Getting Pregnant - Twin Falls,ID

Updated on May 28, 2010
E.M. asks from Twin Falls, ID
14 answers

hey there. I’m a new mom with a 3 month old litle girl. she is a terrific sleeper( about 1o hours a night), great eater(8, 11, 2, 5, and 8) very healty etc, and believe it or not my husband and I are looking to get pregnant again as soon as possible. I’m breastfeeding my little girl but am also supplementing with formula and stored breast milk. I have not yet started my period, or ovulation that I know of. Does anyone have any subjections? For how I can conceive without stopping breastfeeding totally? because i don't consider that an option right now

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S.M.

answers from Denver on

E., what worked for me was to stop BF at night only. This was enough to bring back my period. Within 1 cycle I was pregnant and I was 43! Give it a try. I kept BF for about 3 months in to my pregnancy but then my son and I were both ready to stop.

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J.P.

answers from Denver on

Hi E.--
A couple things. First, it takes at least a year for your body to re-coup all of its lost nutrients from pregnancy, and could be longer depending on how much you breast feed. The reason the body won't allow you to get pregnant yet is because it isn't good for you. As long as you ate well the second baby would probably be okay, but it would be tough on you and could cause health problems. Also, when babies are born this close together often the second one has more health problems because the mother's body isn't fully refreshed.
Secondly, when you do get your period, if it is soon, it is totally possible to breastfeed while pregnant. I did it. I have two friends who did it. The trick is you have to eat like a wild woman and drink at least your body weight in water ounces. The nutrients go to baby, Mommy, and then breast milk, so the only way to keep the breast milk going is to make sure you eat enough. Baby takes about 300 to 500 extra calories per day, and breastfeeding can take anywhere from 500 to 1000 extra calories per day depending on how often you are doing it. The taste of your breast milk will change, and it will decrease in the third trimester as your body prepares to make a larger amount of colostrum for the newborn.
Incidentally, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests breastfeeding for at least the first year, and the World Health Organization says at least the first two years! That is what is best for baby. It is also good for Mommy--reduces all kinds of cancers. And I agree with the other post that while baby may sleep well now that could change in a heartbeat with teething, growth spurts, developmental milestones, and separation anxiety. Do make sure you're really confident that you can handle two in diapers :-)
Good luck with all of it!!
J.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I got pregnant while breastfeeding.

I would not stop breastfeeding just to get pregnant. Your baby is only 3 months old.

Also, if pregnant and breastfeeding, some babies, will 'reject' breastfeeding because the taste of the milk changes.
Breastfeed for as long as you can.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

I exclusively breastfed my daughter and got my period back around 4 months because she had been sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches from around 7 weeks old. So be patient and it will return! Also, know that you won't have to stop breastfeeding once you become pregnant. You just have to adjust your nutrition to make sure you are getting enough for everyone. kellymom.com has great info on nursing while pregnant and tandem nursing.

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J.C.

answers from Denver on

I assume you did not have a c-section since you didn't mention it but wanted to make sure that you know they recommend waiting 12-18 months before conceiving again if you did have a c-section. Congatulations on your little one!

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A.V.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had a baby in Oct of last year and I'm due in Oct this year! I'm SO happy about it, I had been breastfeeding up until about a month ago (my milk dried up) but we have our babys eating every 4 hours, and they sleep all night!

Good luck!
Just leave it all in Gods hands!
I have 3 kids they are 3, 2, 8 months and the one on the way, so, He knows what He's doing. :)

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M.L.

answers from Portland on

I find it very interesting that some woman can conceive while breastfeeding and for others - it has to wait. I think that we are intended to breastfeed and therefore we will not conceive before our bodies (or maybe our lives) are ready. That being said - you have to determine your priorities. Breastfeeding is the most wonderful gift you can offer your child. Are you willing to take that away from one - to have another? My understanding is that exclusively breastfeeding for those first 6 months is as effective as condoms. So, since you are supplementing - you should have a greater chance of getting pregnant.

