Mumsnet Talk

As if ttc wasn't nerve wrecking enough, we like the extra challenge of getting that BFP while still breastfeeding a baby or toddler. While this isn't an easy endouvour, it certainly isn't impossible as many graduates on the previous threads prove.

I'm posting a link here for any newcomers about fertility while breastfeeding.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/

Am also wonderig if you'd like to have some sort of stats for the tread members. I'll just start myself.

MrsHuxtable, 29, ttc#2 from April, on pp cycle 4, luteal phase defect

Found you! I wanted to update you, despite feeding my 2 yr old and 11 month old. This morning produced a bfp. Stay positive! It can and does happen.

Oh, I'm so pleased for you! You seem to be doing conception and breastfeedig very well!

I've bee having a horrible week at work (hour cuts so I'm on the bare minimum now we can get away with) and I am totally disheartened with that crappy lutal phase of mine as I know that with a 5 day one, pregnancy is just not possible. DD has had her first fever and was perma-attchted to my boobs during the last week, so I suspect this cycle won't be any better. Pessimism all around. Need a kick up my bum to snap out of it.

Am considering night weaning DD in a couple of cycles now, the poor mite.

Hi all!
Congrats nonsense! You are now officially our role model! Tandem feeding and preggers! Love it! All the best with everything
Mrs huxtable, thanks for restarting the thread. I hope it's lucky for us!
LP was actually 11 this cycle so the b6 is helping. I think 11 is sufficient so part of me was pleased but to be not Preg again has really p****d me off! Couldn't have done anything more this cycle! Very disappointing indeed. Can only carry on and hope for next cycle. we must try and keep positive, eventually the milk monsters will cut down so whatever happens, that elusive bfp is going to happen. I thought about night weaning many times but really don't want our bf to end with tears and upset. We've both loved it so much. And if I still don't get Preg then I'd of done it for nothing. I think I just have to adopt the what will be will be approach.

Jakeyblueblue - still bf ds1 (19 months), 1st pp AF may 2012. TTC no 2 ever since. Ovulating but LP only 10 - 12 days. Taking vitb6 100mg.

Oh I'm 33 by the way

I know Jakey! I'm in 2 minds about night weaning but if I do, I'll do the Dr Jays Method, so shouldn't cause too much upset and it's only no feeding for 7 hours a night. So I would feed her first thing in the monrning, at bed time and then if she wakes before midnight. I'd then not feed her between midnight and 7 in the morning so it wouldn't be the end of breastfeeding for us. Ideally though my LP sorts itself out within the next 2 cycles and I fall pregnant first months of trying. Haha! Then DD can feed all she likes.

11 days LP sounds great btw!

I've read that method and it does sound good but I still think ds would cry! He loves the boob! We also co sleep which I think complicates matters. Are you co sleeping? Tbh, I think I could have easily night weaned was the same age as your dd. they are less knowing then and more accepting. Give it a go! It will def help your LP u would think.
Hopefully we will both be up duffed in the next few cycles though and neither of us will need to wean!
Are we the only two peope in the world ttc whils bf? It's got very quiet on this thread!

Yes, we are co-sleeping too! Since I went back to work, DH has started settling DD for her naps and he does it beautifully. When she can't see me, she accepts there's no boob so maybe, if I have to wean, I might move to the spare bedroom for a while. Not sure yet. Hope it won't come to that.

I've got a bit of a new worry now. I mentioned upthread that my hours at work have been cut and I'm at risk to lose more, which I can't afford, so have applied for another job locally this morning. They phoned me tonight and want to interview me on Monday! Now, if I did get a job offer, I'd have to take it. Things at work have not been good for a while and the boss hates me so I'm constantly on edge. But then, imagine, I started a new job and was pregnant within 4 months or so!? Would they not think I was the biggest dick ever? I also had Hyperemesis in my last pregnancy and had to be signed off sick for a long time. Imagine that happening again, in a new job! Either way it's pants!

There are more people ttc while breastfeeding. 2 or 3 on another thread. More on others. I invited them over here. We'll see what happens.

Hi I'm here from the other thread, thanks for letting us know about this one.
I'm currently bf 17mo DS, down to about 3 feeds a day, and none at night generally. Just had implant out and waiting to see if af arrives as none when it was in, which is apparently normal, so really no idea what my cycle may be like now.

Thanks MrsHuxtable, currently bf 15 month old, still feeds at night and during the day ( but not co sleeping). Started TTC at the beginning of this month, no AF as of yet? Have had waves of nausea for the last few days but think is due to tiredness, DS teething and feeding like a trooper.

hi i'm new on this thread, i was lurking on the last one a little as i am "waiting to ttc". DD is 1year old and i intend to be bf her until she is three, so i am expecting to tandem feed unless she rejects the breast once i am pregnant. We co-sleep and i still feed on demand a few times a day.

can i ask a silly newbie question : is it generally difficult to ttc whilst bf, even if your periods have returned and are regular? or is there an additional resistance from one's body?

my stats: afterdinnerkiss, 30, ttc #2 this summer, cycle regular 28 days
(sorry i don't know the abbreviations yet)

Hi I'm 36 and just got a (happily) accidental, based-on-one-shag-only BFP while BF my 15 month old.

So clearly it can happen....

Hello to all the newcomers!
The link above gives some great information on fertility while breastfeeding.

Basically the 3 obstacles are:

1) not having periods yet (means no ovulation yet and only a tiny minority of women manage to catch that first egg)

2) having periods but not ovulating yet (the only way to know for sure is temping as OPK only show the hormone surge but not if you then go on to ovulate, breastfeeders can have surges because our body tries to release an egg but then there's too much prolaction in our body and it doesn't happen)

3) having periods and ovulating but after ovulation the luteal phase is too short to sustain a pregnancy (very common in breastfeeders, the consensus seems to be that you LP needs to be a minimum of 10 days to give the egg a chance to implant. If AF turns up earlier than that, it would just flush the egg out)

I'm having problem 3. AF has been back ever since DD was 9 months and I do ovulate but my LP is only 5 days. Pregnancy impossible for me at this stage.

There's things to do to try and rectify it but many come with risks.

Vit B6 --> possible drop in milk supply
Vitex --> ossible drop in milk supply
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Natural Progesterone Cream
Night weaning / weaning
Waiting for things to improve naturally

Anyway, I'm drinking the tea and taking the Vit B6 but only at a tiny dose of 50mg so maybe that's why it's not helped so far.

This thread has been running for years and when I first thought about ttc while breastfeeding, I started going through the old threads. There's so much helpful information on there.

Anyway, need to get ready for toddler group now and then work in the afternoon.

Looking forward to this becoming a very active group with loads of BFPs!!!

BTW, am very pleased to already see a second BFP on this thread! I certainly need the hope!

Thanks for the info MrsH, I must admit I didn't know much of that.

Congratulations crazy, good to know it can happen

yes thank you Mrs H . Really didn't know any of that.

So it might not be so easy. Need to go look up the old threads!

