https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:03:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1435302 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 23:31:27 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1435302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Keppa: I so so so feel you. That's how I feel too. I actually had a mini freak out earlier because for a minute t seemed like the lemon juice on my nipples worked too well and he had fully weaned before I was ready. He just dd a dream feed though so I am happy again. It made me realize that as much as I want a sibling for him I am not quite ready to go cold turkey either. Or at least not until I know more that that's what that will mean. Gonna say a little prayer that you and I are both pregnant and still nursing ASAP or by the end of the year the latest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1435152 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:31:52 +0000 Mrs. Oyster 1435152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>SO glad you asked this, and so happy to see everyone's answers. LO is currently 18mo and I got AF back right around when he turned 1. My first couple of cycles were very long, but ever since then I've had regular length cycles (~30days) but with LP's of only 3-4 days max - which is obviously not long enough to sustain a pregnancy :(<br /> LO still nurses 3-4x's during the day and at least once at night. I've tried to cut him back, but it's literally like pulling teeth and I'm just still not completely on board with cutting him off in order to fulfill my need for another baby (at least not today...ask me tomorrow and the answer might be different haha).<br /> I wish I was one of those people who could get pregnant while still BF'ing, but right now it's not looking good... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1435109 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:16:22 +0000 Maysprout 1435109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: It's hard when it's night and they're exhausted. I usually hold her tight and stand and sway until she settles back down (I took a couple hits). She fights it but it calms her down more quickly than anything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1435010 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:41:10 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1435010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: my son kicks and screams and wont let me hold him. he actually will kick and hit me. :( he is so angry at me. He wont take anything i offer either but i'll keep trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434923 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:08:35 +0000 Maysprout 1434923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped nursing her at night from like 11-6 (we co-slept) and that seemed to work. If she woke up crying I'd offer water and milk and if that didn't work I'd just hold her tight until she fell back to sleep (she did cry a little for a few nights). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434808 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:15:52 +0000 skipra 1434808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: Thanks! I really hope that you can figure something out so that you can get pregnant without weaning before you're both ready.<br /> I weaned DS during the night out of desperation when we were staying apart from DH so I was solo parenting during the week and totally exhausted. I put him to bed and then he would wake up anywhere from midnight to 3 am he would expect to come into bed with me and wanted to nurse on and off for the rest of the night. It was so annoying. To start off I went to bed wearing something that he couldn't gain easy access to me - like no tank tops or anything. When I'd take him to bed I would turn my back to him. The first few nights this didn't do anything and he'd start crying and pawing at me and trying to lift my shirt up. At that point I would get him a sippy cup with milk and he would drink a little. If he wasn't ready to go back to sleep and continued to whine and try to nurse I'd tell him to go to sleep or I was going to put him back in his crib. I only had to put him in his crib a few times. He'd cry for a few minutes until I'd give in and bring him back to bed. He'd have a little bit more milk and then go to sleep. At first we did this a couple times a night. Then he started to just go to sleep after having a little milk. Now that we are back home, DH gets him from his crib, brings him to bed, and he goes right back to sleep until 6am usually. (If he wakes up between 5 and 6 I'll nurse him and he'll go back to sleep but I won't nurse him again when he gets up for the day). We had some trouble when he was getting a couple teeth in and had to give him milk again but most of the time he doesn't even think about until the morning. I don't know if this is similar to the other method mentioned here. I didn't do any research just a little trial and error until we got something that worked. Now we just need him to STTN in his own crib! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434799 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:13:09 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1434799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lemondrop: hmm perhaps I just need a few more months then. My period has been back for 15 months but my sons nursing cycles have changed a bit throughout and I did skip a couple months in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434730 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:28:49 +0000 Kemma 1434730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: It's such a tough thing to find that balance between doing the right / best thing for your current LO and the desire to have another child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434707 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:06:33 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1434707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: I would LOVE to hear your night weaning while co sleeping strategy. </p> <p>@mrskc: For us it's just not gonna work for my husband to do the weaning. He has offered to try a few nights next weekend but in general he is a very angry bear when he doesnt sleep and he is such a light sleeper that i cant even have a monitor or door open when our son is sleeping in his room or it wakes him up and he cant sleep properly for work. I refuse to let my baby sleep without hearing him so i cosleep in his room with a side car crib. I love Dr. Jays suggestions but my son is so unwilling to take comfort from me. He kicks and hits me and paws and scratches for my boob. He sits straight up and refuses to lay down. He yells NO and pushes away all of my attempts to comfort him. If i talk to him or sing to him his screaming escalates and I swear that ever since i attampted to wean he has becoming more hellbent on nursing. Last night and the night before he nursed like a newborn. I kid you not. He does seem to have a molar coming in but i think it's more about protest than that. I am so so happy for you guys that you worked out your sleep situation and got pregnant with ease. I