Using Breastfeeding as contraception

[Jas]

Just wondering how many do it?

I came off the pill to ttc ds1 around September 2006 and never successful exclusively breastfed him..he was on full ff at about 7/8weeks.

I don;t want to go back on the pill, just feed it mucks up your body's natural rhytmn we used condoms after ds1 but now that ds2 has come and bf is going great I am wondering how many of you use this option and if anyone has any advice or commetns etc?

Just thought it might make for an interesting convo

[Lulu]

I would NEVER rely on it. Fell pg fully BFing when he was 5 months. Oops

[~Raven~]

The Billings Method has a chapter devoted to it.

Basically you need to really in tune with your bodies signs of fertility and work around that and be quite strict about it. Also be mindful that if your bub goes longer than 4 hours between feeds even once in a 24 hour period then the prolactin levels may not be high enough to hinder ovulation.

I used it quite successfully until Ruby was conceived by then C had weaned though.

[Visitor8]

I would NEVER rely on it. Fell pg fully BFing when he was 5 months. Oops

me too. So I had Jaidan and Chase 14 months apart...

[MantaRay]

Breastfeeding is actually 98% effective in the first 6 months only, as long as baby is fully bf (no formula or solids), baby feeds during the night, and you have no AF yet. There are a minority of women who will ovulate before the first AF during the first 6 months though, so if falling pg would be a disaster I wouldn't recommend relying on it. If it wouldn't matter much, then it would be ok - it's really up to you.

AFM, it worked until AF arrived with DS1 (7 months), and for 5 months with DS2 - after which I was too worried about falling pg to rely on it any longer.

[mbear]

Even though 'they' say its safe to rely on b/f as 99% effective when b/f fully within the first 6 mnoths (incl overnight), i too would never rely on this....
I have fallen pregnant both times whilst breastfeeding (after 6 months, but under 12 months). First time i had not had AF post partum, and we just happen to DTD around that first time i happened to Ovulate.....and whammo....pg with #3.

[hubba_bubba07]

Mini pill and breastfeeding didnt stop our little ooppss!!! lol

[Visitor8]

I hadn't had AF before I got pregnant with Chase either. And Jaidan was fully BF day and night. I know a LOT of people who have gotten pregnant so I would say the 98% thing isn't correct I was pretty upset with my doctor for saying it TBH, not that I don't love Chase and I don't regret having him but at the time it was a very big shock and totally not what we needed at the time.

[Jas]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Well we plan on having 4 kids and we would be happy with any and all babies we are blessed with however the plan is to have our kids around 2yrs apart and also we will possible try timing etc to conceive a girl next time, also Spence does usually have gaps over 4hrs between feeds at night and with both our sons we have conceived 2nd month so perhaps this might not be the best option for us.

Thanks ladies