Hooray and congratulations for the BFP's, just goes to show, it can happen .
Feeling hopeful and all the extra info is great( thanks MrsHuxtable). Large mug of raspberry tea coming up.......

I have read that having a 6 hour break between feeds and an occasional 8, can help? Has anyone had any success doing this. It could be a possibility for me as long as DS is not teething?

Forgot to add my stats:

boombangcrash 34, BF DS for 15 months, TTC #2 (actively!) for about a month, no sign of AF.

Hello could I join this thread too please? Have just started TTC#3 this month and am still bf dc2. Been trying to wean her off it for a while now but she's putting up a fight! Not tried to TTC while bf before. Good to hear that some others have been successful already. Not been very scientific about it this month but think I'm due around 6th march. This is my first period since I conceived dc2 though so I'm not really sure. Just keeping fingers crossed this month really. The info above was really useful, thanks Mrs h.

Thanks for starting a new thread! My stats are: 33, 9 month old DD, TTC #2, 2nd cycle. I'm experiencing both delayed ovulation and a short LP, so it's not going so well so far! We cosleep and my DD nurses 1-2 times overnight so I'm sure that is at least part of the problem. Not ready to think about weaning yet... will work on it at the 12 month mark if need be.

Here you all are! I disappeared again and realised the old thread had filled up.
We have had a shocker of a week: DD has had rotavirus, which it turned out had decimated the baby room at her nursery. She was the sickest I've ever seen her, listless, tired, has lost loads of weight, the only thing she did want to do was bf! At one point my GP had me convinced that bfing was potentially upsetting her stomach, then I decided that if she wasn't taking on fluid via dioralyte or having much water we'd end up in hospital so ignored. I ended up with a bit of D for a few days too, which was nice .
Since she has stopped with the D&V, she has been feeding like a monster - I don't know if my supply dropped a bit and she's trying to increase it - but tantrums when removed from the boob after seemingly hours on there.
DH has taken to settling her in her room at night, which helps a bit. She came in with us & kept me awake from 3-5am last night not wanting to go back to sleep though...
Anyway, the last week has killed my temping/opk efforts off completely.
Still no sign of AF (think we're now at CD41 ), no idea whether I have ovd this cycle or not!

So: CorporeSarnie, 36, TTC #2, 1st cycle, cycle has yet to settle down, DD is 16mo.

CorporeSarnie that sounds just awful! Your poor DD and poor you! I hope everything gets back to normal soon.

It's funny how many people assume that once your periods return when you are BFing, you are immediately at high risk for pregnancy. Clearly that is NOT the case for everyone!

Hello everyone,
it's been a bit quiet recently. I couldn't get myself to post the last few days as I've just generally been so pissed off with my situation. I was going to give myself a break this cycle from tracking my luteal phase but having noticed ewcm yesterday and today, I couldn't stop myself (surprise) and got a + on the clear blue digital today. Because this is the first test I took this cycle, I don't know if it was already + yesterday but for a conservative estimate, I'll go with today which is CD 14. Last cycle I got the + on CD 18. So while this looks like an improvement, it remains to be seen when AF turns up. How ridiculous would it be if my LP was still only 5 days? I'd then suddenly be down to a 20 day cycle. I don't even want to contemplate that.

Any news anyone?

boombang yes, stretching out feeds, mixing up your feeding pattern and night weaning can all help to bring back fertility while breastfeeding. I guess you just have if some of that works for you.

My AF came back when DD was 9 months without me having to do anything and funnily my friend's arrived at the same time (same age baby). The difference was that she had been ttc since her DC was born pretty much so had already night weaned etc to encourage fertility. So it really seems to be a very individual thing, like everyone has a different feeding threshold.

Hi all, still waiting for AF, been a month since implant removed so hopefully any time now. Had a few spots (as in facial spots) this week, so looks like something hormonal might be happening or maybe I'm clutching at straws!

DS still on 3 feeds a day when I'm at work which is 4 days a week, on my days off I'm trying to persuade him to have cows milk in a cup some of the time,instead of bf, with mixed results, I don't want to refuse bf completely but sometimes he is happy with a cup.

Fingers crossed for you MrsH that AF stays away.

Hi all new and old,
Boo to the rotavirus sarnie! Sounds horrendous, hopefully you are all on the mend.
I've been feeling the same mrsH. So much so I haven't taken any b6 or Preg vits yet since AF. Have been trying to forget about it. Having said though, cd8 today so have restarted and am on the look out for ewcm.. Considered having a break this cycle but can't afford to.
I totally agree that people have no idea about the link between infertility and bf and assume its easy once periods return. No such luck.
I think we need to get a bit of positivity back ladies. Not sure how though??

MrsHuxtable are you temping to confirm ovulation? I had a positive digi OPK on CD 11 (early for me) this cycle but didn't end up O'ing. Now on CD 20 with no sign of O.

Hi all, and thanks for the well-wishes. Babysarnie now much recovered, barely looked up from her Duplo when left at nursery this morning.
AF finally showed up sometime yesterday afternoon (thank God it was light - I have become so unused to AF and obv so unpredictable that I am back to the standards of a surprised 13-yo!). So only a 46day cycle to deal with and no idea of ovulation, but I will try and be positive that we can do this.
On a semi-related note, does anyone else find that bfing is more painful during AF? I don't usually have problems, but my nipples seem really sensitive at the moment!

Hello all, may I join?

Still waiting for af's return, it's starting to take over my life get to me a little bit.

Stopped night feeds using dr jays method - worked v well- and also been taking agnus castus for a month.

29, dd, 13 months, ttc#2

Btw, agnus castus has had no effect on milk supply (think someone asked up thread)

Hello! Would love to join!

I have 3 DC and we want to have 4. I have been breastfeeding since DD1 (6.5) was born and my youngest is nearly two years old. In that time, whilst breastfeeding, I've conceived four times - a 9 week loss, DD2, DS and a chemical. So I hope that gives some people some hope!

AF came back at 9 months this time out (14 months/9 months with my other two) and the first one or two were always a bit rocky. But they settle into a semi-regular state - ovulating anywhere between CD14 and CD24 depending on what supplements I'm trying that cycle My luteal phase is short - 9 days without supplements, 11 days with. Worse, I spot from around four days before AF arrives (with bad cramps before that), and even have some mid-cycle spotting.

I chart, including temperature taking, and POAS about a million times a cycle whether it's OPKs or HPTs.. always cheapies though as sadly we are no millionaires!

I have been lucky enough to conceive all the other times within a few cycles, but something has gone wrong this time out and it's been nearly a year - this was not the plan. Normally I have pregnancy drama/loss, not failure to conceive. I'm suspecting endometriosis or adhesions and just started the process of hopefully getting a diagnosis.

I refuse to believe it's the breastfeeding given my previous track record of conceptions and babies, but I bet doctors will ask me to wean. I won't. Not until the DCs (yes, as well as the almost 2 year old, I'm still feeding my 4 year old just before her bedtime each day for a minute or so - she WILL NOT give it up for anything in the world!!) want to.

