Ovulating Again After Weaning

Hey S.-
I've had many friends that got pregnant shortly after having a child. In fact, I know of one that did the dirty deed while she was still in the hospital. I can't imagine there being satisfaction but lets not get into that! She got pregnant instantly! My other friends got pregnant about one to two months after having their baby. I would say go go go... why wait! Good Luck!

(See breastfeeding and fertility here)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html#achieve

Why not relax and enjoy mothering your first baby and giving him 100% until your body is ready?

You will almost certainly get your period back while breastfeeding, it's not at all common for women to find it impossible to concieve while nursing, (with patience). So there is no reason to wean early and deprive your first baby of the milk he needs to get the best start. Indeed, many women nurse their first child while pregnant with the second.

The reason for the delay, in terms of our biology, is that
your body is trying to allow adequate spacing between children so that your infant has sufficient time as the only nursling, not just for nutritional benefit, but for all the other aspects of nurturing that you can provide when there is a single baby to care for. If you wean your infant from the breast now, you might be able to *trick* your physiology into ovulating early. (If your body thinks the first baby has died, it will start ovulating sooner, but that also will have hormonal implications) But your body tends to self-regulate and ovulation will start when the body is ready.

When a newborn comes along, the older child has to deal with no longer being the baby, and if they are still clinging to mom, it can be very hard on them.

In addition to the added stress and emotional drain on mom, but it can stress your body when it is still recovering from the first pregnancy. Do you really
have any idea how hard it is to deal with a stormy toddler and a younger baby at the same time?

=====Oh, and just an FYI - I hope I haven't gotten you too mad already, but I got my period back 10 months after birth, for 2 kids in a row. And that was with lots of nursing and pumping twice a day at work. But I waited until to get pregnant again, so they'd be 3 years apart. It worked out great - the oldest one ADORES the younger one - there's very little rivalry but they are close enough to enjoy playing together. And I'm sure it's a coincidental, but almost all of his classmates with younger sibs are just about 3 years younger, and all of their mothers agree that the timing worked out just right.

I didn't get my period until 8 months after my son was born. My cycle started to become more "regular" shortly after I stopped nursing him (at 11 month old). However, we've been having a hard time getting pregnant with our second child even though I got pregnant fairly quickly with my first child (w/in 4 months of going off the pill). We started having unprotected sex in march of 2006 (when my son was 6 months old) and still no pregnancy. Each person is different. Good luck.

Actually, you could still be ovulating while you are breastfeeding. My sister-in-law became pregnant twice (she has a total of five kids) while breastfeeding. Her son was 7 months old when she became pregnant with her daughter. My neighbor also found out she was three months pregnant and she was still breastfeeding also. Both of them did not have their periods yet. I got my period about 9 months after my son was born and 7 months after my daughter was born and I was still breastfeeding them until they were a year old. My neighbor also had fertility issues with her first and became pregnant the second time without any help! In fact, she did not even know she was pregnant until she was about 3 months along. Good luck!

Hi S.,
I am a mom of 7 and grammy of 2, but I went through what you did with my first 2 children. It took me several months for my cycle to regulate itself and to get pregnant with my second daughter, but after you have a baby, often fertility issues right themselves. My non-professional advice to you is just to relax, enjoy your baby, and when your body is ready, pregnancy will come. If you know a local midwife or Nutritional Consultant, they can tell you some supplements you can take for uterine support also.

Blessings,
D. ____@____.com

Everyone's body is different. With my first son I breastfed him until he was about 21 months. I started my period again after six months and got pregnant 4 months after that. I nursed him all the way through my pregnancy and for about a month afterwards. With my second son I also breastfed for about 21 months. I started my period 4 months after he was born.

Everything I have ever read or heard from a doctor says that even if you're breastfeeding and not having periods, it doesn't mean you aren't ovulating or about to. I know several mothers who have gotten pregnant again while breastfeeding. You may very well be ovulating already.

Hi, I breastfed my youngest son for 2 years. I started having a period when he was 12 months old. I know once you start feeding the baby solids and therefore nurse him less, your body starts getting ready to start a regular cycle again. With my first son, I only breastfed him for like 3 months, and I started my period when he was 4 months old. And yes, everybody is different, but that was my personal experience. I would say start trying if you are ready to get pregnant again. Good luck!

I too have a 6 month old and I have just weaned him. I got my cycle this week, so it took 6 weeks for me. I have 4 children, and 4-6 weeks is the average time with each of them that it took.
You are right, every one is different, if it takes a few weeks don't panic, you will begin ovulating again. But if you are overly concerned about it, give your ob/gyn a call. They will definately be able to put you mind at ease and at the very least they will have a heads up to be looking for you in their office again.

You may want to ask your doctor. I have a 5 month old son and I started my period about 2 months after he was born, even though I am still breastfeeding. But yes, everyone is different, and your fertility issues before may be causing the delayed start in your cycle. Good luck getting pregnant with #2!

Why would you want to become pregnant again?your body hasnt even had time to heal from the first one,it takes a good year to get your body back where it needs to be.Enjoy this baby while you can why rush things?Two small babys at one time is very hard on a person trust me i know..I would wait at least two years before i would try again and you will be glad you did when you get the enjoyment from this one.M.

Hi S., Do you have PCOS? It is the largest cause of female infertility and yet so many women do not know about it. Just do a google search for PCOS.

When I weaned both of my older children I had to go back to the doctor after several months to get meds to induce a cycle. It just never would start. So if you are like me and once the baby is completely weaned go to the doctor for help.

