Most nursing mothers experience lactational amenorrhea, or a delay in their return to fertility. According to La Leche League, pregnancy is highly unlikely in the first six months as long as your menstrual period has not returned and you breastfeed exclusively and on demand. After six months, the chance of becoming pregnant while nursing gradually increases. On average, fertility returns at 14 months, even with continued breastfeeding. As soon as your cycle returns, you can get pregnant while continuing to breastfeed your baby. There are also actions you can take to speed your return to fertility without weaning your baby.

Nourish Your Body

Keep yourself well-nourished and hydrated. This will give your body the resources it needs to feed your baby and start growing a new baby, too. Focus on eating whole foods in their natural state and try to avoid processed foods. Drink plenty of water. Take folic acid for at least three months before trying to conceive, or take a prenatal vitamin, which contains enough folic acid as well as other nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy.

Know Your Cycle

Recognize when your fertility returns and understand your cycle to know when you are most likely to be able to conceive. The obvious sign of a return to fertility is the return of a regular menstrual period. Occasionally a woman ovulates and is able to conceive without ever having a postpartum period, but most women have a warning period before their first ovulation. It can take several months for your menstrual cycle to return to its normal length. Once your cycle has returned, you can help to identify your most fertile time by charting your cycle or by using ovulation predictor kits.

Frequency of Nursing

Make changes to the frequency of nursing if your cycle has not yet returned and you are ready to try to conceive. Breastfeeding creates high levels of the hormone prolactin, which in turn suppresses the hormones that cause ovulation. Frequent nursing keeps the level of prolactin high. Nursing less frequently will lower prolactin levels. Often a woman's fertility returns when her baby begins to go four hours between daytime feedings or at least six hours overnight. You can help bring back your fertility by changing your nursing pattern, for example eliminating one feeding per day or night-weaning your baby. A sudden change is more likely to help your fertility return than a gradual change. If you eliminate a feeding, make sure to offer your baby something in its place. Breastmilk that you have previously pumped and stored is ideal, or you can offer formula.

Introduction of Solids

Introduce solid food to your baby if he is old enough. Most pediatricians recommend introducing solid food around the age of six months. Your fertility is likely to return when your baby begins to get some of his nutrition from sources other than breastmilk. Many women find that their cycles return soon after their babies begin to eat solid food and consequently decrease their nursing.

Source:

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