Hi Wish to be mum (Fatfat)
During breastfeeding, your body produces higher levels of the hormone prolactin, which suppresses ovulation. This alone reduces your chances of getting pregnant while breastfeeding to an estimated 1 to 2 percent. The percentage increases throughout the first year, raising the chance of conception to 6 percent after six months.
However, understand how your cycle works might help. Think of it as Part 1: before ovulation; and Part 2: after ovulation. During an average 28-day cycle, the following changes occur in your body:
Day one is the first day that bleeding begins. This usually lasts somewhere between three to six days. By the seventh day, the eggs in the ovaries start to ripen. This is caused by the release of the hormone FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). The uterus starts to thicken to prepare for a fertilized egg. After a few days, the ripest egg is released. In a normal 28-day cycle, this happens on day 14.
Around day 14, the egg travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. At this point, if a single male sperm fertilizes it, the egg may attach to the lining of the uterus, and pregnancy will begin. This stage is called implantation. If fertilization does not occur, the egg will start to break apart. At about day 25, the hormone levels decrease and this causes the uterus to break down and the lining is shed in a menstrual period.
The most fertile time in your cycle depends on a few things, such as when you ovulate. The chances of getting pregnant are greater during the six-day phase that ends with ovulation. This is because sperm can live inside a woman's body for five to seven days, while the egg lives about one day.
Charting Your Cycle
There are changes going on in your body that help you to predict when you are most fertile. Keeping track of these changes will aid in determining when you are ovulating. Below are three methods of charting:
Temperature method: Take your temperature every morning before rising. On the day of ovulation you will discover a rise in your temperature by 0.4 degrees to 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't forget a single day, as consistency is key to this method. Your body temperature will remain higher from the day of ovulation until your period begins.
Cervical Mucous Method: This method involves close examination of the changes in your cervical mucous. During the first part of your cycle, you must examine this daily until you are sure you have ovulated. A few days prior to ovulation, normally cloudy, tacky mucous will change into clear and slippery. This indicates that you are at the mostfertile stage in your cycle.
Calendar Method: If your periods are consistent every month, then you may be able to predict ovulation using this simple method. Begin charting on a calendar your menstrual cycles. Keep in mind that the egg is released consistently between 14 and 16 days before the onset of menstruation.
Keeping track of your fertility is a good idea. Just remember that you ovulate prior to menstruating. This would account for those surprise pregnancies while breastfeeding that you're bound to hear about.
I cannot PM you to chat... but i would suggest you space your kids age out. Not easy to manage one baby let alone two.