Here's what I take:

Vit B6 I've been taking since 2005 and I've had no problems breastfeeding so I guess it doesn't affect that. I need it for my luteal phase.

Agnus Castus never affected my milk either, but does increase my spotting and make my ovulation later - however I did conceive all my other children with it.

Raspberry leaf tea (H&B capsules too) I think increases my spotting too but I haven't got enough data to go on really. It did nothing for my luteal phase though.

Maca (powder - a heaped teaspoon a day) was great and I am sure was responsible for bringing my ovulation forward to CD16 and giving me nice smooth temps as well. I am on a break from it at the moment as apparently you need to every three months. I can highly recommend it though - I get mine from Amazon usually. Red maca seems to work better apparently..

What else? Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tablets - they can help with supply during AF which I really noticed a difference when I used to pump at work waaaay back when with DD1 before she turned 12 months.

Lots of luck to all of you - I look forward to hearing about those BFPs!!

Welcome to the madhouse snoozed and WOW murder!! What an expert and a most useful person to have around!
Your post gave me some hope as your cycle sounds very similar, although I don't spot at all. I'm also still feeding a similar aged child. Did you concieve any of your pregnancies with the 9 - 11 day luteal phase? Mine is 10 without the b6 and 11 with it. Have been putting my problems down to that?? Although it did take quite a while to concieve ds so it may be nothing to do with the bf and another problem. Desperately hoping not as whilst I'm bf there's something to blame for it and it makes me feel a bit better.
I was pretty ok about this all until a couple of cycles ago, just thought what will be will be, but its starting to get me down a bit now. Someone left for mat leave at my work yesterday and I felt I didn't really want to go in and watch her opening all her presents!! Need to get a grip as some people aren't even lucky enough to have one dc.
I've gone back on the b6 a couple of days ago and started dtd a couple of times a week just in case. Cd 10 here so should start seeing some signs in the next week or so.
I'm going to have a google about some of those other supplements you mentioned. Sound promising.
How's everyone else getting on?

Hi all! I'm not technically ttc yet but am trying to find out about things since may want to - am ebf beautiful dc1 (a girl nearly 6 mths) and plan to bf at least two years - no sign of AF - and I am 40 so wd be 42 by the time two years was up - so IF we did decide to go for a sequel then wd be tricky to wait that long to start ttc....

Conceived dd on first month trying, aged 39, but don't know how fertile I am really - never tried before that!

So anyway v interested in this whole discussion and I hope you all have glorious bfps soon!

Afternoon! Can I join you all?

I'm on cycle 3 of ttc number 2 whilst still bf my 18 month old at bedtime (and occasionally during the night if she's inconsolable with teeth, but that's now rare). My LP was short last time (started off at 7/8 days, managed to get it up to 9/10), so I'm kind of expecting it to be not great now. Last cycle was completely up the spout due to us all having every bug going, but if I did ovulate my LP was 3 days . I'm past that already this cycle, which gives me hope it's not going to be THAT ridiculous, but still.

I took B6 last time, haven't gone back to it yet. I'm hoping it'll all be a bit quicker this time (took a year with the small person, which I know isn't really all that long in the grand scheme of things but felt it). I'm determined to be a lot more chilled out this time, but we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, it's nice to make your acquaintances.

Well I got my second positive OPK of this cycle this morning - CD24. We will see if I actually O. Last cycle I had four positive OPKs before finally O'ing on CD 46. So I take the smiley with a grain of salt! How is everyone else doing?

I'm on cd 12 and I've got loads of ewcm. Unusual for this early on. Hoping I ov in the next few days and don't have a long cycle for once. Fingers crossed. Told dh his luck is in tonight! We can but try!

That sounds promising jakey!
was surprised to find ewcm yesterday - hopefully a sign that things are happening and can start ttc in earnest.

dp is away at the moment sadly so couldnt dtd in case i ov'd..

dd has her molars coming through and has been up all hours - have resorted to feeding at night a bit again as she is very miserable.

Hello all, since posting on this thread DS has morphed into a newborn and is feeding every hour!!! Have been feeling so sick, which I took as a positive sign, but three tests later realise that it is only wishful thinking. It must be hormones and fatigue.
So much for the gaps.....Am trying not to get to obsessed with ttc, but it is slowly starting to consume me. Still no sign of AF whatsoever and have given up charting temp as I haven't managed more than 2 hours between feeds at night for the past 10 days. Feel like the whole world is pregnant .
Good luck to everyone, don't think things will be happening for me any time soon .

jakeyblueblue - yep, all mine conceived with a 9-11 day LP - even my first! And heaps of spotting. It can be done!! But I do wonder if it makes it harder.. I mean, what if the egg sits on a bit that sheds?

I'm CD24 (2dpo, late month this one) but sitting this cycle out for the first time since we started TTC again as we're going skiing in early April. Not that I think we'd get lucky, but it would be law of sod. I feel sick enough in the gondolas anyway without morning sickness getting involved!

boombangcrash - I've been the same. Trying hard not to get obsessed too, but I have to admit when the pre-September 2013 due date came and went I got very upset as I wanted my children all two school years apart. Seems so trivial, but for me it just means another year until I can go back to work when the youngest starts school

Lis999 - I never get positive OPKs on the smiley face digitals, just on the paper strips! Just shows how we all produce different amounts of LH. But I know I am ovulating - temperatures confirm it plus I've had progesterone tests and today I had an ultrasound which showed I had ovulated. Hope this is it for you!

9dpo and temp dropped this morning. Arse. Looks like I need to go back on the B6. What dose do you all take? And is it one you take all cycle? (I think it was agnus castus that I was just taking pre-ov last time but may be confused).

I'd forgotten how mental-making the waiting is, trying to balance hope with realistic expectation. Only this time with sleep deprivation on top - joy.

I take 100mg but 50mg is apparently what you should be trying as a minimum.

I took Agnus Castus all cycle long - I don't think it helped with my luteal phase necessarily but it does apparently reduce prolactin. Don't quote me on that, I just read it somewhere else and haven't researched it myself yet.

Nearly a year after starting TTC our last and my mental state is a complete disaster after the rollercoaster each month

Hello all, just checking in, nothing new to report.

Also wanted to ask, with the supplements some of you are taking, are they to extend luteal phase, or generally helpful? I'm taking pregnacare conception which has B6, but wondering if its worth taking anything else to get cycle kick started as still no sign of AF.

Hi all, cd 16 today and think today's the day. Have already dtd this am but have just had some ov pains so may try talk the old man into another go tonight!
I take 100 mg b6 after initially taking 50mg and LP stayed the same so I upped it and gained an extra day. 50mg is the dose recommended to start from. I think it could help in general as it reduces prolactin, which inhibits progesterone and we need progesterone for AF.
Mental making! Love that description!

Betty - agnus castus is meant to regulate hormones and suppress prolactin, helping to start af when bfing.

Been taking it for about a month, in the last week it feels like things are starting to happen - hopeful that af will come soon.

Mental making indeed!

Thank you will try & get hold of some.

