Anyone fallen pregnant whilst still breastfeeding?

Michael - posted on 07/08/2010

4 times. 2 miscarriages, and two live births. =)

ROXANNE - posted on 07/08/2010

i am pregnant with baby #2 and my first will be 1 on the 24th of july. i would like to breastfeed him for a long time so i plan on tandem nursing my children. neither him or i are ready to stop. a great book to read is the adventures of tandem nursing.

Christina - posted on 04/15/2010

Well, yes. I became pregnant with my first ovulation after my first daughter. I continued to nurse her until she was 10 mos. old, but she weaned because my milk supply dwindled. I also did not know what I knew the 2nd. time this happened. My 2nd daughter was also nursing when I became pregnant. This time, I just upped my protein and she was already eating solids so it didn't seem to bother her that my milk changed. She was also more attached to me and I felt it would help prevent sibling rivalry not to wean her. It turned out that my 3rd. baby after our wonderful home birth needed to be hospitalized later on. Fortunately for my daughter that was still nursing, she kept up my milk supply in-between trips to the hospital. This helped my milk come in faster. After this was all said and done, I didn't actually need as much protein as I was taking in. I gained 65 lbs. during that pregnancy, which I actually lost very quickly by tandem nursing for a year.

Michael - posted on 04/03/2010

my first son was 7.5 months and breastfeeding a lot, essentially every two hours still. i got my cycle back 2 months post partum. i got pregnant, miscarried, then got pregnant again that next month with his brother.
i breastfed him until 17 months (he weaned himself). I again became pregnant, miscarried (i was on the iud, so i had it taken out.) then became pregnant again. lol he weaned himself when i was 4 months pregnant.

Becca - posted on 03/31/2010

My daughter is 18 months and i am 15 weeks pregnant. I got pregnant even with my daughter having like 10 feeds a day and feeds all through the night so its deffinately possible. :)

Alicia - posted on 03/26/2010

My daughter was about 19 months when I became pregnant again. I am due in July, and I continued to breastfeed with no problem until my midwife asked me if I wanted to tandem breastfeed both children. When I said I thought that would probably be too much for me, she suggested that I begin weaning. I had hoped to make it to my daughter's 2nd birthday before we thought about weaning, but my midwife said that we should wean by my 23rd or 24th week of pregnancy, so we started, and honestly it was a very smooth and easy transition for my daughter. She was weaned one month before her 2nd birthday, and it was a little sad and a little sweet. She sometimes comes to lay in bed with me in the mornings (if she didn't wake up there to begin with!) and uncovers my breasts and says she "just wants to check them out" which makes me laugh. She knows that there is no more milk, and tells me that when the baby comes, milk will come back for the baby. I am amazed at her understanding, and although I know everyone is different, I want you to know that weaning (if you have to/choose to) doesn't have to suck. Ha, no pun intended! I also know several women who have successfully breastfed through their pregnancies and continued to breastfeed both babies. It just wasn't right for me. Either way, you should do whatever you feel is the right thing for you, and you can successfully do either.

Shanie - posted on 03/18/2010

My son was only six months old when I became pregnant with my daughter. I was breastfeeding him full time, and didn't even realize I was pregnant for three months, until I felt morning sickness and noticed my milk supply seemed to be running low. I continued to brestfeed him until he was one year old, and I was seven months pregnant, However, I also began to give him goat's milk bottles when he was eight months old, because my body was busy growing a baby and wasn't making enough milk for him. My children are fifteen months apart, and while they are best frinds now, it was very trying in the beginning. I felt like my son was still too much of a baby to have another one, and it made me really sad... I've heard of moms who continued breastfeeding throughout their entire pregnancy and nursing both the infant and toddler once the baby is born, but I could imagine it would be exauhsting on your body. Think of all the milk you would have to produce! My daughter is 16 months old now, and I am still happily nursing her.

April - posted on 03/17/2010

I have gotten pregnant twice while nursing. I was nursing my first son who was 20 months when I got pregnant with my second. I had hoped to nurse him to 2 years old but only made it to 22 months because my milk completely dried up because of my pregnancy. I am currently 8 weeks pregnant and my second son is 18 months. I haven't yet noticed a drop in supply but I know it's likely. This pregancy was a surprise. I had hope to be able to nurse my second close to 2 years too. So I am actually a little sad about that.

I would say there are no guarantees that your supply won't dimish or disappear all together so you have to weigh that with your desire for your children to be close in age. Best of luck!

Elisi - posted on 03/08/2010

It is absolutely possible. I have a 14 month old and I am about 19 weeks along with the next one. I wasn't planning to have two so close together, but I guess it was just meant to be. My daughter is still nursing and I don't recall my supply decreasing too much if at all. I just found out a little over a week ago about this new pregnancy so I never actually had a full cycle, I guess my husband and I are just that fertile.

Good luck.

Rachel - posted on 01/16/2010

I got pregnant with my second while my first was 14 months. He was still nursing. About 4 weeks into the pregnancy, nursing started to hurt REALLY bad. My milk completely dried up when I was 3 months into the pregnancy. I nursed all the way through it nonetheless and I HATED it. He still needed it and I so longed for the great nursing relationship we had had before but it doesn't work that way.

If I had to do it over, I would put more space between the two kids. I wouldn't have gotten pregnant until my oldest was at least 2 1/2, maybe 3. Nursing while you're pregnant is no picnic and your baby now will get so so so so so much out of continuing to nurse until she is ready to wean instead of having it forced on her so that another sibling can come along. I'd let her be the baby for a while... and besides, having two kids so close in age is the definition of almost burnout handfull (mine are 22 months apart).

Ashley - posted on 01/15/2010

I breastfed my son until he self-weaned at 25 months... I got pregnant the 2nd month trying when he was 20 months old.

