https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 07:58:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2716535 Sun, 26 Mar 2017 19:58:54 +0000 Run2shore 2716535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama thought I would update!</p> <p> I weaned my now 16 mo old a month ago. Got a positive on a pregnancy test today. Not sure if the weaning did it (I also began acupuncture at the same time) or it was just coincidence. We tried in January and February while I was still BF with no luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2704183 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 01:37:19 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2704183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama I have read the same thing that @cityliving suggests regarding cervical mucus to determine if I am at least ovulating. I am not sure if we will really start trying until I wean this kid. He is nursing as I type this, oy. I had really hoped to not force him to wean but he is not giving up the boob and I am not getting any younger! It breaks a little piece of me but I also know that I have become his comfort or maybe a human pacifier 😉, all things I swore I wouldn't do. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2704117 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 21:42:22 +0000 cityliving 2704117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: got it. I don't have any advice for that specifically then but did want to add that if you're trying to track cycles etc (possibly before you get your first period) then my endocrinologist said that tracking cervical mucus was more effective then ovulation tests or temping which I found helpful. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702804 Sat, 25 Feb 2017 10:45:21 +0000 pachamama 2702804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cityliving: I went to an RE and got the whole infertility workup (FSH 33, AMH .1... SO bad). I really don't know how i got pregnant (naturally to boot). It was a miracle. Sometimes I think I used my last good egg. Which is ok I guess, I got a great baby:-)<br /> @MACSUNSHINE: How can you track your cycles with no period? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702799 Sat, 25 Feb 2017 09:41:04 +0000 catlady 2702799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to get pregnant easily (twice) while still nursing, but I lost both pregnancies. I never really believed that the nursing had anything to do with it (I had previously had a miscarriage before LO, so obviously not nursing then). But right after I weaned, I got pregnant again and that one stuck. I like to think it's coincidence but who knows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702793 Sat, 25 Feb 2017 08:38:41 +0000 Astro Bee 2702793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you need to stop nursing. I was in your shoes last Spring. I went back to work at 1 year, and cut our nursing sessions down to 3 times a day: morning, after daycare/work, and night. It wasn't until 13 1/2 months that I got my period back, but my doctor said it was entirely possible I was still ovulating and able to get pregnant. We were already ready to start TTC. The timing didn't work out for the first couple of cycles because of work travel , but they were regular (for me) 29-31 day cycles. Around this time we went down to twice a day. I got pregnant on my 4th cycle (3 periods), and was still nursing 1-3 times a day (more when he was sick and on weekends). I finally stopped when DS was 18 months old and I was around 3 months pregnant. It was getting really uncomfortable for me with the over-sensitive nipples. He also developed impetigo on his face and I was worried about it being transmitted while I was pregnant.</p> <p>I got pregnant with my second at age 35 (33 for my first) and although I don't know about my egg quality, I don't feel that my age contributed to my period returning later. I think some women just produce higher levels of prolactin while nursing. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702726 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:46:50 +0000 danda 2702726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant while nursing - my period returned at 10 months pp though. I'm now still nursing my son just once per day (or not at all on occasion if I'm not home for bedtime, or 2x on weekends because I'll nurse to sleep for nap and bedtime). Once per day is definitely do-able and still have some milk! Your supply will maintain whatever you are doing. With that said, pregnancy itself can dry you up - which contributed to me weaning around the beginning of 2nd trimester. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702629 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:44:20 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2702629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could have written this exact post, my son is also 13 months and we would love to start trying for a second but he is nursing obsessed and I'm struggling with weaning him. He nurses much more than your son and I have no sign of a period, I may start trying to track my cycles. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702396 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:47:12 +0000 YogiRunner 2702396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following. Super helpful thread so far </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702355 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 08:58:26 +0000 cityliving 2702355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you assuming egg quality issues generally because of age or for some other reason? I had PCOS (depending on which doctor I talked to) which impacted egg quality with the excess testosterone. My doctor theorized that nursing was actually helping my egg quality (as evidenced by the fact that I was getting a period which I hadn't been getting naturally pre pregnancy at all) since it produces extra estrogen. I just found out I was pregnant last week on the same day I fully weaned my 16 month old (she was nursing 2-3 x a day before that.) Good luck with your decision! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702299 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:05:25 +0000 Peasinapod 2702299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got my period back at 18 months and I was still nursing on demand (boob obsessed lo) got pregnant when she was 19 months and weaned her at 22 months. I don't know if I had continued to nurse if it would have affected my ability to stay pregnant but I was almost 3 months and it didn't seem to cause a problem. I only weaned because I did not want to tandem nurse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702285 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 02:44:01 +0000 Kemma 2702285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had one successful pregnancy while nursing and one miscarriage so I really think it can be luck if the draw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702203 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 22:05:13 +0000 Greentea 2702203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine didn't come back until 14 months while I was nursing (I nursed until 2). It could be just around the bend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2702197 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:49:58 +0000 anonysquire 2702197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm no expert but I've never stopped nursing to TTC. I only stopped nursing my 2 toddlers with my 3rd pregnancy when I found out my LO wasn't growing. I was probably 30+ weeks at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701940 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:24:53 +0000 Anya 2701940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I unfortunately did have to stop nursing in order to get pregnant. Even when I was only nursing 1-2x a day, my cycle never came back until after I had completely weaned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701930 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:06:11 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2701930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant while nursing a newborn.