thread: Breastfeeding - Contraception AFTER 6 months

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    3,094

    Breastfeeding - Contraception AFTER 6 months

    I understand that BF is 98% effective for the first 6 months, so long as bubs is still feeding overnight and is fully breastfed.

    What are the odds after 6 months?

    Laa still feeds during the night, is baby led weaning so not actually "eating" yet... but has hit that 6 month mark.

    Just hoping to find a % statistic!

  2. #2
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    Kitt3n, if she is still drinking nearly all bm, and feeding overnight, you acould be ok. But there are no guarantees. If it wouldn't matter whether you fell pg or not, then relying on bfing at this stage is probably ok. But if you really don't want to, I wouldn't risk it hun.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    3,094

    thankyou mantaray!

    we dont want it to happen yet. next year would be nice.

    but if it did happen it wouldnt be the end of the world, KWIM?

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
    2,450

    I'm relying on exhaustion atm!!

  5. #5
    Matryoshka Guest

    I wouldn't rely on it, my DS was a frequent BF'er, every hour at least for the first 6 months, and my AF came back when he was 4 months. When he was 15 months old, he was still BF every 2 hours and I fell pregnant then.
    But if you don't mind then its no matter

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne.
    5,673

    don't rely on it
    i fell pg when ds1 was 7 months old, still bfing constantly

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    I was pretty lazy after DS. Got my depo when he was 2 days, then never got another one. Just kind of told myself, I'll do it one day...
    AF didn't return til he was 9 months & was around 6 - 7 weeks apart. After having AF 3 times & being scared each time, I decided I best get something more reliable. I finally got my next depo just after he turned 1. Due for the next one next week.

    I do know alot of people who fell pg in the first 3 months even though they were exclusively BFing, so I'd be looking for a back up. JIC.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    Sydney
    2,212

    Do you recognise your fertile signs?? We used these to get pregnant and identify the lead up to ovulation to conceive DD 10 months after DS was born. That is an option if you don't want to use contraception but the possibility of a pregnancy isn't a big issue if it was to occur.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
    2,450

    Kitt3n I highly highly highly recommend a visit to the Family Planning Association clinic. They are in Ashfield. I went there to get a diaphragm fitted - which is nearly impossible to do otherwise, as GPs don't know how and are too busy trying to push you into hormonal stuff, and I didn't want to spend $200 on a visit to the gyn .
    they charge a $20 donation (+ cost of devices or whatever), they completely respect your choices and they promote NFP if that is your preference. Cannot speak highly enough of them, I won't be going anywhere else in future!

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    3,094

    thanks guys

    pixie - i actually planned to go there before i fell preg with laa! Might have to do that one. Yes i think you have just hit the nail

    michelle, yes I do (most of the time, not all of the time)..... we are happy to use natural FP but its a bit hard to use that when, at the moment, I havent yet had a period. So my concern is that very first ovulation.... DH and i get pregnant by washing our undies together (well so it would seem!).

    bj - i had horrible reactions to the depo - turned me into a nutter (lol doesn't take much ) but it was just awful.

    rainforest - did you have a period before that, if you don't mind me asking?

  11. #11
    Matryoshka Guest

    Pixie thats interesting about the diaphram, i actually went to a family planning clinic after DS1 as i wanted one, and she completely talked me out of it and i somehow left with a script for the mini pill as i was BF. I took it and he wouldn't feed, so i stopped, awful pill. She told me at best its 94% effective (the diaphram) and said it rarely is even that much because the vagina needs to be the perfect shape. It was very disappointing!

    I think natural fertility planning is great if you have the skill to do it. You can train with a professional actually to learn to correctly predict the signs.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    3,094

    tan - we were following NFP and all was good, i just happened to ovulate twice........... hence we have laa!

  13. #13
    Matryoshka Guest

    Yes same here, thats how DS1 was conceived But i've had others swear by it.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    Sydney
    2,212

    Waiting for that first post partum ovulation is a little scary when you don't know if your signs will change!!! Currently in that stage However, DD is now reaching 6 months so any time now would be ok. I keep forgetting about FPA - considering how close it is Might have to make a visit ...

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
    2,450

    Tan & Kitt3n do you avoid lunar fertile times as well as the O time based on your chart? Check out Francesca Naish's book Natural Fertility, it explains about lunar fertile times... although you would need to get your chart done to know when the times were.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    3,094

    pixie - no i don't. have heard of it though never investigated further.

    where would you get a chart done?

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    in the eye of a toddler tornado
    2,450

    I got mine done at the Jocelyn Centre.... I'll bring it tomorrow so you can have a squiz if you like. You can probably get them done by astrologers or some such, but the JC do it specifically for NFP.