TTC while breastfeeding?

DS is almost 11 months & no sign of AF yet. Has anyone else TTC before AF arrived?

DS is only having 3 feeds a day & is not fed overnight (hasn't been for months now).

Not TTC just yet - but wondering if we will be able to when we are ready (hopefully when DS turns 1).

If AF doesn't return before you get PG, how do you know you are PG (apart from doing test)?? Also, does CM follow normal patterns when BF-ing (ie. is it still a predictor of ovulation)? Does the temp method still work for predicting ovulation - or does the BFing interfere with that?

i fell pg when ds was 7months old and demand bfing constantly- still feeding heaps overnight.
i had had a couple of AFs, but i hadn't really had one for about 3 months when i fell pg. basically we had no idea whether i was ovulating or anything like that, but just decided to 'go with the flow' and see what happens iykwim?
well, a week or fornight or so later i was out for lunch and nearly threw up my chicken wrap. a test that arvo showed up a very faint line.
don't know if this story helps you much with your questions, but just to let you know, i guess, that it can happen- even when your ds is bfing heaps.

I wasn't TTC when AF came back when DS2 was 6.5 months old, but I knew I had O'd and would get AF soon because my CM changed to EWCM like in the old days LOL. AF showed up exactly 2 weeks after the EWCM just as I predicted, I was hoping she's stay away a bit longer, you're so lucky not to have had AF for so long!

I am interested in this question too. My DD is 9 months old and I haven't had AF yet, but am still feeding 4 or sometimes 5 times a day, and she still has a night feed (the little terror just won't let that one go!). I am not sure when to TTC again but am thinking about it, but I don't want to start TTC until AF is back so that I will know if I am pg, otherwise I suppose you would just be testing all the time as you wouldn't necessarily know iykwim? I am also interested in how temping etc works when BFing, as I am sure I have seen EWCM sooo many times, yet no AF so I can't be ovulating!

DS is almost 14 months old and still no AF here but I've had EWCM a lot too so I presume I am ovulating.
I've read a few stories on BB of people falling pregnant before AF arrives so it is possible to ovulate before AF returns..
I don't think BFing makes any difference to temping there are a few girls on here that temp while BFing..

*quiety sneaks in to see what the go is here* ...
Interesting... I might start checking the old CM and see if I can get an idea... I am slowly weaning so knowing AF was on its way would be good... Thanks for starting this Ezz.

I fell pregnant with DD#3 when Dd#2 was 9.5 months old. Had not had AF post partum. Was breastfeeding about 4 times a day. So whilst my body released the egg and was gearing up for what in most cases turns out to be AF, we just happened to DTD at the right time and i fell pregnant.
I noticed a change in my milk supply, DD also became fussy at the breast. That was prob the only change i noticed......i was prob around 5wks when i found out - due to extreme tiredness i tested and it was a BFP.......

This time i fell preg with bub#4 after having 3 AF's. Werent really trying....werent using contraception either. Ive been told im pretty fertile anyway.

I found i couldnt rely on CM.....i had virtually none i found in my last 3 cycles.....

Good luck......it certainly can happen whilst breastfeeding, and no AF, so dont loose hope !!

Have you read the book "Taking Charge Of Your Fertility"? By Toni Weschler.

It is just brilliant, I was charting while breastfeeding, it is a bit tricky, but kind of do-able, and you still do get more of a clue as to when you are ovulating than just guesswork.

You certainly can and often do ovulate before your first period post partum.

All the best with ttc :)

Saw the LC today (for recurrent mastitis) & she seems to think that I have very high levels of prolactin (causing my HUGE milk supply!) - she thinks I may not be able to fall pregnant while still feeding. I guess time will tell ;)

Thanks everyone for your replies!

is it really hard to fall pregnant while breastfeeding? I'm feeding on demand full time and stopped taking the mini pill. I keep forgetting to take it. I used to be so good with the pill before falling pregnant last time, but this time just keep forgetting. so i stopped taking it if i fall pregnant it's meant to be , but would like to fall pregnant at the start of next year. so is it hard to fall pregnant while feeding full time. i spotted while on the mini pill a few times so guessing that was my period. don't know if that makes a difference and are there any side affects while breastfeeding and falling pregnant

I'm wondering about this too. DH would like to ttc, but my cycle has not returned. I am getting mucous, the kind that you would get in the lead up to ovulation, every day and have done for a few weeks.

Hi all;
We're in the same boat here as well!!
DD is 14 months, and I'm still feeding her 3 to 4 times a day..
A couple of months ago I had 2 (almost 3 days) of a really light bleed, however I am not too sure as to whether it was really AF or something else.....
Besides doing a test after each time or waiting for the morning sickness to kick in, is there any other way of working out when the best time is, or when you are in fact preggers?? (i know silly question :) )

Justine

beansbeans and Ezz,

The problem with temps when breastfeeding is that your temp must be taken at the same time every morning after at least four hours sleep in order to give an accurate picture. Perhaps this can still work for you because your babies are a fair bit older than mine, but although my baby usually wakes for the day at the same time, I very rarely get four hours straight. Temperature will tell you if you have ovulated.

I'm not sure about cm while breastfeeding, but as I said before I've had heaps lately but no peak so no ovulation. I would just count any day with any mucous as a fertile day, this is what the Billings Method recommends (which DH and I have used to avoid pregnancy). Mucous is a better indicator that you will be ovulating soon, but if you're like me it can happen for a looooong time without ovulation. And I've heard stories of women conceiving without any while nursing.

As far as I've heard, the longer your cycle takes to return, the more likely you are to ovulate before you get AF.

I've not had a problem getting pregnant while breastfeeding, I've done it twice now, but every woman is so different, the hormonal levels are so individual.