TTC and breastfeeding?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38331
Printed Date: 25 June 2025 at 7:05pm
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Topic: TTC and breastfeeding?
Posted By: troutpout
Subject: TTC and breastfeeding?
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 7:24pm
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Hi everyone!
We are just about to start TTC #2, but I am still BF my 10 month old DD, and have no plans to stop. The problem is my AF still hasn't come back  I honestly never thought I'd be complaining about that one lol!!
We really want to have our kids close together, so I'm just praying that even though no AF, I'm still fertile. Just wondered if anyone has any experience with this? I have no way of tracking my cycle because obviously I don't have one. I spoke to my GP last week when I had my IUD removed, and he said it was 'unlikely' that I could get pregnant before return of AF. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Replies:
Posted By: KiwiAtHeart
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 7:36pm
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I guess if theres no way of being able to track your cycle, you should just BD as often as you want and hope for the best? I know its not impossible to not get pregnant just because your AF hasn't returned so maybe you could try opks and see what happens? -------------  
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 8:03pm
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I'm the same troutpout - ready to get pregnant again and still breastfeeding, but no AF...and I'm not willing to compromise a baby I have for one that doesn't exist yet by weaning early. I have heard of people getting pregnant while breastfeeding though so will watch this thread with interest! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 8:51pm
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What if you started taking your temp or using OPKs every few days or something to track if you are ovulating? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 9:52pm
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Yeah I was going to suggest you start temping or charting CM to see if you are ovulating. For me I had to completely stop bfing Ben first, but everyone is different ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 09 March 2011 at 10:04pm
Same for me. Stopped BFing DS when he was 13 months, pregnant by the time he was 14 months. But I've heard of lots of people getting pregnant while still BFing. -------------   
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Linzy wrote:Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 12:26pm
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You can definitely get pregnant while still BFing! Emmecat did! And another one but forgot her username!
Still no AF here but am definitely curious to know what my body is up to! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 4:44pm
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Good luck! I'm another one who had to stop BFing completely before I ovulated, although we weren't TTC yet when DD weaned (at 13months). I got pregnant when she was 18months.
But I do know of a few people who got pregnant while still BFing so it can be done  ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 4:48pm
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I got pregnant while breastfeeding. But my cycles returned when DS was maybe 3-4 months old. ------------- |
Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 7:45pm
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You can get pregnant when breastfeeding. You may be able to get UTD just before the return of AF when you ovulate again. But if not getting AF then you won't be ovulating. You can still chart and watch your CM that way you may be able to spot when that first ovulation occurs.
For the record. I didn't get AF back til 22 months after the birth of DS1. Only returned once I had completely weaned. And then I got UTD the first cycle after my first AF. |
Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 8:22pm
Same. I was exclusively breastfeeding each time AF returned at 3 months, 4 months and 3 months respectively. ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 10 March 2011 at 8:33pm
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I got my AF back the day before DD was 11 months. I was on the minipill and still BF a lot! It took 6 weeks before I had another one, at which point I came off the pill - and conceived exactly 14 days later! I'm still BF DD, although since my milk has changed with pg, it's mostly only morning and night now. I did night wean her at the same time I came off the pill, but was feeding probably 4-5 times per day still.
I'm pretty sure that the inhibitory effect of lactation is to stop you cycling, but once you are cycling again, you are as fertile as the next person. And you can definitely get pregnant before you get AF, because AF is preceded by an ovulation and if you conceive to that ovulation, then you don't get that first AF that was coming. One of the ladies in my coffee group is in that boat. If it were me, I'd just give it a go. I figure the delay in getting AF back was my body's way of saying that DD still needeed me exclusively for now, so I was happy to be that for her. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 11 March 2011 at 7:41am
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Yes I got pg while BF....although I was on my 3rd cycle of AF I think? Clodagh was about 9/10 months old. It conincided with night weaning so maybe you could try that (if you want to I mean)? I'm trying to remember when Af came back- I guess it would've been about 6/7 months. Once I stopped BF every 4 hours around the clock lol. Good luck anyway. Like TRex said, it could be your body's way of saying your wee bub needs you for now...cos being pg AND BF is quite draining physically and emotionally (well it was for me lol) -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 11 March 2011 at 9:54am
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My Dr said something along the same lines. Actually what she said was "you'll need to stop BF'g if you want any chance of falling pregnant again". I really resented this, particularly since I was only there to get my ears checked! Anyway, I was BF'g and I got AF back when my daughter was 11 months. Only had one more than got UTD. She had dropped to about 3 feeds in 24 hours though by then. I was happy for my body to work it out itself, although I'm quite old so I was worried about how long it might take. Good luck. Do what you feel is right for your bub and your body. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 13 March 2011 at 6:39pm
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I have had what to me feels like ovulation pains about the same time each month and changes in CM too, but no AF I know ovualation dosent mean Im fertile - goodness this baby thing is so confusing!! I have heard you can ovulate without AF - can someone who knows tell me about this? Im still exclusively B/F, no AF and really want another bubba soon!! ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: jessm
Date Posted: 17 March 2011 at 7:48pm
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Well, my sister fell pg while bf, also on her 1st ov so no af. On the other hand, I got af back when dd 6mths old, am still bf once every day or two and am not pg, despite never trying not to (would have liked two close together). My view on it was (is?) that I would be upset to wean her just to get preg again, then not get preg again, if you know what I mean. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 17 March 2011 at 8:09pm
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didnt mean to hijack your thread troutpot - sorry!
