Getting Pregnant While Breastfeeding - Leesburg,VA

C G,
I got pregnant while breastfeeding, at the time, my 7 month old and had not gotten my period back yet. He was still getting up in the night as well. When I found out I was 1 month pregnant, I decided to let my boy cry it out since I knew I could not breastfeed b/c I was exhausted trying to bf and carry another child. Plus getting up just that one time in the night was just adding on the the tiredness. Also, at 7,8,9 months, they should be sleeping through the night. It had just been a bad habit. So after three nights of crying it out, he has slept through the night and almost 12! he is a great sleeper and always has been! I hope this helps. A.

The answer is a definite yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding. A long time ago, I got pregnant with #3 while breastfeeding #2 and had no period between. Morning sickness was my indication and the doctor thought the pregnancy was ectopic. The ultrasound showed she was in the right location. Lesson learned from me that you CAN conceive while breastfeeding and not have a period.
I hope it happens soon for you. Good luck.

For many women breastfeeding is a natural birth control. God made our bodies this way for our own protection. I suggest you wait another 3 months. When your child is one year old and cuts down nursing a bit, you will be fertile again. Let nature take its course. Besides if you are getting up at night with your child, you won't have the strength to be pregnant. AF

There is a great book that i used to keep from getting pregnant and then used it when i was ready to get pregnant. It is called "The cooperative method of natural birth control".
You basically check your basil body temp, check your mucus,along with other things...and you will know when you are ovulating. There are about 2-4 days that are not safe if you are avoiding pregnancy. or 2-4 days when you should really be trying if you are wanting to get pregnant. This book is wonderful in explaining all the signs your body gives you naturally. breastfeeding or not!
i have 6 children! it works! I can tell you to the day when each child was conceived! it works! well the first child was a honeymoon baby but after that we got a little better. LOL
children are wonderful good luck.

I agree with everyone else that it is possible to get pregnant while nursing (I did at 10 months), but your body is less likely to get your period back with all the night feedings. Studies show that moms who co sleep and on demand feed at night tend to hold off fertitily much longer. So if you can wean more at night and still day feed, yo7u may ahve better luck.
K.

You can get pregnant before you have your first period. As your baby starts eating more real food vs. nursing your fertility will begin to return. who knows you may be pregnant already. Eat very very well, just incase and take your prenatals.

If you think you are one of those lucky few who do not menustrate (spelling) while nursing, you could always cut back on nursing and supplement some formula....Keep nursing just 1/2 as much normally would. That may be enough to bring about some changes. even if you get your daughter to sleep 5-6 hours that break in nursing alone could trigger your body's system.

This might sound odd, but try going on birth control for a month or two on an estrogen birth control pill. Breastfeeding suppresses estrogen. You may notice a dip in your supply, but your fertility should return. You also might try night weaning, but continuing to nurse during the day. It's not impossible to become pregnant while nursing. You should check out Taking Charge of Your Fertility if you are wanting a good reference on charting your fertility signs. I know plenty of women who go from pregnant to breastfeeding to pregnant again without a period. You might check out the TTC forums at Mothering.com.

Weaning is hard, giving formula may mess up your milk supply. If you pump milk (which is good for your supply) and then feed baby those bottles at night so you can make the longest stretches possible it should help. Supposedly you will avoid PG if you feed during the day in less than 3 hour stretches and during the night something like 6 hours. So if you can figure out a way to make a long stretch during the day or night and keep doing that it may work!
(info from Dr and Martha Sears breastfeeding book)

It is possible to get pregnant before you get your period, but that just means you were about to get it that month anyway. My period did not return until more than two years after giving birth due to extended breastfeeding and I did not get pregnant during that time. But, after two periods - bam! - I was pregnant again. So my kids are a little farther apart than I had originally wanted. A friend of mine got her period within a year while still breastfeeding, so everybody's body is different. You will eventually start ovulating again even while breastfeeding, but it could be awhile. My mother deliberately weaned my siblings early because she wanted all of her kids close together. (I'm the youngest of four, so she let me nurse the longest.) While you might get lucky, the only way to be sure to start ovulating again is to wean. You could start by cutting back and see if that helps. Or, like me, come to terms with having your kids just a little farther apart. Now I can espouse all of the benefits of having them three years apart instead of two, if you want to talk about it further.

I personally know two mothers who were BFing and on the mini-pill and still managed to get pregnant. So, yes, it's possible.

In your shoes, I'd probably talk to your OB about your options and if there are any concerns particular to you (like if you had a tough delivery or any complications) that would prevent you from trying at this time.

with my first child my period came when she was 8 months old and by the time she was 9 months old I found out I was pregnant...I am no expert, but I've never gotten pregnant without first having a period...but that's not to say it doesn't happen. Nursing will postpone a period...and once I was pregnant with my second my baby didn't want to nurse. So if you want to keep nursing I agree with a previous post to hold off then till about 12 months and wean, but I'd seek the advice of your OB as well!

Hi! I got pregnant while I was breastfeeding my 4 month old baby. Every woman is different and definetely ask your doctor for advice. I know more cases of other moms that were in the same situation.
Cheers,
C.

YES, it's completely possible to get pregnant. it makes absolutely no difference that you have not had a period yet. you can still be fertile. why don't you try to pick up some digital ovulation tests to see for yourself?

I would not worry about not having your period yet. Just because it hasn't returned does not mean you are not fertile. My neighbor went in for her six week check up after having her daughter and found out she was four weeks pregnant. That means she got pregnant two weeks after giving birth. Oh and yes she was nursing. So don't believe that you can't get pregnant while nursing or without getting your period back. I wish you the best of luck and God bless.

Like many others, I conceived while still breastfeeding, though my 7 mo was sleeping through the night, but I've since learned that that doesn't necessarily mean anything about fertility. I would recommend reading the Garden of Fertility, a great book that helps you learn how to recognize your own fertility. It can go hand in hand with visits to the OB, etc. but will also give you much more understanding/knowledge than an ob might. Particularly, you will see if your body has started a fertile cycle again or not, which is an important first step in understanding how/when you might get pregnant.

Best of luck!

I was breastfeeding my four month old boy when I got pregnant with my daughter. It can happen and I was not on a pill and did not have my period back at that time. You may just need to keep trying and let nature take its course. I was no longer able to breastfeed my son after I got pregnant, I was not able to produce enough milk to satisfy him. But you can definitely get pregnant while breastfeeding.

L.

You can absolutely get pregnant while breastfeeding, even if you haven't gotten a period. I have a friend who was nursing her 3 month old & got pregnant. And you can also continue to nurse your older child while pregnant.