Jill - posted on 01/06/2010

I got pregnant three times (lost the first two) while breastfeeding my first, and got pregnant with my third while breastfeeding my second. The first was 18months when I got pregnant with her sister, and the second was 9 months when I got pregnant with the youngest.

Annette - posted on 12/04/2009

I became pregnant when my daughter was 8 months old and nursing full-time. The pregnancy was not planned, and I was devastated when my milk supply reduced and I was forced to supplement with goat's milk. I tried everything to increase my milk supply, to no avail. We ended nursing before she was a year old, because it became too painful.
If it could be prevented, I would not like to get pregnant again while still nursing. But our second daughter is a beautiful gift, and well worth the sacrifice.

Ashley - posted on 11/09/2009

I was breastfeeding and using the mirena IUD...lol! SO it def. is possible :D

Kathryn - posted on 11/07/2009

I was breastfeeding my 9 month old daughter when I conceived my son. I continued breastfeeding her until her first birthday. I had planned to go longer, but my nipples got really painful. Maybe yours won't. Everyone is different.

Candace - posted on 09/16/2009

yes!!!!!! while 10 months pregnant w/#1 & #2 and nursing. and baby 1 & 2 never tired of nursing during the subsequent pregnancies, like a lady mentioned earlier, i have been nursing 1-2 babies since 5/06 w/no end in site since #2 is 21 months and #3 is 2.5 months.

Cierra - posted on 09/15/2009

I had one period between each pregnancy. I am on my third pregnancy right now. Still breastfeeding. The babies will be exactly two years apart. My first two are 19 months apart. I got my period at 9 months pp with the first (breastfed until 14 months) and then 15 months pp with the second (still bf'ing at 17 months).

Anna - posted on 09/04/2009

Not me, but I have heard of it happening to plenty of people.

Fonda - posted on 08/28/2009

Hi there! New here and this is my 1st post.

We stopped preventing pregnancy when my son was 12 months old and conceived almost immediately. I'd already gotten my period regularly several months prior. My son and daughter are 20 months apart. I nursed my son all throughout the pregnancy and then both of them together once my daughter was born. My milk gradually dried up over time, noticeably by month 5, and by month 7 of the pregnancy it was back to that colostrum-like substance.

I gradually weaned my son over time and it was a few weeks shy of his 3rd birthday that I think he nursed his last time. It was so gradual, I just don't remember. I did the "don't offer, don't refuse" method with him and eventually he just stopped asking.

With my daughter, I was nursing her round the clock (we coslept) and still got my cycle back when she was 6 months old. She still nurses a few times a day. Despite this, and actively preventing pregnancy, I still was able to conceive again. I am nearly 10 weeks into my current pregnancy and baby #2 shows no signs of weaning. Here we go again! lol I have been continually nursing since 2005, something I could have never foreseen as I used to think breastfeeding was icky before I had kids. Funny how things change. :)

Best of luck to you and your family!

Jolene - posted on 08/09/2009

Hi-I fell preg with our 2nd when our 1st was 5mths old. I too didnt have any periods up to that point, but was obviously ovulating. Was a huge shock, but still continued to fully breastfeed my son during my pregnancy, till he was alittle over 1, as I didnt want him to miss out. I felt it necessary to take pregnancy/breastfeeding vitamins to help our growing bub, but also to make sure my milk was still good for my son. Had a very healthy 9lb7oz 2nd bub & our son also continued to grow well above average. All the best for you.

Lucy - posted on 08/09/2009

YES! We started TTC when my daughter was 5 months. We conceived 2-3 months later while still nursing. They are 15 months apart (he was born 3 weeks early). Feb 08 & May 09 babies.

Marci - posted on 07/29/2009

I didn't nurse long term with my first but I did with baby number 2 to baby number 8 and got pregnant while nursing every time and twice I never had a cycle. All my children are just less than two years apart

Cheryl - posted on 07/23/2009

I want to start off by saying I am an exception! I bf my first born until he was 3 1/2. My cycle didn't return until he was 22 months old. I got pregnant when he was 2 years and about 4 months. Miscarried at 6 weeks (totally not breastfeeding related!). Pregnant again when he was 2 years 10 months. Ectopic. Then AGAIN at 3 years 4 months. His brother was born 12 days after his 4th birthday. So, I got pregnant 3 times while bfing my first son. He weaned himself when I was about 3-4 months pregnant.

Tracy - posted on 06/01/2009

My son was 10months old when i got pregnant, carried on breast feeding for a further 3-4 months until it started interfering with my milk supply, at which time my son more or less weaned himself easily.

Natalie - posted on 05/30/2009

Thanks Chrissy. Yes that's my dilemna also. I know that once pregnant the ability to sustaion breastmilk is greatly reduced. I was thinking that waiting till my first is about 18 months old then ceasing contraception would give her plenty of time for slow weaning and plenty of breastmilk. I want to do best for both babies, not just now but as they grow up also. Not too close, not too far apart...it's a fine balance that I'd dearly love to have right! My sister and I grew up 22 months apart and it was weonderful! I can well understand your feelings as a breast feeding mum, though I'm also sure your boys will also be very blessed to have each other as friends as they grow up :-)

Chrissy - posted on 05/29/2009

MY first son was 9 months old and still feeding quite a lot particulaly at night. My cycle came back when he was 4 months old but my phase after ovulation (lutal phase) wasn't long enough to sustain a conception till he was 8months old because of the breast feeding hormones. I strongly believe that a womens cyle is the best indicator for age gaps. Be patient and enjoy uyour first baby. My little boy grew up way to quick because of his new brother. My oldest also weaned when I was 24 weeks pregnant due to flo of milk being too slow. I will forever feel guilty he missed out on the wonderful breastmilk he should have had becuse of my desire for a close age gap.