Weird Question-sorry!

HollySC13

Perhaps this is a weird question but I thought maybe some people on here might have some experience with this or know someone who has. Has anyone on here (or does anyone know someone who...) got pregnant while BFing? Sorry for being nosy but I'd really like to know!

undutchable

I did! And I'm sure many other mommies on here did too. It is definitely not a surefire birth control!

HollySC13

I know it's not surefire, but I was hoping that it wasn't too common! I know two people who have but I was hoing they were anamolies!

Perisky

I did and it was planned. I EBF'd for 18 months and only stopped because my Dr. recommended I do so since I was pregnant. 

HollySC13

I didn't know you were able to BF while pregnant. That's amazing!

MsShib

YES, YES, YES.

I trusted the midwife who assured me that BFing was a 98% sure form of birth control, and my DH who said, "you're not gonna get pregnant, you're breastfeeding!" when I asked him to put on a condom.

So YES the answer is YES you can get pregnant. (It was 3 months after I had my daughter, so I was not ecstatic about it...)

Army~Wife

Yes & I was on the mini pill as directed. Turned out to be exactly what we wanted ONLY 7+ months sooner than planned.

smw123

I'm pregnant and still breastfeeding.  Although I am trying to wean so we are down to about 3-4 feedings a day including night feedings.  My dr said it is fine as long as I'm not having any cramping.  They say breastfeeding only works as birth control as long as you don't get your period back.  I got mine back since my DS was 6 months but we were always careful. 

nsuhomer

I did, but it was planned, and my DD was 14 months old.  BFing is only effective as BC if it is pretty much completely on demand (day and especially night), pumping hinders effectiveness, using a pacifier hinders effectiveness, before solids have been introduced, and for the first six months.  After six months, the effective percentage goes down steadily.  Check out kellymom.com.  They have great information on this.

bim38106

Ya, I know 4 people.... 1 when her DS was 3 months, 1 when her DD was 6 months, and the other 2 when their LOs were just under 1 (those were planned, the ones with the younger babies were not planned).

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

I know quite a few people who got pg while BFing... myself included Although in my case, we were down to 4 sessions a day and I had had 2 or 3 pp periods when I got pregnant. Still, I know of people who were still BFing on demand and all that jazz and still got pregnant, so it's definitely more common than you'd think!

Scout1218

I did, and have had a few friends who did as well.

I also nursed DD until I was about 20 weeks (she weaned at 12 months). 

MrsSteelerTeacherLady

smw123:

They say breastfeeding only works as birth control as long as you don't get your period back.

Not true since you ovulate before you have your period.  I got pregnant while breastfeeding, not planned.  I have pcos and we knew we wanted another and really weren't concerned with them being too close, so we weren't trying, but we weren't preventing either.  

jellybeanjean

me!  we were trying, though...periods started at 3mon pp while ebf'ing...after needing clomid for pcos with ds1.

TheMutleys

I got pregnant while BFing and did not get a warning period.  We were hoping to get pregnant though, so we weren't preventing.

 

If you read TCOYF, there are guidelines for when you are BFing.  And remember that in all likelihood you will ovulate before getting your period, so there is always a chance and not always a warning that your fertility is back.    

3/05bride

I did.  Got my period at 6 month PP and got KU at 8 months.  I was EBF when got my period and was still Bfing on demand when KU.