Getting pregnant soon after birth

Sketner610 · July 2015

I was just curious if there were any moms out there that started trying to have another baby soon after giving birth? How long did it take before you started trying or were successful? Did you have wait for your period to start again (how long does that take)? Any other moms out there considering having a baby immediately after having this one?

JenLovesDesign · July 2015

I'm thinking about it. I'll be 40 when I have this baby, and depending how everything goes, we might start trying right away. Part of me though thinks this is it because I feel like money is just flying out the window right now. However I kind of want to be a bigger family. Obviously I don't even know if I can get pregnant again due to age. It took about 6 months of not trying too hard this time.

rebeccabloomwood · July 2015

It would depend on how your delivery goes and what your doctor says. Talk to your doctor about your wishes and see if they think it's a good idea. With no complications for your pregnancy or birth, some will say that you can start being sexually active again after 6 weeks. It's all very case by case. I was so exhausted during the first few months that having another child right away was the farthest thing from my mind but lots do it back to back!

WDDCH · July 2015

You can ovulate without a period. In fact ovulation determines when you menstruate, not the other way around. It's a series of hormonal changes in your body.

If you exclusively breastfeed you may or may not ovulate for awhile. I think I read that if you have four or more hours, at least once a day, where baby doesn't nurse then you can begin ovulating again.

I agree with above comment - a lot depends on how birth goes, if you should wait longer than you want. A cesarean delivery usually requires you wait a year or two I think?

itsasapphire · July 2015

DH was ready for another while I was still pregnant with our first! I wanted to wait at least 18 months to try. Well, I had an abnormal pap during my pregnancy and had some later issues following delivery. My doc told me to wait minimum 6 months before starting to try. I was totally thrilled with that. At 6 months he cleared me to try but it wasn't until DD was 10 months and I said something about her turning one soon and I immediately felt a need for another child. We started trying (meaning, no prevention methods). 6 months later I got my BFP which I was 4 weeks along. So it took about 5 cycles to work but I wasn't charting or counting or anything like that. Just having sex often. I told myself after 6 months of trying was when I would start to really focus on dates and cycles and all that. Thankfully for us, I didn't make it that far.

I got my period regularly at about 7 months postpartum. I was breastfeeding and my body was used to suppressing it, so I don't really now if that's the norm. Sometimes, women can get pregnant without even having a true cycle. Your body is all kinds of outta whack and could drop an egg but you'll never get a period. I have two friends that had an "oops" pregnancy before their 6 week clearance, neither of which had a period!

musicmomma00 · July 2015

I did not ovulate or get my period until I completely weaned my DS at 14 months - but also have a girlfriend who got her period back before she was even cleared to have sex again! (And yes, she was breastfeeding) It just depends on how your body responds to the hormones

lisadoninelli · July 2015

I personally waited a while until I got my period back before trying again. I didn't get my period back until my son was 17 months due to breastfeeding. I breastfed him until he was 2 and got pregnant shortly after that. I think it's best to give your body a bit of a break if possible before conceiving again. I know a couple women who had back to back babies which put their bodies through the wringer.

PregNancyClark · July 2015

I didn't ovulate until 23 months postpartum due to a very hungry baby who didn't sleep through the night for a while and pumping at work.

sarahnikai · July 2015

I never heard about not having a period due to breastfeeding!! I'm going to breastfeed until menopause! Lol! Jk!!

quincysmommy · July 2015

My bleeding stopped at 4 weeks pp, and my period came at 6 weeks pp. I exclusively breastfed my son until he was 7 months and then he weened himself. My husband and I decided we wanted another one when our son was about 3 months old. I got pregnant the first time we tried (first cycle of trying.) I did have a c section with my son and my doctor advised to wait a year until trying if I wanted to try a vbac. I didn't want a vbac, so I tried again when my husband and I were comfortable.

Earcar · July 2015

Everyone is so different there is really no way to plan for sure, I didn't get my period back until my first was a year and 10 months after my second. My SIL on the other hand gets hers usually 6 weeks later, she breastfed as well! She also had two babies within 14 months. Her life is hectic...to say the least.

verveine407 · July 2015

Wasn't there a recent study on the health of moms being greatly improved if they waited at least 18 months between pregnancies? I know not everyone does but if you don't then at least it probably helps to be aware that your body and mind are going to need extra support.