They sell it in Holland & Barrett

Well it looks like I O'd earlier this time! CD 25, which is a vast improvement over CD 46. Now I am hoping for a longer LP. Last month it was only 7-8 days.

I still haven't ov'd!!!! Cd19 and still got ewcm. Had it for over a week. Obviously my body is trying but getting delayed by the constant milk guzzling. Nipples now mega sore so am hoping this is it in the next day or so. Totally bored of dtd now. Totally bored of the whole thing. Why can't we just take a tablet???

Hello. I'm falling into the no AF group. Breast feeding 14 month old 5 times during the day and 5 times a night. We cosleep so it's an open bar. I am planning on night weaning her over the Easter break.

I started TTC in feb and now I'm imagining that I've got symptoms all the freaking time.

I'm 35 and have 2 dds. Dd2 was conceived without ever getting AF back. But I had night weaned. No periods for 4 years! That bit, I love.

I got a BFN on Saturday. I had felt over tired, dizzy and nauseous on Friday.

Now I've minor nausea and a pain in my groin like PGP. I think I'm going mad. There's a clear blue digital in the cupboard that I haven't used yet. I'm all out of cheapies until the weekend shopping trip. Should I try that one or wait a while longer?

Ugh AF came today. That was a 7 day LP. So frustrating!

Hi all I'm out for this month- AF has just arrived. Had the longest cycle I've ever hd in my life this time- 41 days- longest I've ever had before as far as I can recall is 34 days- so I was a week late in theory which has never happened before when I've not been pg. Do you think this is Bfing messing around with my hormones? Have just started going cold turkey with DD at night so she's just having 1 or 2 feeds in the evening now and I'm working towards stopping completely so hopefully next month will be a bit more fertile.
Lis999 sorry to hear the witch got you too

Hi all,

I'm currently bfing my 8 month old about 5 times a day and want to ttc June time, came off mini pill about 5 weeks ago, had a bleed 10 days after which I really thought was af, felt like it! So started opks only amazon cheapies, no positive but wanted to dtd around ov time, was due af last friday, had all the symptoms from thursday to sunday and nothing!

Going to get some agnus cactus this week...

Also Im curious why you all need to nigh tfeed so much? I havent needed to since weaning, wondered if Im missing something?! xxx

Sorry about AF and the rubbish LP lis and dog, ever hopeful for next month!!
Reb welcome and don't worry, you're not missing anything, sounds like you're just one if the lucky ones! I've always bf on demand and still do now even at 20 months. It's quite simply that he still asks for it. Much less now though. Think its quite normal, in some parts of the world they feed during the night well into toddlerhood. If your lucky enough to have one that doesn't then good for you. Ttc will hopefully be easier for you as its def the night feeds that really balls up the hormones. Yes, I guess I could night wean but I'm not sure how well weaning ds before he's ready, for the benefit of a child that's not even here, sits with me. Personal choice. Also, as frustrating as it is, natural child spacing and absent AF when bf is there for a biological reason, and that's to give our bodies a break between pregs and allow us to finish nurturing the bf child. If its not happening then its prob for good reason. Bloody annoying though!!!!
I finally ov'd on Sunday so 4dpo for me. Won't be Preg, coz I never am so trying to not even think about it. ;)

Sorry to hear of your AFs coming.

I did the clear blue digital test and it was a resounding 'Not Pregnant'. I must have a tummy bug as still feel nauseous every now and then.

I'm the same as Jake, just feeding on demand. But I'm choosing to nightwean soon as I'm shattered and want to have a 3, maybe even 4 hours of continuous sleep. It went well with dd1 so worth a shot. If it upsets her too much, then we'll go back to what we're presently doing.

Reb I'm so envious of your sleeper.

well for six months I didnt get more than 3 hrs in one go, two flukes of 5.5hrs in a travel cot!

Once weaning was established I knew she couldnt be hungry, I would feed her just to get her off again and shed be asleep within 30 seconds! So two nights of cc and dummy ditched (i know not for everyone but something had to change) and she's a 12hr a night now. I know Im lucky it didnt take much but totally worth it, would never have done it pre weaning as its not advised with bf as you dont know if they might be hungry. It was surprisingly easy when I knew nothing was wrong, made me much stronger!

So much to benefit as now I dont need to nap when she naps as Im rested so I get my jobs done when she sleeps and can be with her every other second

Just because babies have been weaned onto solids doesn't mean they can't be hungry at night. Appetite changes with growth spurts, you know, and they keep happening even after 6 months.

Sorry to bud in but could not not comment on such a misinformed post. Maybe Reb's baby wasn't hungry anymore at night but most babies still are, as any reputable pediatrician will tell you. In fact, hunger at night is normal until they're 1. After that it can be a comfort thing or genuine hunger, or thirst.

Anyway, I would think that most long time breastfeeders on here are quite attachment parenty and therefor cc would never be an option.

<budding out again>

Hi, can I join? DD is 13.5 mo and I think we're going to start TTC #2 after next af - think I'm due in about a week. Still bf 2x a day, morning & before afternoon nap. Not been bedtime/night feeding for just over a month, nighttimes when I realised she was no longer settling & I was having to wake DP to settle her. Am hoping that means I'm ovulating! Am 39 so am feeling time may not be on my side...

Sorry about the bfn ThickPlottens..

And fingers crossed for you Jakey this month.

Still no sodding af- frustrating - feel like it's coming then nothing happens. Also past few nights dd in a lot of pain with teeth so she's been feeding constantly throughout the night - so this can't help surely and must have set things back somewhat.

<pokes head round door>

Hello <waves>

I'm BFing DS 2.6yrs and TTC no3.
We conceived DS the week after I stopped BFing DD,
I hadn't even had an AF visit yet so I'm hoping it won't be too difficult to TTC another whilst BFing as DS isn't really ready to give it up yet!

My cycle is all over the place,and I've only just had my copper coil removed,but I'm still hopeful and ever so slightly terrified for a BFP soon

Good luck to everyone for this month,and for fast approaching April!

Welcome to the madhouse frigg!
8dpo here. No symptoms. Got a spot on my chin so am thinking AF is probably en route. Trying not to think about it too much. Have got no hpts so can't do any silly attempts to poas too early. Not going to test until sat unless AF shows its ugly face before. My bets on Thursday 11dpo. God I'm a beacon of positivity this month. [laugh]

even.

Ohhhh and we have another just done this morning positive line whilst breast feeding.

Obviously not at the same time as peeing in the cup. Line only faint but repeated 19 tests all the same result and I'm older as well.

Sock did I read that right? Have you a BFP?!

Thanks for the welcome Jakey!
I didn't understand half your post though

<wanders off to brush up on her acronyms>

I have no idea what bfp stands for but if its a positive pregnancy test then yes.

It was very faint but showed up on all 19 sticks I peed on.

I'm quite impressed seen as I've only had sex once in the last year and I'm still bf my 1 year old.

Big Fat Positive!!

And a line is a line! However faint!