You ovulate before your period resumes in many cases. Normally, it is a very fertile time after having a child. You don't necessarily have to wean your child, just start trying!!! I have had many friends accidentally get pregnant while breastfeeding!! They didn't realize you don't need to have a period to get pregnant during this time!

You're right, everyone is different. I got pregnant the second time immediately WHILE breastfeeding my first son. I weaned him 2 months prior to giving birth only because I didn't want to tandem nurse. (I have a friend who breastfed until 2 weeks before giving birth.) For my first son, it took us about 10 months to become pregnant. So we were surprised when we became pregnant after the first try (while breastfeeding!) with our second. Your daughter is young and may benefit for the immunities and nutrition that only your milk can provide. You may want to research it further and speak to an ob/gyn that supports breastfeeding mothers. And then, of course make the decision that is right for you. The best of luck.

D. D

Hello!
Keep in mind that you do not have to "see" your period to be ovulating. You can certainly become pregnant while you are still breastfeeding. Keep tring for awhile without the worries. Best of luck!

I have heard you are the most fertile when you are nursing. I would try now and continue nursing as long as possible. I know a couple different people that have gotten pregnant while nursing. Good luck! Enjoy that baby as much as possible and don't stress to much about getting pregnant, and I bet it will happen.

I began ovulating when my daughter was about 6 months old, and she was still nursing quite a bit. I know other women who didn't begin to ovulate again for a few months after baby was weaned, so I think everyone is different. You may not even need to wean entirely in order to get pregnant-I got pregnant while I was still nursing our first daughter, and she weaned when I was 3 months pregnant on her own. Good luck!!

Personally I would keep breatfeeding and just have sex every day. Breastfeeding is best and plus you are MOST fertile when breastfeeding.

Just because you are not having a period does not mean you are not ovulating. That is why when people say you can't get pregnent while breastfeeding, they usually end up pregnant.

So keep the booby baby a booby baby and have as much sex as you want!

S.,

I had the same issues as you did. I nursed my now four-year old daughter until about 14 months. My period did not resume until 3 months after. By that point, I had turned 40. I needed to seek fertility treatment right around that point, when it was found my FSH level had risen to 14.59. Have you had that checked yet? Did you treat with an RE?

All is not without a good outcome as I now am looking at my nearly one-year old daughter crawling around at my feet, born at the ripe old age of 42. Albeit she came after 3 IVFs and 7 IUIs (one being an injectable cycle), but she's here and she's with all my parts.

Some women regain their cycles quickly after birth, even if they are nursing. Some women (like myself, and I'm guessing, like you) tend to have a prolactin level that prohibits ovulation. You're right about weaning your little one. It's tough, I know, but that's really the only way I know to get your cycle back up and running.

One thing I tried with the last IVF cycle was acupuncture and ultrasound treatment on my ovaries. This was courtesy of Dr. Li Hua in Sandy Springs, GA. I give it mostly to her for Corinne's having been born. I would absolutely contact this lady, if it's not too far for you. There is definitely something to be said for gentility and compassion, both of which Dr. Hua has in abundance.

Let me know if you need any other info.

Good luck!

E.

Hi S.,
I too had fertility issues and I had to have help getting pregnant, the first time. After I stopped completely nursing (the first time) it was about 8 weeks before I had a period. And I only had one and got pregnant right after that. I wasn't expecting that because I was told I would probably need help again to get pregnant, so it was a wonderful surprise. The second time I stopped nursing, I started about 4 weeks after stopping. I know people who have started having their period anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months after they've stopped and I also know people that started their period while they were still nursing and others that got pregnant while still nursing and not had a period. So everyone is different. Just enjoy the good part of not having one. I forgot how nice it was not to have them.

My son was 18 months before my period started-I nursed him until a little past two. I've had one period since January 2005 because I became pregnant after just one period and while nursing-it was a planned pregnancy so, chances are we could have gotten pregnant earlier. You will probably ovulate before you actually get a period, and could even already be ovulating. It's a myth that you can't get pregnant while nursing! I say to start trying, but keep nursing! the longer you nurse, the healthier the outcome for the babe you have already been blessed with! good luck.

Most people do not begin thier cycle until they are completely done breastfeeding. 2 to 3 months after you start your regular cycle again youshould be on a regular ovulation cycle....although everyone is different. Good Luck!

check with your lacation specialist or a doctor but I am pretty sure that a lack of menstration does not mean that you arent ovulating...you can get pregnant. for some reason breastfeeding some times stops the blood but doesnt stop the ovulating and ability to get pregnant. a simple phone call to one or the other would answer your question.

You could be ovulating now. I got pregnant when my daughter was 6 mos. old... still breast feeding but not taking the pill. Can't remember if I had periods, but I'm sure they weren't regular at that point. If I were you, I'd just mother your first like you want to and let nature take it's course. Re: a couple of posts about close pregancies... I had zero problems with my pregnancy or birth so close to the first, and while the first year or two is a challenge, it's great having them so close... they are great friends and like to do all of the same things.

S.,
I'm still nursing my 10 1/2 month old. My cycle returned at 8 months. Just because you are nursing doesn't mean your period goes away. You could wean and it still not return for a couple few more months. In stuff I've read, your body doesn't completely recover from pregnancy until 9 months...so if I were you I'd wait a few months and let your body recover.

Good luck.
Aimee

I nursed my daughters until they were 18 months old. My periods started back up when my daughter was right about 12 months old. I was pregnant with my 2nd a few months later. After my 2nd daughter was born, I tried the depo shot which completely screwed up my system - alas that's a story for a whole 'nother time!

Your cycles will start when your body is ready and when they do, they may be different than they were before you had your baby (i.e. decreased or increased cramps, etc.).

In the meantime, enjoy the break!