Want to get pregnant

[milkymaid]

My DS is 15 months old and still breastfeeding :o)  The hubs and I would like to have another baby but I have yet to have my cycle return.  I would rather not wean DS until he's ready.  Any suggestions?

[Marissamom]

it's hard to say how much you would have to cut back to regain you fertility. for some it only takes a 4-hour period between nursing sessions once or twice a day, other moms can't get pregnant until they have weaned completely. how often is he nursing now? can you stretch the time between nursing some? I know a couple of moms that night-weaned their toddler in order to conceive.

[milkymaid]

We are nursing in the morning before getting out of bed, to go down for his afternoon nap, early evening (not daily) and to go to sleep at night.  I also pump after nursing, twice a day (during his nap and after he's out for the night).  He is mostly night weaned.  We go 6-8 hours without nursing at night.

[violetflapjack]

It seems like slowing down nursing as the other mamas have suggested could be a benefit since prolactin inhibits fertility....

But the other thing that I think of is maybe tying to pump up your nutrient intake through eating some extra helpings of nutrient packes foods (especially organ meats if you're into that kind of thing, leafy greens, etc.) and perhaps trying some nutrient rich fertility promoting herbs as tonics.  Raspberry left, red clover, nettle, alfalfa, oat straw, and kelp are all safe while nursing.  That might give your body the boost it needs to kick back into ovulation.  I also think that setting a strong intention to regain your fertitlity can do a lot to help your cycle come back after birth...I feel like that was the case for me anyway.

Hope this helps!  Good luck!

[brackin]

I would stop pumping, if that's an option for you.  

My cycle returned at 28 months, 24 months, and has not returned yet as my youngest is 13 months, but I'm an unusual case, I think.  I went on to nurse throughout my second two pregnancies and then tandem nursed after my second two were born.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that I didn't have to cut back nursing too much, but I had stopped pumping when my cycle returned.  HTH and good luck!

[akind1]

I think this differs for everyone: my cycle returned at 4 months PP, but irregular and sometimes annovulatory. DS is 14 months now and I am 5 weeks pregnant. We had cut back quite a bit recently with nursing and I think that may have helped.

It may not hurt to try some of the hormone-regulating herbs and things a PP suggested. Do you WOH? otherwise I wouldn't pump. I was so glad to hang mine up at 12 months! (I do WoH, but DS is happy eating solids and drinking water and OJ while I do, and nursing when I am available)

Good luck!

[Julybug]

I think it's highly variable.  I've known people who were exclusively nursing who got their periods back at 5-6mo PP, and some not until past 24mo.  I myself just got mine back (YAY!!!!) last night - my son is 18.5mo.  I have PCOS, am almost 35, and we did IVF to have my son, so I was particularly anxious to have my period come back (a necessary but not sufficient first step toward hopefully getting pregnant with a second child).  A friend of mine had no fertility issues before having her son, didn't get her period back until 25mo, got pregnant a few months later, and is only now (at around 18wks pregnant) planning to night-wean her son soon.

I run with a very AP-influenced crowd, some of which hold that night weaning can be pretty tough on your little one if it's done much before 18mo, because it's tough to reason with them and have them understand the idea of "nursies are going night-night until morning" or however you try to tell them you would rather not nurse overnight. 

I haven't tried to night wean yet - my son still nurses and absolute minimum of twice during the overnight hours.  (He starts out in his crib, and almost always winds up in bed with us for the last few hours of the night.)  But even without night-weaning, despite my PCOS and history of irregular/absent ovulation, I got mine back at 18mo.  So it can happen.

If you don't need to do those pumping sessions, that is probably the easiest thing to cut out.  (Are you doing it as a "just in case" when you're away from him, or because you're worried about supply...?)  Maybe gradually cut out the pumping and see over a few weeks if you notice any signs that your period is "trying" to come back. 

Tracking (temps and cervical fluids) can be really helpful for having a sense of if your period is trying to arrive.  Even with my issues, I had noticed that I seemed to be getting a lot of fluid about two weeks ago, possibly signaling ovulation - but I wasn't holding my breath given my history.  But - my period DID arrive!  :)

The other thing - please don't hate me for saying this - is to maybe try to be a bit patient for another few months.  Statistically, you're likely to get your period in the next few months, especially if you reduce the feedings a little or space them out.  Maybe giving yourself a little more time is all you need to do.  Despite my situation, I had told myself I wouldn't push night weaning or whatever until my son was 24mo old - I wanted to give the child I have what he needs before trying to raise the odds of having anther one (knowing it might not happen).  I'm glad that at least I have this big step in the right direction, even if it took over 18mo.

Good luck!

[milkymaid]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Sorry I am so late getting back to this!  Great information and it is much appreciated

[lactatinggirl]

In the TTC section there's a nursing TTC thread. You should check it out. 

[milkymaid]

Will do, thanks!

[milkymaid]

I took a quick look for the thread but there seem to be many.  What is the title of it or can you send me a link to it?  Thanks!

[lactatinggirl]

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1300630/nursing-mamas-ttc-march

[jessafina]

hi milkymaid, I was in the same situation. DS was 14 months and nursing plenty and i was ready to get pregnant. i was hoping it would come back when he night weaned at 13 mos, but no luck. so at 14/15months i reduced nursing to 3 times a day: am, nap and night time. I got my period back within about a 6 weeks and was fortunate enough get pregnant on my second ovulation. DS is 19.5 months now. It sounds like you're still nursing and pumping quite a bit and it might take a drastic reduction to signal your body to kick it into gear. 

I'm happy to say that DS is still nursing 3 rimes a day and i hope to continue through pregnancy.

[Ava's Mama]

Hi there!  My DD is 25 months and I didn't get my first PPAF until 22 months.  I stopped pumping at 16 months because DD no longer wanted breastmilk at daycare, just water.  When my AF returned at 22 months, DD had night weaned on her owne 2 weeks prior, so I think that is why it returned.  But since then she is now nursing a couple times at night again (travel, illness, two year molars) and my AF is still around.  Just wanted to share my experience!  Good luck!