can't wait to see another beautiful baby from you two. I hope i can continue to nurse until my son is ready to fully stop without harming my fertility. </p> <p>@skipra: you are SO right.. It really does seem to differ from one person to the next. I am doing my part to experiement with different schedules, diet and suppliments over the next few months before i will throw in the towel. My age and low AMH mean i can't be too generous but i am trying to see if my body will adjust on its own. I honestly feel like my cycles were much better when my son would still take a pacifier at around 10 months but my husband was not ready to try then. C'est la vie. Congratulations again on your pregnancy and thanks for chiming in. </p> <p>@Kemma: Congrats on getting close. </p> <p>@Mrs. Deer: I'm really hoping to get longer stretches at night. Perhaps if i take a more subtle approach he will be less freaked out and more inclined to sleep longer periods in the night. </p> <p>@Adira: i think he is comfort nursing and not after the milk in large quantities. He loves to suckle for long periods though so it might be in our favor to have more milk so he will get more done. I have no idea how much he is taking in. </p> <p>@locavore_mama: I am so happy you finally got pregnant! I hope we can have the same and get pregnant without weaning. We shall see.</p> <p>@swurlygurl: thank you for sharing that story. </p> <p>@MamaChin: i hope i am as lucky as you are. </p> <p>@LulaBee: @emg86: @bushelandapeck: hmm it really does seem to differ for each woman. some women get periods and some dont too. I have had a cycle since 2 months PP but no luck with ovulation or luteal phase since he paci weaned himself. </p> <p>@Penny Lane: Thank you for sharing and for the well wishes.</p> <p>I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. I know many women who face this may like to visit this thread in the future to get an idea of the variety of ways it can go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434677 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:54:15 +0000 Kemma 1434677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: just writing on your Wall to avoid thread jacking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434642 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:37:52 +0000 Penny Lane 1434642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: how many cycles: three, I think. one of them was an iffy, was that really a full period, odd ball. I was 3.5 m PP when cycles started again. at that point I was feeding once at night (at 5am) and 3-4 hourly during the day</p> <p>I'm not sure if cycles changed, since we weren't "trying" I wasn't charting. they were a little shorter and lighter though?</p> <p>I got my bfp at 7m PP. at that point he was feeding 0-1 time a night, probably about half the nights he woke to feed and half he didn't. he was eating every 4-4.5 hours during the day. </p> <p>wishing you luck, mama! i wish I had some actual advice for you, but my LO gave up the boob himself at 10 months when pregnancy dried me up :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434641 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:36:48 +0000 mrskc 1434641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: It's such a HUGE improvement for us! He went from waking every 2 hours to sleeping all night. It's not consistent tho. We have nights where he'll wake at 2 am or 5 am but DH goes in there and puts him back to sleep pretty easily. Only thing is he wakes really early now. Usually 6-6:30 and it's impossible to get him to sleep any longer even if I try to bring him to bed with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434614 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:26:06 +0000 Kemma 1434614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: that's awesome that your little guy is pretty much STTN now! We're almost there but still doing a feed and bedsharing from about 5am </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434587 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:16:13 +0000 mrskc 1434587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: I'm rooting for you! I hope it happens for you soon! So is he sleeping in your bed? Have you heard of Dr. Gordon's method for night weaning? It's supposed to be gentle approach. I was going to try it but then DH took over middle of the night. He would sleep in DS's room with him on his floor bed. It took weeks and lots of tears but now he's pretty much STTN in his own room. </p> <p>I had my first period pp at 12.5 months and got pregnant during that next cycle. My cycle would have been probably 40ish days had I not got KU. Pre LO my cycles were 35 days long. He was still sleeping in our bed and waking up to nurse every 2 hours. I was a bit surprised that I got pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434392 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:21:07 +0000 skipra 1434392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck! It is hard to go off other people because some need to wean fully, others just at night, and others can get pregnant without trying.<br /> I was still nursing DS several times a day including overnight and hadn't gotten a real AF yet. I had just one or two days of light spotting when DS was almost 11 months and then found out I was pregnant a month later. (If you need any tips on overnight weaning when cosleeping I can let you know what we just did last month.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434221 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:23:21 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1434221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: that does give me hope even though I am more than 10 years older than you. It shows it can happen. </p> <p>@septca: yeah I mean I really do think that the only way to completely rule out a prolactin issue is to fully wean. Some people are more sensitive than others. You and I may both be a case of that (though I am super hopeful for you this cycle!!!). I guess I am hoping to find a way to get my fertility back without completely weaning by trying things. I have seen so many people become pregnant while nursing but I do have a super suckler. Even when he doesn't have many sessions he suckles endlessly so that's what I am going to try to work on for the time being. Then if that doesn't work we will just have to part with nursing and if he wants to nurse a bit here and there when I have the new baby that would be okay with me. My husband is out of town overnight for work and I am seriously considering sleeping in a separate room from my son to see if it shakes things up because I've read that even one or two drastic changes and trigger certain hormonal responses. That and lots of B6 to hopefully cut my supply down. My husband sleeps separate from us because he is too light a sleeper for me to even have the door open or a sound monitor in our room and I hit can't stand leaving him in his room with nothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434115 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:58:23 +0000 septca 1434115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: Interesting. I actually read about that (using grapefruit extract is common) yesterday when I was doing my weaning research - apparently it is really common in extended BFing cultures to use some sort of bad flavor to deter nursing.