Why don't you guys just throw caution to the wind - see what happens - but keep up your routine with your baby?

The fact is - I am so glad for you that this baby is on such a nice looking schedule, but it's not necessarily a done deal. Probably, b/ she is being supplemented has something to do with the schedule, b/c at 3 months - an infant usually needs to be eating more often.

However, teething - growing pains, new diet - all this can throw you into a whirlwind of challenges and changes. You would not be the first to have the best baby in the world that sleeps through the night - and then never does again for a year.

Just be ready for what you're getting into!

Best of luck to you
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter and good luck with what's to come!

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S.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Wow you are brave. I love my kids and had my boys only 16 months apart but you are trying to go for the record. It's great you want another and that your little one now is doing so well, but did you know it is not healthy for your body for you to get pregnant right away like that. Mine was not on purpose. I love that my boys are close, but they grow so fast and they only do things for a little while. Are you sure you want to add another baby to your family before you even get to really experience this one. SHe has so much to start doing and things won't stay this calm when she is crawling, walking, talking and so on. Anyways just a thought and really none of my business that is not what you were asking about, sorry. I hope you guys have as many as you want as close as you want. I only wanted to give you some things to think about cause I've been there. It great and all don't get me wrong but you lose out on a lot of that one on one time. Anyways I had not yet had a period after having my son when i realized i was pregnant so it can happen. This is one of your most fertal times right after having a baby. Although the breastfeeding can hold it off for a while it doesn't in all cases...like mine. i don't know what you can do to help it while your nursing because you are limited to things you can take. I would just say for us we werent even trying. It had been every hard for us to concieve our first two, we needed the use of fertility meds and then my last little boy came all on his own right after his brother and while I was nursing. So I say just keep trying, nursing or not. It might take take a little longer than you two wanted but theres a good chance it won't because like I said this is like the most fertal time. So good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

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J.F.

answers from Denver on

I got pregnant when my first was 6 months old. We were NOT trying at all. I was breastfeeding full time, but she was sleeping through the night and we did one formula bottle a day as well. I think there isn't much you can personally do to make it happen. Just varies per woman and cycle.... However having sex is key :)
I never got my period before getting prego. I just happened to get pregnant the very first month an egg was release and since my husband and I had been back at it for months and months, his boys were just in the right place at the right time to meet up with the egg. So just relax, have fun with your husband and what will be will be. Your body knows best.

BUT I did want to throw a few things out there to think of..... because having 2 so close, while wonderful, as can be SO tiresome!

First breastfeeding while prego is VERY hard and painful. My milk pretty much just dried up and it must have also tasted different, because my daughter was just over it! It was sad because we still had so much more time to go. My doc also didn't recommened it. It does make the uterus contract and it takes so much calories from you! I couldn't eat and drink enough to keep up.
Second once the baby is born it can really be hard balance it all. Two little ones who need you so much is crazy at times. And although your baby now is sleeping well, your next probably won't be as good. My 2nd baby (now 8 months old) still does not sleep through the night, while her sister ALWAYS did. I am up at night with her so much, but I also have to be up bright and early for my 1st little one. I am tired ALL the time! And napping like I did with the first is not an option!
Third, just taking care of your baby while prego is interesting to say the least. My back hurt so much because the baby will sit so much lower since the uterus is still pretty stretched out. They want to be carried and boy does that belly get in the way. As I got into my 3rd trimester the back pain actually went away, but I just never felt normal and could hardly keep up with my little girl. I want to point out I am small, thin and in shape, so it was just being pregnant that got in the way. I would even fall asleep in the middle of playing with her! That is how much it zaps you!
Fourth is the fact that I feel like I cheated my 1st child out of our time together. My husband and I admit that we feel like the two kinda meld together in our minds. We nearly can't remember who did what at what stage or just little fun memories like that. I am not saying is bad, but you just have to learn to pass the love around and having that special one on one time isn't as easy to come by right now. Maybe as they get older it will be easier, but as babies it is just hard.
I also feel like my 2nd is getting cheated as well. Breastfeeding hasn't been as enjoyable because I can't just sit and relax like I could with her sister. The older child needs you all the time and when they are mobile and you hear a crash somewhere in the house or they gotten into something they shouldn't ect, you have to unlatch the baby and run to see what is up. That happens often and she is really a good girl. I can't imagine if she was a naughty kiddo. My only relaxing time with our 2nd is in the middle of the night. She is self weening right now and I think it is because she is just over it :)
Plus we don't take as many pictures, she doesn't get all the cool new toys, because big sis get them all first ect... I know that is an issue with most sibilings, but it just seem worse since there isn't much space between them.

