It is definitely possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding whether we're trying to have another baby or not, which many, many mothers can attest to.  Breastfeeding is 98% effective as a form of contraception for the first 6 months of the baby's life, as long as the baby receives no more than 2 mouthfuls per day of vitamins, minerals, water, juice, or any other foods AND menstruation has not returned. However, if baby is not exclusively breastfed, or is over 6 months, and/or our menses have returned, pregnancy is a real possibility.

If we desire another pregnancy while our toddler is still breastfeeding, we need to consider whether or not we are menstruating and ovulating.  We can continue breastfeeding in whatever way we choose while trying to get pregnant if our menses have returned.  If we find that pregnancy is not happening as quickly as we would like, then we can consider cutting back on the amount of time our toddler nurses to increase the chance that our body is ovulating.  Many mothers have found that if they wean their toddlers from night nursing, their fertility resumes. Of course, trying to find time to conceive baby #2 is not as easy as trying to find time to conceive baby #1!  So, we may not need to cut back on breastfeeding but instead get creative about how/when we try to conceive.  I'll leave those details up to you!!

Sometimes, we find ourselves pregnant without having planned it.  Our nipples are tender when we nurse (has our toddler grown sharper teeth?), we are exhausted (are we low on iron?), and possibly we notice that our toddler is eating more and nursing less (she must be weaning!).  Or, perhaps they're nursing more and eating more.  Everything can feel upside down for awhile until we figure out what is going on.  Sure enough, the pregnancy test comes back positive, and now we wonder about breastfeeding.

It is not necessary to stop breastfeeding just because you are pregnant - your body will prioritize the pregnancy over breast milk production, which is often noticeable by the 3rd month of pregnancy.  Milk supply can drop dramatically, which is not much of an issue for a toddler that is eating solids, but can definitely pose a challenge if the milk supply drops before our baby reaches one year of age. In this case, we need to get creative (once again!) about encouraging solids.  But, for our toddler, we can continue to breastfeed with confidence that we are not putting ourselves, the new baby, or our toddler at risk. Research has not found any connection between breastfeeding and lower birth weights or preterm labours in healthy mothers.

However, the experience of breastfeeding while pregnant may not be for everyone.  Sore nipples, lowered milk supply, fatigue and a greater need to rest, combined with possible nausea can make breastfeeding the last thing a pregnant mother wants to do.  In this case, weaning your toddler slowly, with lots of support for both of you is definitely an option.  On the flip side, many toddlers decide to wean themselves during a pregnancy, which may be in part due to the lowered milk supply that also changes in flavour.  Research has found that about 60% of nursing children will wean themselves before their sibling is born.

If you and your toddler continue breastfeeding during the pregnancy, you may find yourself tandem nursing!! This means that you are nursing 2 of your babies, both of different ages.  This can be a rewarding and a challenging situation, and I encourage anyone who finds themselves in this situation to attend La Leche League meetings, get support from a breastfeeding counsellor, or read the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing". Often, the first question that pops to mind for many parents is: Will tandem nursing take away milk from the baby?  Absolutely not!!  The body will prioritize the kind of milk that baby needs, and will make as much of it as is needed.  The good ol' supply and demand trick that has kept breastfeeding going for thousands of years is still at play.  The toddler can drink as much as they want, and there will be more than enough for the baby. 

A benefit of tandem nursing is that you have 2 babies to help you if you encounter any breastfeeding difficulties - if baby cannot nurse for a period of time (for whatever reason)- no need to pump!!  You've got another baby ready to keep your supply up.  Have a blocked duct?  2 babies can help to relieve this!  And on it goes.  For those that enjoy tandem nursing, some find that the experience reduces sibling rivalry as the toddler gets the same bonding and closeness with their mother that breastfeeding provides.  

2. Mothers of nursing toddlers are able to easily keep potential cow's milk allergens out of baby's diet a little longer, if they so choose.  No need to start drinking cow's milk for calcium - mother's milk has what baby needs. Also, the breast milk continues to support the optimal development of baby's immune system and gastrointestinal tract, which also supports a reduction in the development of food allergies.

3.  During illness, breastfed toddlers are less likely to become dehydrated and need hospitalization.  Breast milk is easily and quickly absorbed by our toddlers, so even if they vomit minutes after nursing, you can be sure that not all was lost.  Breast milk is often the first liquid that an ill toddler can keep down when sick, and usually the only food that they desire for a day or more as they recover.  Our nursing toddlers are smart - they know that breast milk is easy to digest, full of antibodies, and nature's best kept secret for helping our toddlers recover.

4.  Travelling with a breastfeeding toddler is easy!  If snacks are low, or the toddler wakes up in the night in an unfamiliar place, or needs to remain quiet during an important ceremony, or develops sore ears during take-off and landing of an airplane, then breastfeeding will help!  It's so easy and accessible, and by this time you're a pro at nursing discreetly if you so choose. 

5.  Hormones, hormones, hormones.  The rush of prolactin and oxytocin while breastfeeding helps both mothers and babies find their inner yogi.  Breastfeeding is calming and anything that helps us stay calm helps us to mother!!  These same hormones help many a mother to fall asleep more easily after (or during!) nursing session, especially during the night. Oxytocin specifically has a calming effect, lowers maternal blood pressure, decreases cortisol, anxiety, and aggressive behavior, and supports the brain areas involved with mothering and bonding.