Getting Preggo Again!

Once my son was down to three feedings a day and I stopped pumping at work (when he was seven months old) I got my cycles back and two months later got pregnant. I monitor/chart my cycles anyway, so I know I ovulated beofre my first period when he was seven months, but that did not happen until I stopped pumping. I supplemented with formula anyway, so he was still eating more than three time a day, just nursing only three times and no pumping.

I would suggest one of those over the counter ovulation kits. I used a kit when I was trying to get pregnant with my second daughter. You don't need to "start" a cycle to be ovulating. Give the kit a try...it won't hurt anything. Good luck.

Have sex three times a day every day. It worked for us and my husband loved the idea.

Do you want to BE preg b4 he deploys are actually deliver a little one? If the latter - more power (and pg +++) vibes to ya! :) I know people who get pg while bf...and those that didn't. I didn't start to ovulate while bfing until we cut frequency down to night and morning only - I think dd was 10 or 11 months old at the time. We had another 5 months of one to 2 times a day bfing before I became pg again. I wasn't actively trying to get pg, but wasn't preventing, either. Oh - and I can tell when I ovulate just cause I've always been sensitive to it. There are physical signs you may not have been aware of in the past. Some women will notice a slight egg white-like discharge when ovulation occurs, others may actually feel a sensitivity around the ovary when it happens (or pain, if you're like me. :-P). Can't remember any of the others, but I'd suggest a quick Google for signs and symptoms of ovulation.

Definitely try to chart your temp, but just know that your hormones could be a little whacked out still because you're nursing. Not sure if boxed kits are affected by it at all - I'd do a little checking into that factor before putting out the expense.

Good Luck - and safe wishes for hubby and your family!

They have those ovulation kits that I think you urinate on just like a pregnancy test and it tells you. I breastfed 100% for 6 months before adding some food in and I still got my period when my son was six weeks old. I think it just depends on your body.

Best of luck on getting preggos and on for your hubby having a safe deployment!

A.,
I was in the same boat as you....TTC #2 in a rush, but for different reasons. Ours was due to health insurance. Anyway, I asked my doctor & they told me that I could stop bf'ing, but there is no guarantee that I would ovulate anytime soon. I could, but they didnt know. It can take 6 wks -6 mos to get your cycle back, & you still may not ovulate.
I have researched this subject to death!!! I searched all over the internet, read books, & everything else you can imagine.
We decided that I would continue to bf & see what happened. I started nursing him 3 times/day....morning, noon, & bedtime. It was about 6 weeks & one morning I ovulated, we did the deed, & I got pg!!! I dont know if that was the key for my body (only nursing 3 times/da) or if my body would have started ovulating on it's own anyway. I never got a period.
As far as ovulation signs, there are many. Cervical fluid, cervical position, & basal body temps....you can learn more about this in a book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". It is easy reading (I have ADD & I had no issues reading this book). I used this method to get pg with both of my kids. I have a 14 month old & are 16 wks pg with my 2nd.
BTW, I ovulated when my son was 11 mos old. But remember, everybody's body is different. Try to remain calm about it all & know that it will happen when it's supposed to. I totally understand your desire for it to happen sooner rather than later due to your husbands deployment, but stressing about it wont make it happen any sooner.
Good luck & please keep us posted.
H.

Hi A.,

Don't know how ovulation works while breastfeeding - sometimes bf suppresses ovulation, othertimes it does not. Best way to determine would be either via ovulation predictor kits (OPK) or via charting your temperature. I charted (orally via the mouth!:)) and found it could pinpoint my ovulation days very well.

A great site to use is fertility friend for their calendar. www.fertilityfriend.com ... good luck with everything!

Hi A.,
I have 4 children and was breastfeeding the first 3 when I got pregnant with the next. My 1st was 10 months old when I got pregnant with the second, (I weaned her at 1 year). My second was 10 months old when I got pregnant with the 3rd, (I weaned her at 13 months), and my 3rd was 12 months old when I got pregnant with the 4th, (I weaned him at 15 months). After my 4th was born, I got a tubal, because if not I would just keep getting pregnant. :)
When your baby is eating more solid foods and not nursing as much, your body signals to start ovulating again, and it's usually around 6-10 months old, depending on the baby.

Also, my pediatrician's wife got pregnant when her first was 8 months old and she was still breastfeeding,so it's definitely possible!

Take care! And hope it works out for you!
V.

http://www.ovusoft.com/
This is a great site to get into charting your fertility (so you know when and if you're ovulating).
Good luck!
K.