I wouldn't change how things happened for us at all, but I am frazzled most of the time. Not sure how I juggle it most days. Going to the grocery store or just anything outside of the house is a total production. Again my little ladies are well behaved, but it is still a handful. Just think of the how to's with 2 kiddos when out and about for a second. As they are getting older it is getting easier, but those first 6 months after #2 was born are like a blur- not even sure I brushed my teeth most days. The house is always a wreck, but full of laughter :)
It sounds like you have a supportive husband, so that is good! I could not have done it without him at all! But on days when he isn't as helpful, I for sure have bad days and can even be brought to tears over nothing....

So my point is really to just think it over and make sure you aren't going to take away from your little one right now. Also give your body time to heal up and get what it needs back.
While we are over the moon happy with our two girls I will point out that my husband got a vasectomy when #2 was about 3 months old. Having two so close was just more than we could handle mentally and so we just couldn't risk another close pregnancy! That makes me sad because I feel like if we had spaced them out better, perhaps we would have wanted a 3rd baby at some point. I still struggle with that. And while I couldn't imagine having another one right now, I just can't shake that feeling like we might have felt different if things had gone different for us.

Anyhow good luck! But please take in baby #1 now, while you can.... it goes so fast!!! It takes my breath away... :(

K.E.

answers from Spokane on

Hi E.,

I was breastfeeding my son and had not had a period, and when he was 6 weeks old or so, I became pregnant. Breastfeeding is not to be relied on for sure birth control, although some women have trouble conceiving while nursing. I would suggest an ovulation predictor kit. I have never used one of these, but a friend of mine, and it worked for her. Make sure that your body is nutritionally up to par, though, because pregnancies close together are very taxing! Good luck to you.

K.

A.C.

answers from Oklahoma City on

That's exactly how I felt after bringing my first baby home from the hospital! I had such a great experience and couldn't wait to do it again! I did end up getting pregnant soon (mine were born about 12 1/2 months apart) but we weren't really TrYiNg... you know like paying attention to when I was ovulating or anything. I only had one period before i concieved my 2nd daughter. I LOVE it that they are so close! They are best freinds! (I didn't have any problems (health wise) from having them so close and even since then and I've had two more by the time my oldest was 3 1/2!)

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A.U.

answers from Colorado Springs on

My doc told me while breastfeeding you usually don't get your period, but you DO ovulate. So, as said no need to stop breastfeeding. My dad and his sister are 10 mos apart so this proves that! So, hope all works out for you.

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G.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You don't have to stop breast feeding at all to conceive. I was breastfeeding when I got pregnant with my second. So were several of my friends (one of whose boys are 12 months apart). While full-time, round-the-clock, on-demand breastfeeding does help delay the onset of that first post-pregnancy period, it does not shut your reproductive system down. So there's no need to stop breastfeeding if you want a second sooner rather than later. Just keep doing that which is required to make a baby (wink!) and it's likely to happen within a year's time, and quite possibly much sooner than that.

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M.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

You can conceive without stopping breastfeeding. We were ready for our second when son was 9 months old. I hadn't had a period yet either. We conceived as soon as I got off the pill. But, within a month or 2 I stopped producing milk, even though my son was nursing exclusively and hardly eating any solid food. Neither of us were prepared for that. Later I found out that it was fairly common for that to happen.

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