return before you wean completely. Most women probably can ttc while still breastfeeding if they want to, though some do need to wean completely for their cycles to resume.
I cut out night feeds at 14 months, and by 16.5 months we were down to 3 feeds per day when my cycles resumed. I cut back in order to ttc, but was hoping I wouldn' have to wean completely (and didn't).
Good luck!
i'd try cutting back on feeds and then if that doesn't then i would stop BF to TTC.
Good Luck
I wouldn't. I am very aware of my CM and take note of changes so I can determine when I am fertile before I have AF. Follow your baby's lead. Your body knows when she is ready to have a sibling and will resume ovulation at that point whether she is feeding or not.
Having had small age gaps I did find it harder to bf the baby while supervising the toddler so if we have a 4th we wont have a small gap, but we are in the situation that the bigger gap is better for us now.
I would after 12 months.
Nope, I didnt, we still BF now
Nope....i wouldnt....was one of the lucky ones and have conceived twice whilst still b/f (one of those times was before AF post partum !!!). As others have said, gradually decreasing feeds, whilst not giving up, might see your body kick into fertile mode...
eta: you could give up b/f and AF still not return for 2-3 more months....giving up b/f now, doesnt mean AF will come in 4 weeks time....see how you go decreasing a feed or two.....GL !!!!