Congratulations

Thank you. I'm going to do another one or two first thing in the morning just incase weird stuff like the 3 large bars of dark chocolate I ate at lunch time have caused a strange currently unknown effect of pee sticks

Congrats sock! Hope for us all!
Frigg sorry about the acronyms. Shows how long I've been in this bloody thread!!! Am an old pro at this now. So for all the newbies.
Bfp - big fat positive
Bfn- big fat negative
AF - period.
Poas - pee on a stick.
Opk - ovulation predictor kit.
Hpt - home pregnancy test.
9dpo - 9 days past ovulation.
Dtd - doing the deed.
Think that covers everything you see crop up

Aha!
Thanks,everything has become clear now,Well except OPK's I had no idea they made those!

<adds to shopping list>

Let me know if the chocolate made a difference on those 19 pee sticks Sock I reckon it'd have to go in a scientific journal or summat

Lets see if I'm working out this techie stuff correctly according to my iPad period tracker app the first day of my last period AF was 18/2/13 it pinpoints my ovulation (it also showed up on a different type of pee stick at the same time as the app said) as being the 4/3/13

I dtd on 2/3/13 ('twas late at night so could have been the 3/3/13
Chocolate was also involved) And got a bfp today which I believe is 18/3/13 that is 2 days before my AF is actually due.

I'm rather impressed that tests can pick it up so early when I had my first child hpt were not reliable until you had already missed a period by about 2 weeks. So am I correct in thinking that's 14 days past ovulation but 16 days past actual conception?

Goodness knows...with DD I knew I was pregnant waaaay before any tests could tell me,no idea how,just did.
With DS,I didn't notice at all....I was having lunch with a friend just after we'd been food shopping,and I mentioned I'd gone off coffee and was feeling a bit queasy lately,she whipped out a HPT from her bag and sent me off to the loo....I came back looking like a ghost!
Turned out I was 13 weeks pregnant at that point!!

So this is all new to me,My mind is boggling at it all!

I have a friend who had no idea she was pregnant until she was 18 weeks she was trying as well.

I've had a ectopic before so have always had to get things checked out ASAP and years ago I can remember being sent to hospital to have a HCg blood test done when ever I was 2/3 days late as hpt tests wouldn't pick it up.

I've just been googling random rubbish about false positives just to keep me calm and not so excited just incase and have discovered that false positives are very rare but something called a evaporation line is not.

Now I read every test within the time period specified on packet and all lines had definite blue in them and were the same size as the test completion line but were just really faint lines, that's positive not evaporation lines isant it [stramge hope emocon]

Sounds positive to me, Sock! Congrats!!!

I would be very surprised if 19 tests were all wrong!!

You sound upduffed to me

Peed on a digital stick this morning yep I'm upduffed

WooHoo for you Sock. How very exciting. So that's 20 tests. And I thought I was being cautious buying 6 on the weekend.

My faint line is 14 months old now.
Congrats!

I've got loads left if anyone want me to post them to you.somehow I reckon I can stop peeing on things now.

Official Congrats sock! And hurray for the 20 tests.

Excuse my language but total f******g disaster my end. Spotting today at 9dpo. Didn't even make 10. So pissed with this right now.

Congratulations Sock, that's very encouraging!

Jakey.. Sorry this month hasn't been a good one for you. Me neither. Soon be April though which will hopefully be better.

Ugh I'm sorry Jakey. Is 9 a longer LP for you than last cycle?

I'm sorry jakey. But on the upside you can have much more sex.

Are you dtd just before ovulation as opposed to during?

No 9 day LP is even shorter than usual! Hence the disaster! Usually 10 minimal. God knows what my ridiculous hormones are playing at this cycle.
Dtd the daily from about cd10 to after I am sure I've ovd, usually around day 21. Not sure i could have done anymore. So bloody frustrating.

Are you doing ovulation testing with tests and or temp ect?

No neither, don't get enough unbroken sleep to temp. (Co sleeping) and have had loads of false positives with the opk's so quit them too. Know when I'm ovulating though as have ov pain and a pretty obvious cm pattern too. Fed up with it all!

Jakey that's rubbish. Here's hoping it's a one off dodgy cycle.

Apologies for asking a question and then disappearing - real life and an ill small person intervened. I've found my B6 from last time and it's 100mg tablets, so that's what I'm taking. Temps are all over the shop this month, which is probably partly disturbed sleep (although I can usually still get a clear pattern even with odd days being miles out) but may be my body playing up again. Still, we shag onwards.... Well, if we can find any energy. I do like it when temps work because then I know when to stop.

Congrats socks, it's good to know it can happen.

OK, nosy question (with no judgement at all implied, I really am just nosy), are you folks working/at home/on mat leave/anything else I've not thought of? I'm back at work full time after loving having a year off with the small person. It was the right decision for various reasons, but still feels like an endless juggling act. Anyone else feel like a circus performer?

I work part time alexanderina. But I'm a Macmillan nurse specialist so it can be tough going. The peoblem is that you cant leave stuff til the next time you are in so i end up doing no end of work from home in my own time. used to stay late alot before ds was born but cant do that now. i know exactly how you feel about being a juggler! i regularly have to try and write my notes with ds hanging off the boob and try to eat my tea at the same time
Then on top of being a working mummy, we've got to find time to keep shagging! Wish we could just take a pill!
My lovely but very annoying pregnant friend, fell pregnant whilst bf, on the first attempt and with only having one tube, was trying to make me feel better about the whole thing and told me to be pleased about the bfn as it meant I could keep having lots of sex and that's the enjoyable bit!!! I doubt she would find it so enjoyable doing it every day for weeks coz ovulation is delayed and also in total silence so you don't wake the co sleeping milk monster!!! Grrrrrr!!

Congratulations sock!

Alexanderina, I work 4 days a week, and yes is a struggle to get everything done and then have the time or energy to dtd. I've had all this week off work, and DS is in nursery today so having a day to myself for the first time in 18 months or so. Been so long that I don't really know what to do with myself!

I'm a sahm or as a sham as my autocorrect tells me. I don't feel like a juggler but just that I get nothing done and no time off.

Haven't had a shag in over a week. Too tired when we get the dcs to bed.

Hope you had a fun day Betty.

I only work weekends,and spend the rest of the time looking after DS and getting DD to and from school (an hours round trip walking) DP is brilliant and does more than his share of housework...I don't know WTH I'd do if he didn't!
DP is a chef so works crazy hours some weeks,he also has IBS,so doesn't often feel like DTD (tmi?) as he's either knackerd or bloated or both...

I'm not feeling particularly optimistic today...

I hadn't thought through the logistics of shagging while cosleeping - I'm impressed you manage that at all Jakey! (We tend to cosleep the second half of the night if at all because I'm too lazy/knackered to get her back to sleep any other way). It would be lovely if lots of sex due to ttc was enjoyable all round, but sadly that seems to rarely be the case. Mind you, in our case if we weren't ttc we probably wouldn't bother at all we're that tired. Temp was up this morning so that might be it for this month.

