For those who got PG while BF

noelles4e · July 2011

I'm posting on this board to see if anyone had this experience. My DD is about 9 mo old now and my DH and I have decided we want to start TTC soon. He is leaving in a few months to go to AFG for 6 months so we want to try sooner rather than when he gets back. Only problem is I'm currently BF my DD and haven't gotten my first period yet. Is it a lost cause to try to conceive while still nursing my DD? I'd rather not quit BF until she's at least a year old. So I'm assuming we're better off just waiting until he gets back.

stacey86 · July 2011

I concieved while BF my daughter (she is 8 months old now). However my period returned when she was only 2 months old. So i was having regular cycles when i became pregnant with this baby. I can tell you that it is a lot of hard work to be pregnant and BF. Sorry I am not a lot of help, Have you thought about talking with your doctor to see what his/her recommendation is.

noelles4e · July 2011

Thanks for your response. I do have an appt with her next week. I just wanted to get a feel for other's experiences. I have a feeling since my period hasn't returned, it will be A LOT harder for me to get pregnant and she wil just tell me to wait until my period has returned.

hellopoppyseed · July 2011

I got pg while EBF and LO was 3.5 mo and no AF. I font think there's any harm in trying. It's obviously possible.

CaitlinJ22 · July 2011

I got my period at 6 months with DS and got pg at 9 months, but I will say its worth a try. Also, you could try to cut one nursing session out slowly and that may help you. Your doc will most likely tell you to cut back to TTC. your LO may cut back on her own soon anyway. BFing while pg is HARD. I did it for 3-4 months and it was draining in so many ways, esp bc I was so sick. You have to eat about 800 calories a day to be pg and bfing, and drink a TON of water. That was hard while sick. For #3 we decided to wait until DD was older than a year when I do get pg I can wean and not feel the pressure to get to a year while pg.

GL

nycweddinggal · July 2011

I got my period back at around 9months, soon after nursing was cut back (mainly due to increase in solids/decreasing in pumping). I had two cycles that were just like my old cycles and got PG at 11 mos. I'm still doing a little bit of BFing 1-2 sessions but probably mainly for comfort and will wean completely very soon. Good luck!

mari_gold · July 2011

I got pregnant while BFing - DS was 11 months when I found out- but I had gotten my period back at 3 months postpartum.

MrsSteelerTeacherLady · July 2011

I had one PP period at 6 months and got pregnant when DS was 8 months.

hillbillysunshine · July 2011

I know it's possible though I do not have personal experience as I had AF while still BFing. DD was 10.5 mos when we conceived this litle one, and my first indication: my supply PLUMMETED! I used to pump about 7-9ozs during the day at work, and it dropped to pumping 2-4ozs...usually closer to 2-3...ALL DAY! We struggled through until she was 1. Luckily, we were starting to introduce cow's milk so I had the help of that supplementing my supply. GL with your decision

noelles4e · July 2011

Thanks for the responses ladies. It helps to hear others' experiences.

jf198400 · July 2011

I got my first period at 9 months pp and got pregnant the first month without trying! I had started cutting back on pumping at work around the time AF returned- you can try cutting back a little bit to see if that helps.

Nephs13 · July 2011

I got pregnant while DS was about 7.5 months, not EBF but still mostly BF and I never did experience AF since before I was pregnant the first time. I was a little surprised, although my doctor had told me it wasn't impossible to get knocked up while nursing and before a period...