Breastfeeding:TTC

Can I become pregnant while breastfeeding?

Many mothers that are nursing a baby or toddler want to become pregnant again while breastfeeding. Most people think that if you are breastfeeding you can not become pregnant. Although breastfeeding does offer some protection against conception, it does not make you infertile. The chances of becoming pregnant while exclusively breastfeeding are slim, but it does occur. If you are supplementing your baby with formula or solid foods, your chances of conceiving will likely be higher.

While some women will conceive easily while breastfeeding, the majaority of nursing mothers will have a harder time. This is because as you breastfeed, your body is producing prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that delays ovulation and conception in nursing women. Menstruation can begin at any time during the first year of breastfeeding, so it is wise to know exactly when you are most fertile.

Women that want to conceive while breastfeeding should chart their basal body temperature very carefully and monitor the cervical mucus. Ovulation predictor kits can also be beneficial. Research suggests altering your nursing schedule if you are trying to become pregnant while breastfeeding. Try not to nurse around the clock and supplement if at all possible.

Comments: Breastfeeding - TTC

Comments 1 to 24 of about 33.
1 Next

august20 - 1 days ago.
lovemylove- I am still nursing 18 month old twins. One is close to being weaned (most days) but the other is not ready at all!. AF returned for me when I returned back to work at 15 months. I am cut back to 2-3 feedings / day / baby. If your babe isn't ready to be cut back, maybe try cutting back duration of feeds (that's what I did to get ready to go back to work). Cutting out night feedings is supposed to help, but I still haven't done that! Not sure if I should even be on this site... we're not officially trying (I'm petrified of having twins again) but definetely would be sooo excited to find a positive.

lovemylove - 2 days ago.
Hey Ladies!!! Ok here is my deal. My son will be 2 on Jan 3. I breastfeed him still! NO AF!! I really want to get pregnant but do not want to ween him yet until he is ready and let me tell you he is not. Do I need to ween him? How are you ladies doing it??? Confused. Thank you!

Bri - 74 days ago.
stacka - That's so awesome! Congrats! YAY! I knew you would get one eventually.

stacka - 74 days ago.
Hi, We got our BFP yesterday, still breastfeeding my one year old so hopefully that all goes ok. Very shocked because BBT did not indicate I had ovulated and I was expecting AF... What a lovely suprise!

michelle010203 - 89 days ago.
Anyone have time to answer a question about ttc?

1more* - 112 days ago.
me & hubby wants another child bad we have an 10yrs. that wants an lil sis or bro bad. i been TTC like 3yrs now been on clomid50mg for like 2cycles an NO BABY! what do yall think should be next.

Bri - 131 days ago.
august20 - The pull out method isn't really reliable because well ovulation can be so everywhere and even what comes out in the very begining contains sperm. I have a friend from high school. She got pregnant as a virgin. Her and her boyfriend's 'parts' got very close but he never penitrated and she ended up pregnant! Get that one! But as for early signs, for me it was the same except for the sore boobs.

littledebbie99 - I got mine back when Kekoa was 9months, I didn't get pregnant until he was 17months. My first several periods were about six weeks apart and I thought I was pregnant last September but I wasn't. Take precaution unless you want to conceive or you don't care if you do.

stacka - Good Luck! That's what we did. Well I didn't chart anything but we just had sex all the time. It worked!

stacka - 131 days ago.
I finally got AF yesterday, so its great I have something to start with! we are not really overly anxious to get pregnant right away and if it happens, it happens. i will be charting bbt to give myself an idea of when i am ovulating. hope everyone else is going well and baby dust to all!

littledebbie99 - 134 days ago.
For those who are breast feeding...Have any of you gotten your AF back? I am just so confused. My AF came for the first time in June (11th) and now I am 5 days late now. (Expected AF July 8) I had one postive HPT on July 4th but since then All BFN's and no AF. So confused. Please Help me come up with ideas on why this is happening. BFN this morning too. I am going on my 7th month of breastfeeding.

august20 - 139 days ago.
I was just wondering what are some early signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding? I am nursing 14 month old twins, and although we are not 'trying' we are playing russian roulette with the 'pull out'. We want more, just not twins!! My period has been irregular the past 6 months, so I can't really go by that (it comes when the inlaws come to visit).

Bri - 139 days ago.
That's really hard because if you aren't getting a period you don't know if you aren't ovulating or if you just haven't yet. I know this might get old but you can have sex every other day until test a month later. Also, you can buy ovulation tests to see if you are ovulating yet. Although, that could get expensive because it's like buying pregnancy tests. Have you asked your doctor about it? She may have another way of testing to see if you are ovulating yet. My next thought is, I know that many people do have children very close together but many doctors will suggest waiting until the child is over a year. My doctor wanted me to wait until Kekoa was 18months before conceiving again. This way your body is completely healed before going at it again. It does take that long. But, everyone is different. I would say, have fun. Don't make it a chore and eventually you will be pregnant or your cycle will return and it'll make it easier to get pregnant. If you aren't ovulating yet then you will just cause unneeded frustration since there isn't anything you can do about it.

youngmum- - 139 days ago.
You can test two weeks after Bding rather than waiting for symptoms but that does depend if you are Bding on set dates and the distance between them. Good Luck

stacka - 140 days ago.
I am wondering... If you are TTc while BF, how do you know when to POAS? we have been BDing in a random order and I haven't had a period since bubs was born (10 mths ago) boobs always feel swollen so guess im just waiting for the morning sickness, right?