ThickChick I'd have words with your autocorrect! I think it's the no time off thing that makes me glad I work some of the time - in future (and especially if we have number 2) I'd like to go part time, but I think having a bit of space from the small person is good for my sanity. I don't think there's any easy way of doing this motherhood thing, although I wouldn't change it for the world.

I work part time (3 days a week) as a lawyer. It's a good schedule for me and I usually don't feel too stressed. I'm very lucky!!!

We are going to try having DH sleep with DD tonight (usually I cosleep with her) to see if we can night wean. She has slept straight through with no nursing a couple nights this week so we think she might be ready. Wish us luck!

well a quick update from me,af finally arrived a week late but thankfully was just as short as before being pregnant and today is day 10 and ive just got a faint line on my cheapy opk so i think everything is ok at the moment! Just on my phone now so will catch up on the laptop later xx

How did it go Lis?

And glad all seems to be OK Reb.

My temps are all over the place still <sigh>. I should probably fish out the OPKs and see what's going on that way, but it's all just a bit much like effort. I thought I'd got the shagging well timed this month too, but it seems maybe not. Gah.

We ended up not trying because she started teething like crazy and nursing like a maniac! Oh well!

hi ladies,

My dd is 2 next week and no sign of periods yet. I am a little older than some of you.

Is there anything I could take that might encourage ov and or periods?

thank you

Hello polar

Between dd1 and dd2, I took an iron supplement, floradix I think. And nightweaned at the same time. One or the other brought back ovulation.

Pesky teeth Lis - hope they come through quickly.

Hi polarbear. I have no advice I'm afraid (my periods came back when the small person was 11 months) but wanted to welcome you. It seems ridiculous to be wanting periods back when one of the great things about pregnancy and bf is not having them - if only our bodies would do what we want when we want.... (ie start ovulating just as we want to ttc and then conceive straight away. It's the lack of this happening that's ridiculous, rather than you wanting periods, in case that wasn't clear - I don't generally go round insulting people I've only just met!).

Actually I think I made all that a whole lot less clear - can you tell we didn't have a good night?!

Well, I thought this month was going to be a write-off cos my temps have been all over the place and I ran out of energy for shagging. Fertility friend has cruelly got my hopes up by declaring it can detect ovulation, and on the day after our last shag. So rather than resigning myself to it and awaiting my period, I now have a glimmer of (no doubt misplaced) hope and so can continue to go quietly mad as usual. Joy.

On the other hand I got cuddles with a 4-day old yesterday who is absolutely gorgeous. I can't remember what on earth to do with them at that size though.

<waves>

Weeell,we stopped TTC after 3 umm... attempts ...because I lost my job.
And ever since I've been peeing for England,my coffee tastes like a farmyard and AF hasn't shown up yet...

How long should you wait before taking a test,if you know when you DTD but not when your period was?

Depends how long you can hold out! I'd've thought that assuming you'd've had to've ovulated somewhere around the date of the deed to be pregnant, 14 days after would be sensible. Whether you're feeling that sensible is another question - you might well get a BFP earlier than that.

<fingers crossed>

Sorry to hear about the job by the way - that sucks. I'm crossing my fingers that the result is the right one for you.

Hi everyone, how's things? Any news hot cross?
I haven't even counted days this month, nor have I took my b6 properly. Have got a bit lax to be honest! Think I'm about cd 14 and had some ewcm yesterday so have just been trying to dtd every other day. Have become totally defeatist about it all and even packed some of ds baby stuff away this morning. Had left some bits out of the loft just in case but its not looking very hopeful in the near future!!

Hello, just found this thread and it's a revelation to me! It hadn't really occurred to me that breastfeeding my two-and-a-half year old would make any difference. We're just experimentally going without contraception this month, but thanks for suggesting kellymom.

It may not agenda! Fingers crossed you are one of the lucky ones!

Hi agendabender, I'm with Jakey on hoping you'll be fine, but do stay and chat in the meantime.

I on the other hand am failing miserably at not being mental about the whole thing. Having grasped a tiny shred of hope for this cycle I'm now imagining symptoms (full/tender boobs and knackeredness --which is clearly nothing to do with having an awful night's sleep with the small person--) and wondering how early I can POAS despite being totally against early testing (on the basis that if it's not going to stick I don't want to know about it). Someone slap me with something to knock some sense into me!

Hmmm, forgot I had to strikethrough each word, but you get the idea.

Well I'm in the TWW again! I am 3 DPO today. I have taken B6 (50 mg) religiously this cycle so we will see if it makes any difference.

Ooooh, come and be mental in a corner with me then. I've made it to 9dpo which looks like I'll at least have a longer LP than last month so that's good. I am however still going quietly crazy - I'd forgotten just how mad this all drove me last time, and convinced myself I'd be a whole lot saner this time. As it is I'm just tireder....

Have you gone back to try the night weaning again or are you leaving it for now?

HotCrossFRIGG have you POAS yet?

9 DPO is great! Are you taking anything to lengthen your LP or is it naturally getting longer?

I haven't tried to night wean, but she has been waking up less often (knock wood) so that has been nice.

Yay, go miniLis on the waking less often.

I'm on 100mg B6 (because that was the dose I had in the drawer) so it could well be that working. 10dpo and temp still up this morning.

Wow Alexandra! 9dpo is awesome! Looking promising. Theoretically you could poas now??
I've had some good news today too, official changes to my terms and conditions have been released and there are no changes to my current mat entitlement!!! I am over the moon and at least it means the pressure is off. Don't have to be Preg by October now! So I will def not be weaning and will let ds wean himself. If it takes ages to get Preg as a result then so be it. Will keep trying though and what will be will be.
Cd 18 here. Ewcm a plenty and one sore nip. Should be in next few days for me.

hi ladies,

sorry ive been awol had a nightmare straight after my last post saying all seemed ok, we dtd on the saturday night, condom split so i had to have the map on sunday, was due to ovulate monday so couldnt risk it and just gutted i had to stop ovulation so will be all over the place.

i had a bleed for two days nearly two wks later so still dont know if that was a period.

btw im not bk to work until july so if i got pg now i wouldnt get smp for the next baby so thats why i unfortunately had to do what i did

Excellent news about the ts and cs Jakey - pressure off has to be a good thing. Sod's law says that's now it's not so urgent you should be pregnant next month! Fingers crossed anyway.

Game over here, but with a 10 day LP which is an improvement so I can't really complain too much. Hopefully that means next month I can delay the mental for a few extra days. I live in hope....

So Reb when can you start trying for real? I can't remember what the rules are on smp.

Hello everyone, old and new!

I've not been on for ages, quite frankly because I couldn't be bothered. Like Jakey, I have become quite defeatist what with having a LP of 5 days or something stupid like that. I'm not even tracking my cycle at the moment so no idea where I am or what's going on.

Have upped the B6 to 100 mg but don't know if it's doing something.

My last cycle was all over the place due to DD having had a virus and wanting to feed all day long for a week.

The reason for re-appearing now (besides wanting to check how you ladies are getting on) is that we have finally reached our ttc start date.

