Getting Pregnant While Still Nursing

Just to let you know I got pregnant with my third 6 weeks after having my second and was nursing every two hours so as far as stopping there is no need for that. You might be cycling and not even know it. If it were me, I would just start trying...keep your regular nursing schedule and if your little one has already started some solids then it's only a matter of time before your period resumes. Like I said...never had a period but was obviously ovulating at 6 weeks after birth. Of course always talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Hope this helps.

I think it depends on each person's body, although I think you're right that it's not very likely until after the baby starts solids and is nursing less. My periods didn't resume at all (and I did not seem to be ovulating) until I completely weaned my kids each time (my pregnancies were at age 32 and 35). But I know a couple of women who were still nursing toddlers a couple of times a day when they got pregnant with their second children.

ETA - my children weaned themselves at 6 months and 11 months.

Nursing is not birth control unless you are a constant-nurser. In cases where women wear their babies 24-7 and the baby can nurse every 5 minutes, nursing has been scientifically shown to work as a birth control, but any less regularly and it is not effective at all. For your case, the nursing should not be interfering with your fertility. It is strange that your period has not begun again - have you spoken to your doctor about this? My period came back about 3 months after I gave birth (I was nursing full-time then), and it was later than my doctor had expected. However, my doctor also said that I would ovulate once before my period began, so I would go ahead and start trying, and also see your doctor about why your period hasn't begun yet. Good luck!

You can get pregnant while nursing. If you are having your period.
And that's how I got pregnant while nursing.
But it was a miscarriage.

you need to talk to your OB/GYN about it... because your baby is still just 6 months old... and getting pregnant while nursing... can "change" the milk and the way it tastes...and the baby may sometimes reject it.

A 6 month old through 1 years old... a baby has to still be fed on-demand. Per our Pediatrician: For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Forumla is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby... NOT SOLIDS AND NOT OTHER LIQUIDS. So don't rely on "solids" as your baby's full nutritional spectrum. For the 1st year, solids is a sort of supplement to the daily diet... NOT the "main" source of nutrition.

Next, it varies for each woman, but nursing while pregnant can possibly cause contractions.

In my case, I was over 35 years old, when I got pregnant with my 2 children and the miscarriage I had. So 3 times I was pregnant. I got pregnant naturally.
So, don't feel you have to "rush" it to get pregnant, just because of your age.

All the best,
Susan

I would NOT stop nursing simply to get pregnant. It is your body's way of telling you that you're not ready to carry another baby. Most women will have their cycles return some time 8-18 months postpartum with exclusive on-demand nursing. (mine returned 15-16 months both times). I got preg with #2 on my FIRST postpartum ovulation - so no period between pregnancies! - and my kids are 25 months apart. I did not wean my first child until 20 months of age, when I was 5 months pregnant. I say this only to point out that you CAN get pregnant while nursing and can continue to nurse while pregnant. 36 is not that old, and even if it takes you 6 months longer than you thought, that's not that long in the grand scheme of things. I would probably just continue to nurse your baby on demand, since this is the best thing you can do for her, and "pay attention" to your fertility signs. Check the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler for some good info on this. Also www.fertilityfriend.com is helpful. The trick to getting pregnant fast is to make sure you've done the deed at the right point in time, so basically whenever you notice fertile signs. You may have lots of "false alarms" before you actually ovulate the first time, so don't stress about it too much.

no, you don't have to stop nursing. my first child was 6 months when i got pregnant with my second.

and my second child was 9 months when i got pregnant with my third. we wanted them close together. i nursed til a year for my two oldest (and hope to do so with my third as well). neither of my two that nursed while i was pregnant had a problem with my milk changing taste, and i did not have a problem with supply after getting pregnant.

also, my period had not come back with either when i got pregnant while nursing. i didn't know my cycles (obviously), so it was kind of hit or miss, but we got pregnant fairly quick both times. everyone's different, though. i'd say just check with your OBGYN to get their opinion.

good luck!

I got pregnant while nursing my daughter, but she was much older than your baby. Your period will probably resume once the baby is eating more solids. Then you can get pregnant.

Once I was pregnant, I weaned my daughter because I did not want to nurse while I had a big tummy, nor did I want to nurse two at once.

I was 35 when my daughter was born and almost 38 when my son was born. Sooooo glad I spaced them out. You have no idea what it is like to have two, and your first is not a toddler yet. You may want to re-think the timing... but I understand your concern about age, it's valid, too. We were extremely fertile both times; got pregnant easily. If it was easy for you the first time, maybe it will be the second time, too??

Just FYI - I nursed regularly until my son weaned himself at 10 months, and I didn't cycle again until two months after that. So, that might be something to take into consideration.

Whatever you decide to do, I would talk to your doctor and/or a lactation consultant about it. Good luck!

S.

I too got pregnant while I was nursing and I was nursing and pumping exclusively (no supplemental formula or water). My oldest was 5 months old when I conceived, and I hadn't yet had a period from her birth. I went a year and a half without a period at because of both pregnancies and nursing.

You can get pregnany while nursing, but keep in mind that your cycle will not be regular or predictable until your hormone level returns to a natural cycle.

Schedule an appointment with your OBGYN to discuss this. Also please keep in mind that your doctor will likely encourage you to wait at least a year b/w pregnancies. Closer than that increases the likelihood of delivery complications.