</p> <p>Lengthened cycles, later O, and shorter LPs were also things that I came across again and again in my research... all signs your hormones are still regulating. Most people said that their cycles returned to "normal" within 1-2 months of full weaning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434098 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:54:35 +0000 Bao 1434098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: Noooo they were so crazy! My cycles were 18-42 days, LP was really short most of the time, I have no idea how it happened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434067 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:49:02 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1434067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I hope that I am as lucky as you. Heaven knows I am not as young. We're your PP cycles the same as your old ones? Dd you O the same day? I am Oing five days later and have been having a short LP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434034 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:40:27 +0000 Bao 1434034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were still nursing about 3 times during the day and about 2 at night, it took two cycles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1434025 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:38:14 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1434025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks! My husband persuaded me o try putting lemon juice on my nipples this morning and it worked really well. Idler kind of bad for him he made such a face. He fussed a little hit but he wasn't as bad as last night. Not sure how that would go over in the witching hours though. I'd love to get him down to one session in the morning and one before bedtime and see how thy goes before fully weaning. I may do full wean aroundjune or July. He will be 21-22 months by then. We shall see. </p> <p>@travelgirl1: thinking of you my dear. Let me know how it goes and what works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433697 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:55:55 +0000 Mrs. Deer 1433697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many cycles? - 1. I randomly had a short period last August, but it came back for real at the end of December.</p> <p>Nursing amount: she had just started sleeping through the night, but we were still nursing about 4-5 times a day.</p> <p>Cycle length: I don't know all the correct terms, but it was definitely a weird cycle! My period was a week long (usually 4 days) and since we only DTD once, I know when I conceived and that I must have ovulated a week late. </p> <p>So yes, it's definitely possible! I think those longer stretches at night are what brings the period back. I'm sorry you guys are having a rough time, we have SO been there. I think part of what worked for us was deciding on a plan and consistently sticking to it. The other part was she got a bit older and decided to sleep longer at night. It's tough mama, keep it up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433677 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:43:50 +0000 travelgirl1 1433677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: That's amazing!</p> <p>@MrsMccarthy: I too wish you the best of both worlds!</p> <p>My wish was to get pregnant again while breastfeeding but I have known infertility issues and have run out of time waiting to get my period back. Today was supposed to be the day I stopped nursing (date given to me by fertility clinic) but A is sick with a fever so I don't have the heart to deny her. What has helped me come to terms with having to wean before either of us are ready is that in 20 years she won't care whether she was breastfed or not, but she will care about her little brother or sister. I hope you don't need to wean before you're both ready though, I have my fingers crossedfor you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433216 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:59:30 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1433216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyann: you are too sweet! Thank you. I hope you are enjoying comfort in your second pregnancy. You and your son are so beautiful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433213 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:58:21 +0000 lilyann 1433213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: Ahh, I see! I'm sorry dear! I know it must be tough because I still get sad thinking about my 16 month old already being weaned and I miss being that source of comfort for him. I think what helped us wean was that I was no longer pumping at work and definitely not producing much milk (I think DS noticed), but I don't think that will help in your case since he is still nursing quite a bit and I'm sure you still have a good supply. Wishing you the best of both worlds!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433209 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:57:12 +0000 Adira 1433209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: Do you feel like he's actually taking in a lot of milk during those feeds? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433198 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:53:56 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1433198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyann: I would love to use a pacifier but he quit it on his own at 10 months and now he won't take one. For the past few nights he has been up every 2-3 hours nursing between 9-6am he is 17 months old now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433188 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:50:26 +0000 lilyann 1433188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: How much is he nursing at night? I am sure a lot of that is for comfort. Are you against using a pacifier for some of those feeds? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433181 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:48:13 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1433181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everyone for sharing. I am exhausted after nursing my son all night. He seems to have freaked out from my attempts to wean and now wants to nurse more!!!! It's cray and I am exhausted. I tried a few times to say no but that also didn't work because eventually I gave in so I could get some sleep. I am just going to say a prayer for now that I will be one of the lucky ones who can get pregnant whilst nursing. We shall see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-got-pregnant-while-breastfeeding#post-1433130 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:32:48 +0000 lilyann 1433130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was 12 months and was down to 2 feeds a day (one in the morning/one at night for 5 minutes max) and I got pregnant that month. My cycles were longer after pregnancy, like 36 days. Hope you get a bfp soon!!!!! </p>