I was told to wait a year to TTC after I wean my son, is this good advice?

[Athora80]

A friend on facebook told me it's recommended to wait a year after I wean to try to conceive if I have digestive(gut) issues . Due to the fact that nursing takes so much from me and if I am nutrient deficient the health of all of us with suffer. I have reflux and inactive gastritis and thought about going on the GAPS diet to see if it helps. I found out I'm vit d deficient also and I'm supplementing for that currently.

The issue is that my husband and I want to try for our second child in April of 2012 but my one year old son might not be weaned anytime soon (he loves mamas milk!). I also read somewhere else that if you are going to conceive, you should do the GAPS diet 6 months before you try. I don't want to conceive and put my unborn child at risk, although I know many people who nurse while pregnant. Any advice would be great! 

[zoe77]

Can you do the GAPS diet while nursing?  I would think so, but I haven't looked into it that much.  I would start that and make sure you get your D level up before conceiving.  Do as much healing now while you are still breastfeeding.  Eat a nutrient dense fertility diet to prepare your body to conceive.  If you are doing that all now I don't see why you would need to stop breastfeeding and then wait a full year to conceive.  And who is making the recommendation?  What is her source?

[Jaimee]

I've never heard that exact advice before, but I also am not specifically dealing with gastritis (that I know of). I do have nutrient deficiencies, however, while breastfeeding. I can tell b/c I develop sebhorreic dermatitis on my scalp and eyelids. Itchy and gross. Several dermatologists have told me it has nothing to do with nutrients, but I think that is ridiculous along with their advice to use steroids. At any rate, I agree that making your body as healthy as possible prior to conceiving is a good thing. You may also find that your body will not let you conceive until it feels ready enough. Even though I had AF back around 8 months pp, my cycles were not fertile until my dd started to reduce her nursing sessions and STTN around 2 years of age (so 16 months after I got AF back). My body knew that it could sustain another pregnancy at that point, but prior to it, no way.

Are you charting to know that you are ovulating and have a fertile length LP? I think that would be my first step along with altering your diet however makes sense for your particular issues. Then see how your ds is doing with nursing as you approach April. You might find that you feel differently when the time comes to TTC- in either direction.

[Stevi]

I don't see any reason why you cannot start making changes that will improve your health now. It would seem that being healthier yourself would also benefit the child you're currently nursing.