Have you stopped BFing to TTC

[kar]

As the title says, has anyone stopped BFing because they want to start TTC?

F is almost 9 mths old and it took us a while to get knocked up with him and we want our bubbas closish together BUT my body is not cooperating and I haven't got AF back even though F has been sleeping through 11-5 for about 2 mths and 7-5 for about a month.

We would like to start TTC but I feel like I would be cheating F if I stopped BFing in order to try and speed things up.

Who would have thought I would be wishing AF upon myself :rolleyes:

[Areca]

Not stopped no, but I do feel your pain.
DD1 we conceived very easily...fell pregnant the first month we tried, the first time we had unprotected sex. We assumed it would be just as easy second time round.
DD2 was 7 months of TTC (not that long I know but long when you're extremely fertile like DH and I are). What I did start doing was expressing so that I had a good supply of bm in the freezer....the plan was to cut DD1 back but use ebm in bottles over formula. That way she was still getting bm! Unfortunately when she was 10 months old we found out she had food allergies and I had to throw away litres upon litres of breastmilk.

I went and saw an acupuncturist when DD1 was 11 months old. I had reduced her feeds (and she was happy to do so) to 4 feeds a day at this stage, she then continued to reduce them to two feeds a day. I fell pregnant my first cycle with the use of acupuncture. I saw a woman who specialises in women's fertility. DD1 was 12 months old when I fell pregnant...I weaned her when she was 14 months because of major breast aversion when pregnant.

DS - We weren't ttc at all. But I had one regular cycle and then was pregnant. DD2 was down to 2 feeds a day. I fell pregnant when DD2 was 16 months. She was weaned at 18 1/2 months...major breast aversion and major pain when feeding due to pregnancy hormones.

I do believe that the acupuncture helped kick start everything first time round. Had we been going down the ttc route I would've had more acupuncture to get my body working (it was something we had discussed before deciding our family was complete).

I understand the want for a close age gap...there's 21 months between DD1 and DD2. They are now 2 and almost 4 and they are the best of friends. When they were younger I would've liked for there to be an 18 month age gap, that would have been perfect IMO but watching them now the 21 months is awesome. I just hope that they are as close to DS.

I wouldn't wean before 12 months personally but it is a personal choice and one you need to make for your family. Lots of people will say no, because breastmilk is so valuable, and it is...but it is also one aspect of parenting.
I love having my kids close in age and I would do it again if I had my time over. Actually, I probably would've started with acupuncture a bit earlier. My DD1 has asked me to express some breastmilk for her in to a cup so she can drink it. She had a taste and liked it but at the end of the day I'm too selfish to go back on her super strict diet so she can have bm regularly. If she didn't have so many allergies, or if DS presents with similar allergies down the track, I'll happily express for her to have a cup of breastmilk a couple of times a week.

[MellyMumma]

Hi Kar :wave:


Tough call but only one you make. You've done an awesome job to feed for 9 months and given him a wonderful start to life. If you keep feeding him its only going to benefit him and if you don't then it will benefit him with a sibling :D. You have to decide on whats best for you and F and go from there. Can you cut back on feeds to try and encourage af to come but then he'll still benefit from the feeds you are giving him?


Heres some af vibes for you :goodvibes::goodvibes:


Hope you get some magic soon :babydust2::wizard:

[Miss_Vicki]

just cause u have not got your afs dont mean you cant fall preg ;)

i wouldnt give up breast feeding just to make another , but thats me :D id do both haha bf an make babies

[MummaFug]

I know I am not really answering your question BUT wanted to share my story ..

I BF DS until he was 18mths old. I got AF back when he was about 10mths old and got pregnant when he was 15.5 mths old and that was not really even trying to get Preggers...

SO it is possible to get pregnant while BF (actually I think it was easier) ..


GOODLUCK !!

[kar]

thanks girls, i know it is possible - and am constantly wondering whether maybe i am as i had no symptoms with F until i started to actually show at around 20 wks, i honestly wouldn't have known i was!

sometimes i think i should just forget all about it and work it out when i am half way through the pregnancy and not have the annoying full 9 mth wait :laughing:

well, i'll keep mulling it over and see how we go. it may be my body's way of telling me that i am out of my mind to even be contemplating it!

Hi Melly, how are you?? :wave:

[MellyMumma]

I'm good thanks :D.

You must keep me informed on how you're going!! :yes: I'm very excited for you!

[bronny-jane]

SO it is possible to get pregnant while BF (actually I think it was easier) ..
!

:iagree: im still bf my son, he will be 2 in january, i got my af back when he was 18 months, just found out im pg without trying;)...

[demeter]

I guess what I would draw to your attention is that weaning doesn't necessarily mean you will get pregnant. Making a baby is so much more of an art than a science in some respects ;)

My period came back when DD was 12-13 months and we are still breastfeeding at 21 months with no signs of slowing down, but I am definitely ovulating (thank-you billings method ovulation for all your educating!). So I know it's not the BFing stopping me from conceiving :)

Have you read much about breastfeeding and fertility/breastfeeding and pregnancy? I found that really interesting:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBfertility.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBpregnancy.html
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/tandem.html

HTH

[BoyCrazy]

nope, i fell pregnant whilst bf my 2.5yr old at the time. :)

[MummaMilk]

No we didn't stop, we fell pg with DS2 when DS1 was 5mths so it is possible :) demeter gave you some good links! Personally I would never wean a child under 2 to TTC, have you read up on tandem feeding?