I have been reading furiously about this and all I can see is a sudden change in feeding habits can encourage the return of a regular cycle - but for the most part it just says every woman is different I think I will get some OPK's just to start knowing where Im at if there is even a change (athough I thought there had been) Did the doc say if there was anything to kick start menstruation again? ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: troutpout
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 7:14am
No raspberry - he said for most women af will return when baby is on solids, drinking less milk and sleeping through the night. But for a few women (like me grrrrr) ovulation will not return until baby is weaned. He said as I'm only feeding 3 times a day and still no period, I probably will have to wait  I'm not willing to deny jodie what she needs for the sake of another few months, so will just have to wait and see!------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 11:17am
Have you looked into/tried Vitex?? You can find it at health food shops, I think from memory the tincture is faster acting than the pills? (Tastes gross though!)
Taken from http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal-rem_c.html#vitex - Kellymom.com ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:50pm
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troutpout my daughter was feeding 3x/day for 2 months before AF returned.
I know how you feel. It's a real wrench when you want to have another child quickly but BF'g is working so well for you. I came to the same decision - that I would keep BF'g my daughter despite wanting to fall pregnant ASAP. And I was 38 when I had my daughter so I was quite anxious about how much time I had to try for number 2. But it happened really fast this time (2 AF's this time versus 3 years last time). Anyway, maybe set yourself what you think is an acceptable time limit (eg 12 months or something you feel comfortable with) and if you're still pushing for number 2 and AF hasn't returned by then maybe then maybe think of weaning. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: Kellyjd
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:07pm
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Hey troutPout ;)
As you know im BF DD but only 2x a day now. My AF returned when she was 4 months and man i felt SO ripped off lol!! But now im glad as my cycles have regulated and we are back on the TTC path. FX AF returnes soon for you!!! |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:00pm
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Yeah Im with you on that one Trout pout, Id hate to take my Portia off the breast for another too.
Good luck , will keep fingers crossed for us both! ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:02pm
So wouldnt that reduce your supply quite a bit? ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 11:15pm
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As far as Im aware your supply will only decrease if you have an oversupply as it helps balance our your hormone levels.
Prolactin levels are not dependent upon the rate of milk formation or milk yield after lactation is established. from http://breastfeeding.about.com/od/breastfeedingbasics/g/prolactin.htm - here -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 11:33pm
thanks Emmi!!! your a star  ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 11:35pm
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from that vitex link ....
Studies also indicate Vitex may be useful to stimulating both production and secretion of breast milk. so completely the opposite of what I thought!! then there is a warning that its not indicated during lactation 
SOunds like a trip to the health shop is in order!! ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 22 March 2011 at 3:22pm
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have you talked to the heath shop yet RJ? I'm keen to know how you got on... -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: Keleho
Date Posted: 23 March 2011 at 8:20pm
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Hey Emmi, I posted in my thread on my DDs milk intake as well but thought Id pop it in here too.
I went to the health shop today to get some Vitex (and chat about it as well) and she recommended that I shouldnt take it while breastfeeding (as it may affect my supply, which is already low), and suggested if we are activly ttc, I shouldnt be taking it either as its not to be taken while pregnant, especially early pregnancy. So Ive decided to not bother and if I dont get UTD in a set timeframe, Ill look at weaning K (and hope that helps AF return...) ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: dneyn
Date Posted: 25 March 2011 at 9:28am
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I'm wanting to start TTC again in about aug- sep, but as yet no AF. I was on BCP but accidentally left it in oz in Jan and haven't replaced it ( no I'm not UTD I have checked haha). For those of you who have bubs about 10-11 months how many feeds are you still doing a day?
------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
Master 11 Master 9 Master 1 |
Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 25 March 2011 at 12:02pm
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DD is nearly 10 months, and shes still doing 4-5 during the day and 7 at night, so prob not the 'norm'! But no AF here yet... -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 25 March 2011 at 2:36pm
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K is 11mths and when I got pregnant she was feeding 3-4 times a day and sleeping 12 hours straight at night, at 11 mths shes feeding 1-2 times a day, mainly just a big morning feed and every few days an afternoon/evening feed. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: millysmum
Date Posted: 28 March 2011 at 12:06am
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Hey all,
I tried OPK's while having no AF and BF'ing lots! I had a couple of +ve readings and hopefully soon will have a BFP! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 28 March 2011 at 2:31am
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A positive OPK doesnt' always mean you're oving, millysmum - I used to get lots of false positives which is why I gave up on them (I have PCOS, I've heard of others with PCOS having similar problems. I think it's a hormone thing, perhaps breastfeeding has the same effect?).
It's not something I've researched, but I'd be a little bit surprised if I was oving and not getting AF, except for that one first cycle when you'll ovulate, then get AF a couple of weeks later (if you don't get UTD that round!!) I got AF back at six months - basically when DS started eating a good amount of solids. I would have said his milk consumption hadn't changed at all, but something must have been enough to trigger it. -------------   
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Posted By: troutpout
Date Posted: 28 March 2011 at 8:31pm
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Sigh - still no sign of AF here, and miss jo only feeds 3 times a day. A big one morning and night, and a little one in the avo, thinking about dropping the afternoon one soon though.
Re vitex - I emailed the company that makes it, and they said absolutely NOT for breastfeeding mothers, particularly if you are TTC as it is not good at all in early pregnancy. So will just have to wait and have fingers crossed! I agree about the OPK's, if you are producing hormones to continue making milk they can mess with them. Not much use really! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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