<br /> It totally depends on your body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701868 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:30:47 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2701868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it really is just dependent on your body unfortunately. Some can nurse around the clock and get a period, get pregnant, and nurse as long as they want. Some can nurse around the clock and not get a period and get pregnant. </p> <p>I was down to twice a day at 12 months, (but got my period back at 7 months pp) so that we could ttc and I got pregnant at 13 months and weaned just in case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701857 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:22:29 +0000 LindsayLou 2701857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As others have said, everyone is so different. Personally, I can get pregnant while breastfeeding but staying pregnant was a struggle. My period returned at 10.5 months postpartum, while kiddo was still nursing 6-8 times per 24 period. My cycle was regular right away, and I got pregnant immeadiately. But I had 3 early losses in 3 months. I got pregnant again when my daughter was 15.5 and had dropped down to nursing 2-3 times a day. I'm 12 weeks now, and kiddo still nurses at bedtime and usually once during the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701852 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:19:29 +0000 JennyPenny 2701852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: No advice about nursing and TTC, but wanted to pop in and say that I nursed my son 1 time per day only for about 5 months. And when we weaned it was just because he wasn't interested anymore, not because of supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701826 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:07:37 +0000 Iced Tea 2701826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same issue at 15 months. I was breastfeeding 3-5 times a day and didn't really want to stop breastfeeding until closer to two years old. I visited a reproductive acupuncturist for treatment to encourage ovulation. After the second session, I did ovulate (confirmed with OPK) and got pregnant. So I didn't even get a PP period. Had a miscarriage that time, but got a sticky pregnancy two cycles later. And I'm still breastfeeding my 2 year old at 25 weeks pregnant. Now breastfeeding is painful, though, so only once or twice a day; I make colostrom now. </p> <p>Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701751 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:18:09 +0000 MrsSRS 2701751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant while nursing just a couple times a day. I had a period, but it was weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701746 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:16:44 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2701746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got my period back while I was nursing 2x a day. I got pregnant immediately after my period came back. You could ttc for a few months and if nothing happens consider weaning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701743 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:14:21 +0000 snowbaby 2701743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every woman is different. I have many friends who ended up with surprise pregnancies while nursing before they got their first PP period (and a lot of these ladies continued to BF successfully during their pregnancies). For what it's worth, though, I didn't start ovulating until I completely weaned at 15 months, even though I was down to only one nursing session a day for the last month. This wasn't surprising to me, though, because I seem to have "lazy" ovaries that are very sensitive (or insensitive, maybe?) to hormonal changes (case in point: I didn't start ovulating until 9 months after I got off hormonal birth control - agonizing wait when you are TTC). Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701728 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:01:23 +0000 MrsBrewer 2701728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd like to offer just my experience.</p> <p>My period didn't return until 2 weeks after I cut out all nursing sessions. I wasn't ovulating at all while I was nursing either, I would track my BBT so I'm almost 99% certain. I weaned my daughter at 14 months because we were TTC for 6-7 month prior with no luck just because I wouldn't ovulate. </p> <p>Sure enough though, I got my period right away, and then I got pregnant that very next cycle! I will also add, it took my almost 1 year to get pregnant with DD1 with PCOS issues, but I didn't have any issues at all trying to get pregnant this 2nd time around, but I needed to wean 100%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701718 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:50:30 +0000 shellio 2701718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everyone is different. I got pregnant while BFing and then had a miscarriage, I quit nursing around 6-7 weeks because of the increased risk of MC but it was too late. I don't know if your LO wakes to nurse overnight but my period didn't come back till I was not waking to feed overnight. Like others have said, you might as well DTD often just in case you catch that first PP ovulation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701709 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:47:24 +0000 Run2shore 2701709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama it seems that my supply dipped a bit when I dropped to 2, and I imagine supply will decrease going down to 1. But may be enough to do a nighttime session?? I have also started giving bottle with WCM either before or after nighttime feed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701708 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:44:05 +0000 justjules 2701708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant while nursing 4-5x a day! Much to our surprise. DS was only 9mo old at the time. I nursed him for half of the pregnancy till he self weaned at 14 mos(I think my supply started to drop a lot) I'm now due in 2 months and nursing while I was pregnant didn't seem to affect the pregnancy at all. Wishing you :goodluck: TTC </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701707 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:43:29 +0000 skipra 2701707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant while nursing twice. After my first we never prevented and I never got my period back but got pregnant about 11 months pp. After my second my period came back around 14 months pp. So it can happen. I will say, even if you do get pregnant while still nursing, nursing while pregnant can be super uncomfortable to painful. So I would suggest that you go into it with the expectation that your nursing relationship will be ending either way and just wait until you are ready for that. But hopefully you'll be able to get pregnant and continue nursing. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701702 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:39:27 +0000 mrswin 2701702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: my period never returned until I dropped all overnight feeds. Also our RE would not sign off on any new treatment cycles until we stopped nursing because there seems to be some correlation with higher rates of loss </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-really-have-to-stop-nursing-to-ttc#post-2701699 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 13:37:23 +0000 lilteacherbee 2701699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got pregnant with my second and third while still nursing, but my period had returned a few months prior both times. I think dropping nursing sessions helped- I was only nursing 1-2 times a day when I got pregnant (both babies were 12-13 months). </p>