We are ideally aiming for a January or February baby (and yes, I know how ridiculous it sounds with being pretty much infertile due to LPD) and I just calculated that if I was to start my period today (which I'm not) and was to conceive that cycle, I'd have an EDD of January 14th, so taking into account that DD was born at 38+6, I think we're safe to assume we won't be having a December baby if we got lucky immediately (again hollow laugh at that thought process).

Getting a little bit nervous now knowing that the ttc business is getting all serious again.

That said, I still feel awful due to having started a new job about a months ago. I like working there and the bosses/owners are decent people. I'd hate to announce a pregnancy so soon in but can't really put our private life on hold because of it. Dilemma of the year, I can tell you. It makes me feel slightly better that due to cuts, I had no choice but to leave my old job but still. I want to be a great employee and planning a pregnancy somehow doesn't feel like it.

So, I think the plan for now is: Wait for the next cycle to start and then get shagging a lot. I won't track my cycle I don't think for a while. I'll just see what happens and hope for the best.

How is everyone else getting on? Any news?

DH and I decided that we would just stop using any contraception and see what happened, and if breastfeeding made it take longer we'd just live with that. Obviously, ask me again in six months whether i'm that relaxed!

So this is our first month. AF due in a week. Over the weekend breastfeeding has become increasingly painful. It's probably just a bad latch, right? My nipples are tingly, but DS will feed ten times one day and one the next. so probably that. I'm not relaxed at all, am I?

Sorry so many ladies are struggling with the work/mat leave situation.

i can start trying as soon as i start work in july, once my af is back on track i just need to.make sure im not too closr to the mark cos if my dates move i could be screwed!

Hi all, im trying to stay relaxed too. Ov'd on Sunday but only dtd sat am so might be out anyway. Unfortunately I know exactly when I ov so I have no choice but to track the cycle, even if its only mentally! I've restated the b6 but only because they were half price at holland and barratt!!
Agenda - the sore nips sounds promising!
Mrs hux - good to see you back!

mrshuxtable i know what you mean about work, im having a right fight on my hands for returning yet will be planning to ttc .immediately! And they think dd was an accident cos id only been there two months when i conceived and felt bad so i wont be able to say anything this time!

I think I'm going to hope some of these relaxed vibes rub off on me - I try, but it doesn't seem to work....

The work thing's a hard one isn't it. I ummed and aahed and left ttc again to the point where I'd've been back a year by the time I went off on mat leave again, because that seemed not too unfair on colleagues and people I deal with through work. At the end of the day though, you can't plan these things around work (if indeed you can plan them at all...)

MrsH why the desire for a Jan/Feb baby? <nosy>

Any more symptoms agendabender?

The desire for a January/February baby is just because we're in Scotland and children born in those 2 months can defer school entry for a year and still get pre-school funding, meaning they only start school at 5.8 as the oldest in the year. It's something we're very keen on, DD is a Feb baby so we planned well with her.

Also, when I was in my old job, I was working during the week and DH was looking after DD. He's doing a PhD so working mostly from home. But because he'll be finished with that in October and we have to assume that he might get a Mon-Fri job then, we thought it would be great if with parental leave, holidays etc, I would be ready to go on ML again by then, thus avoiding any sort of childcare for DD.
Things have relaxed a bit in the sense that my new job is Friday-Sunday so even if I wasn't pregnant enough for ML in October, I hope that I could just drop the Friday shift or take Fridays off til I'm there and DH and I can still look after DD between us.
It's all very theoretical as we have no clue what is going to happen with DH but the Jan/Feb baby would fit in perfectly. (A girl is allowed to dream, right?)

No news here. I had a migraine like headache the other day which sometimes happens the night before AF arrives but nothing so far. I strongly suspect I'm having another long cycle because DD had D+V bug and was feeding like a little maniac again all week.

yes Alexanderina I'm loving the smell of DH's beery breath, which I did when expecting DS! Did a test this morning because I was going to see the doctor anyway, but of course it was negative as it's waaaay to early to test. The doctor wants us to wait two months so that I can change medication, so I'm hoping I'm already pregnant so I don't have to add extra months.

MrsH really interested to hear that increased feeding lengthens your cycle. I've been regular as clockwork since I got mine back. Has anyone else experienced this?

Well AF has arrived, which is too bad, but my LP jumped from 7 to 10 days! Maybe it was the B6?

That all makes sense MrsH - fingers crossed! I guess with the school thing a March/April baby would still be one of the oldest in the year if that's what you're wanting.

Agenda there must be something going on if you like beery breath!

Yay for the longer LP Lis, although not for AF. Here's hoping it's good preparation for next cycle to be the one.

5dpo here. Awaiting the inevitable!
Congrats on the LP lis! That's a most respectable increase!!

I think mine has too Lis . I wasn't even expecting it until Monday or Tuesday, so that sucks. I hope your good LP continues!

Hello, AF arrived this morning! So it's CD1 of first ttc cycle! EEEK!!!!!

Agenda Could the sore nipples have been ovulation? As far as I know it's one of the signs when breastfeeding.

ah thanks MrsH I'll look out for that next month. Actually my "period" seems to have disappeared. I'm desperately trying not to get my hopes up that it was an implantation bleed, while hoping it was an implantation bleed. Don't think i had one the first time around, or any spotting at all ever in my life.

Hi all hope you're all ok. Was wondering if I could ask your opinions on this. Have just done a test this am and got a bfn. Am on cd 34 but had v early mc last month so have taken cd 1 as being 1st day of mc. I am 9-10 dpo, tend to ovulate late in my cycle, and 7 days since last dtd. Do you think I've tested too early or am i just kidding myself? Dd has also become boob hound again in last 4 or 5 days so that's prob messed it up anyway. I guess I'll just have to wait and see but was hopeful it would be ok this month, after last month's misery

Ps good luck agenda!

Just realised I got that wrong, should be 7-8 dpo, as the opks tell you you're about to ovulate don't they, rather than telling you that you are. I didn't mention the mc in my post last month as was in denial about it, only when dh persuaded me to speak to doc did it become official. Anyway apologies for multiple posts will stop now

Sorry to hear about the mc DogandBeth. Sounds like that was pretty early for testing, so I wouldn't give up hope quite yet.

Agenda your last post made me think 'implantation bleed' but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to fuel the madness. Seems like you're managing that all by yourself though ;) Here's hoping....

Hi all, no real news here. Have been taking agnus castus but no sign of AF yet. Hope there's some good news on the thread soon.

Just madness I'm afraid. Three days of tiny bits of blood in mucus before AF, what's that about? If it's possible to make it happen by being crazy then it was probably that.

DogandBeth sounds like you've had a really tough one there. I hope you're ok.

Thanks agenda and Alexanderina sorry to hear you haven't got good news (yet)
I'm ok ta just a bit fed up really. Still hoping I tested too early this month tho think my hormones may be a bit messed up still.
Good luck for this month Mrs h and betty

We really need some good news guys!
9dpo tmrw but lying here with AF cramps. Looks like another sub ten LP for me. Bloody useless.
Thinking about going to the gp? What do you think? AF been back 11 months now, but admittedly wAsnt trying all those cycles due to illness and logistics. Also it's only been the last 3 or 4 cycles that the cycles have been more regular. Not really sure whAt they would do anyway. Prob just tell me to wean.