Boobopgirl · July 2015

I am ready to try for another one as soon as this one is out. In reality, we will probably wait about as long as we did between these two. I got pregnant when DD1 was about 9 months). Hubs wants to wait longer, but I know what will happen: We will use condoms until the first time he wants some action and we don't have any. Then he will continually "forget" to get more and keep wanting to still have sex. And then we will have another baby. ;-)

That's why he's in charge of buying the condoms, lol. I flat out told him that if he doesn't want another baby, then he's the one who has to make sure we have those. I will not buy them; I will not remind him to buy them; I will not remind him to put one on. Because I want all the babies, and he's the one that wants a "limit"

I got my period back as soon as DD1 started sleeping through the night (around 6 months) but it was somewhat irregular and I only had 2 cycles before becoming pregnant. Wish it would have been none. I have a friend who has 5 kids and she's only had something like 4 periods since they were married 10 years ago. Sign me up for that plan.

WDDCH · July 2015

verveine407 said:
Wasn't there a recent study on the health of moms being greatly improved if they waited at least 18 months between pregnancies? I know not everyone does but if you don't then at least it probably helps to be aware that your body and mind are going to need extra support.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an article stating such. Pregnancy depletes a lot of the calcium in our bones and other nutrients in order to give baby what they need. It's best to build all that back up if possible. Wasn't sure if it was 18M or shorter/longer.

Boobopgirl · July 2015

Oh, agreed with above. Getting pregnant this soon after DD1 I had to be very mindful of nutrition and exercise to keep myself physically where I needed to be. Especially in regards to calcium and bone health, but also overall nutrition.

RosieStadj · July 2015

We decided we were for sure both onboard with trying for a 3rd when DD2 was 6 mos old. Being older (37 & 41) we figured it would take a few tries if at all. Nope, got pregnant with #3 when DD2 was 6 mos old. A bit shocked but so far all three of my pregnancies have been uncomplicated.

kalina27 · July 2015

My mom got pregnant with my sister 7 months after she had me. And my sister got pregnant with her second baby 6 weeks after she had her first. It all depends on the person.

verveine407 · July 2015

I think the consensus is that it happens both planned and unplanned but either way take good care of the momma! Extra good nutritional and emotional support are important!

RoseRios15 · July 2015

It took me about 8 years to conceive and I did not use any contraception...so we are thinking a lot about trying again soon after I give birth, maybe when baby is 10 months. I am just scared it if I do decide to get on birth control I will not be able to conceive.... but just the thought of a toddler and me being pregnant seems scary, but I am sure it will be worth it in the long run!

irenejean · July 2015

I was exclusively breast fed, and my mom got pregnant with my brother when I was 3 months old! She also didn't get her period before getting pregnant again.

I'll be 34 next month and my husband is 45, this is our first child and we want a second. I was thinking about trying to get pregnant right away until I read more about child spacing and how having two pregnancies close together can have added risk. The Mayo clinic has some info about this: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/family-planning/art-20044072.

We talked about it and we're going to start trying to get pregnant again when our child is almost 1 year old, so probably next August.

thinkpink101 · July 2015

@irenejean that's an interesting article! I got pregnant with twins when our oldest was 11 months. They were born prematurely (33.5) and were thought to have spectrum disorder - - though now the dx is leaning more towards NVLD. Because they were preemies they have vision processing issues, sensory processing disorder and a host of other issues. Scary to think my getting pregnant too soon might be the root cause!

megs1409 · July 2015

Talk to your doctor once you've had this baby. I'm also AMA and therefore having a 2nd close in age was something we knew we would need to do. I had a relatively "easy" pregnancy and labor with DS1, so my doctor recommended NOT having a 2nd child within 1 year of the first child, but it was fine to be pregnant during that time (just avoid 2 births in 1 year).

However, you should wait until your 6 week post-partum appointment and you are cleared medically to have sex again before thinking about getting pregnant! Your body needs time to heal!!

tlc11934 · July 2015

I got my period back at 6 weeks PP. We wanted a 2 year gap so we started trying when DD1 was 13 months. It worked first try so they are 22 months apart. Glad we did it that way, but that's as close in age as I could handle.

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