Bri - 151 days ago.
KainsMom2008 - I got a negative the day before I was due and a positive two days after. There is a margin of error. It's best to wait until after your period is due. Oh and most tests are only 55% correct 4 days before your missed period. They say 5 days earlier because the tests before were for the day after. I wouldn't count yourself out yet. If you don't get it when it's due then try again.

KainsMom2008 - 152 days ago.
Ok...so we did the deed on the 13th, I have taken a preg test today and it was a BFN, I should be starting around the 29th, did I take the test to soon?

Bri - 210 days ago.
Good Morning ladies! I just got my positive this morning! YAY! Here's to 2010 babies!

Bri - 217 days ago.
I'm sorry Kathy, but don't give up hope. You'll get pregnant soon. I'm debating whether to test Tuesday morning or not. I am suppose get my period on Saturday so Tuesday would be four days early. I really really hope I am. It will be depressing if I'm not.

kathy=^.^= - 218 days ago.
well AF has made me mad! i was really wanting to start my opks and bbt but i totally skipped AF!!! im doing more solids during the day and hioping AF will come back soon... i dont like this not having AF all of a sudden.... ive taken 8 pregnancy test all neg so i know im not preggers... i never wanted AF so badly to make and apperance......

Bri - 226 days ago.
So ladies, if there are any TTC nursing mommies out there. I checked several site and ovulation should be tomorrow. I've been having sex every other day since my period ended, that includes Wednesday and tonight. YAY! So, hopefully somethings going on inside me. I'm taking my prenatals and eating right. Somewhat exercising, yoga. I hope everything is aligned and a new baby will come the beginning of January. 1/2/10 would be the offical due date....until the doctor decides to change it. HAHA! Say a little prayer for me, ok ladies. I need good karma coming this way.

Bri - 226 days ago.
Samj - Congrats on your pregnancy. It goes to show that it can be done! HAHA! Your story also shows that when pregnant and breastfeeding a lot of work needs to go into keeping supply up. I'm sorry you found out so late why supply was low. Nursing and pregnancy both require a lot of work out of your body. I plan on baby led weaning but I suspect that if I'm pregnant (crossing my fingers!) then Kekoa will wean himself fairly quickly. He's 17months now so I have no worry about it. I will miss our cuddle time but he will have to wean eventually.

Bri - 227 days ago.
mandarae - You're one brave girl to be trying so early. HAHA! I couldn't imagine running after Kekoa and trying for another one last year. If I am pregnant then he will be 26months when this one is born. I think that will be a good time. Maybe?

mandarae - 227 days ago.
Angie and Bri - just had to comment. My last period before I got preggo with the girls was Feb 4th too! My due date was Nov 10th, but they were born on Sept 25, 2008 at 33 weeks. They are now 6 1/2 months old, and this month is only my 2nd period... but it was exactly 28 days! Hopefully my cycle will stay regular and if something happens, WHOO HOOO!!!!

Bri - 228 days ago.
Angie! When I got pregnant with Kekoa my last period was February 4th. My due date was Nov 11th but we had him on the 4th. Kekoa only nursed three times today. I think I'm ovulating now but I'm not quite sure what my body is doing. I have been having cramping feelings all day. Ovulation, implation or something else? I just don't know. I am starting to obsess about though. I hope things go well. If not then I guess it wasn't meant for this month. I orginally wanted to wait until end of summer, early fall to have a spring or summer baby but I just don't want to. If it takes that long I might go crazy but in the end I will be happy.

AngieP - 230 days ago.
Bri - I had to cut down breast feeding to 2-3 times a day. My son is 20 months old now and I haven't been on the pill for probably 7 or 8 months. My periods were fairly regular, with the exception of a few. My son nursed a lot. I finally had to really cut down on breast feeding and my periods came back full force. I had two really heavy periods and then became pregnant in February. I have my first u/s tomorrow. I was so confused on when I ovulated. I just guessed. I bought some ovulation tests that didn't work. But apparently we picked the right time some how. We weren't really, really trying. We just thought it would happen when it was supposed to. Now I'm just hoping the u/s goes good tomorrow. My last period was February 3rd, but I didn't get a positive test until the middle of March. I kept getting negatives.

Bri - 232 days ago.
Ok, so it looks like my fertile days is suppose to be the 8th or 10th but we started BD Thursday and last night. If we do every other day for the next two weeks I think I should become pregnant. I guess it is wishful thinking. I always do that. I want something and set myself up for disappointment when it doesn't happen. I guess I should know around May 1st ish. I should be my period the end of this month so if I don't by May 5th then I think I would be. HAHA! We'll see in a month! I hope so. We just moved and unpacking I found a bunch of shirts that my boobs are too big for now. Oh well. I can put them off until the next one is weaned. Oh wait then I would be wanting a third. Ok, ebay might be my best option. These shirts are so nice though. Ann Taylor, Black White, Nordstroms and such. Se la vie.