Hi all,

Sorry for your mc dogsandbeth, a friend mced at 11 wks in feb and still has got her first period and she just wants to get going!

Well good news on the ov front for me, ive been temping and opks and got positive last week, this equates to day 14 from my post map bleed so i think im.bang on track for 28 dayers again and the map hasnt messed me up!

Im now going bk to work full time as it will hopefully only be for a short while so i want to save all i can to then be able to stay home after the next baby but going bk full time at least means we can start trying sooner as its classed as continuous employment and im taking june as holiday so can start from then

Hello no good news here I'm afraid- looks like AF got me too . Ah well

Well I've mAde it through 9dpo with no AF but its sure to come tmrw. Had cramping on and off all day so am expecting it anytime.

AF on 11dpo so I guess that's at least something

Oh Jackey, sorry you weren't successful this cycle but an 11 day LP is not shabby at all! How old is your DS now? Feels like the months have just flown by since I joined this thread.

My AF has come to an end, so potentially, we will have our first condom free shag tonight (once my mum has departed from her visit ;) ). Not sure how I feel about it though as DH and I have been arguing quite a bit the last couple of weeks (we are massively stressed) and I would certainly not consider having sex if today if it wasn't for ttc. Am also having a little cold feet due to the whole work situation. Gah!

Btw, my skin is horrendous at the moment. Why is this happening? I have spots on my chest (boak) and the only time I had that was when I was pregnant (which I'm not currently). Could it be too much coffee? I'm puzzled.

Does anyone have good news?

Glad there's a silver lining of not too shabby LP Jakey, not that that was what you wanted.

MrsH I'm with you on the shagging when you wouldn't even think of it otherwise - mine was with a splitting headache last night. And then we had a blazing row this morning <sigh>.

I'm remembering more and more of how nuts ttc sends me. This does not bode well for the next however many months.

The sound of a screaming child through the monitor is just the best accompaniment to a shag don't you think....

So true, Alexanderina!

We had our first ttc shag last night on CD10. In the spare bedroom. Quite in a hurry as well as DD kept waking up.

Hi all. I am b/f ds1, he's 9m and (more or less) night-weaned since 6 1/2m. I haven't had any periods yet. I would love to have another baby. I'm 35 and took 6m to conceive ds1 (proper trying by monitoring my cycle etc not just no contraception). For this reason I'm keen to hear from the more expert posters here if there's anything I can do? Ds has not taken to solids very well, he does ok but is not that enthusiastic on the whole, so I'm not sure I can b/f him much less. (Also refusing bottles at the moment after accepting them for 8m) . I assumed there was nothing I could do really till my periods return and I can try to work out when I am ovulating.

Hi Victoria. I'm afraid I'm not one of the experts on how to get ovulation going (I didn't start ttc until well after my periods were back), but I wanted to say hello anyway, and I'm sure other people will be along with advice.

Does anyone else go through phases of hope/despair through each cycle? I was feeling hopeful when I knew we'd shagged the day before and day of ov, now at 3dpo I know it's not worked (cos you can tell by now, right?!) and yet I know that in a few day's time I'll be driving myself mad symptom spotting and the hope will be back. Can I blame it on the hormones?

Thanks Alexanderina

Hello, BettyStogs here under a different name (can't figure out how to change it back on my phone)

Victoria I'm also waiting for AF's return, with regards to solids I noticed that DS started eating a lot more at around 9-10 months, so you may find that he starts dropping milk feeds quite soon if that's the case with him too. Otherwise some of the ladies on here have recommend agnus castus and vitamin B6 to help regulate hormones and get cycle back to normal.

Hi All, hope you don't mind me dropping by.
Here's my story in brief I have 4 children all under 5 & conceived each one while bfing the others so it's totally possible. I also fed my dd til she was 3! My ds only 5mths & I'd love another haha I'm a nutter ( hence my user name very apt i thought) )I know but just love big families they bring such joy.
Anyway I've always co slept with them all & never rushed to wean them only with no 3 as needed to get back to work at 11mths. My Af always came back about 3/4 mths & I used opk with the last 3 I didn't go mad just dtd the day of the +opk & 3 days after. Ive been trying to think of reasons why my Af always returned early although not regular cycles some long some short & I never heard of a short LP until I came on here.
I feed on demand always & sometimes 3/4 times in the night but never for long when they are asleep I've always unlached them.
My only difference I think is that I only really feed off one boobie maybe the other side once a day. The reason is I just feel more comfortable on that particular side so it suits. Ds doesn't lose out born at 10.1 & is a monster in size really huge so it has no effect on him or my other what so ever!
Anyway thought id share that as its a shame to give up feeding to all the mums who love it as it was never an issue with me I can only imagine the dilemma's your faced with.
I hope you all have bfp very soon including me again I hope xx

Btw I always took parental vits at least one mth before & my dh zinc ( apprently improves the quality & quantity of sperm) !!&#128170;

Ps sorry about the weird numbers at the end... What's all that about ha!

Well, it's good to know there are people out there it does work out easily for Looneymummy.

How is everyone? I should be going mad with symptom spotting at the mo (I think I'm about 7dpo) but work is insane and I'm not having time to think about it, which is good I guess. The small person isn't sleeping well either, so it's all fun and games round here.... Hope everyone else's lives are a bit less hectic.

How are you all doing ladies? Is anyone on here nursing a child older than two? If so, how frequently do they feed? I'm just looking to hear other people's experiences, not judging (my DS is 2 years 8 months)

Alexanderina this is probably the only time when it's good for your mental health to be so busy!

This is true....

The small person's only 19 months so I can't answer your question I'm afraid. I'm wondering if she'll ever decide to self-wean, or if I'll end up having to do it because I don't fancy tandem feeding. Assuming I ever get pregnant... She just has a bedtime feed now anyway, so I guess if we do get to 2 years we'll still be on that.

I know a few families in which the toddler has self weaned when the mum's milk has dried up in pregnancy. These are all over 2. I know an under-2 who kept feeding and is now tandem feeding, but the colostrum gave her awful runs and a raw bottom. They often increase their feeding around 2 years, by the way. DS went down to 1, maybe 2 feeds a day, then around 2 started feeding like a newborn, and so did all of his friends.

Hmmm, that'll be fun then (the upping feeds at 2). Although she's at nursery 4 days a week so it's not like she'll have the opportunity that much. I'm not desperate to wean, just wondering if she'll do it or if I'll have to.

Anyone any good with the mysteries of temping? Early yesterday temp was well down, so figured game over (at 10dpo). Took it again at getting up time (after another couple of hours sleep) and it was that annoying neither up nor down temp (for me). Still figured game over. No sign of period though.

This morning early temp was low, took it again a couple of hours later when I got up and it was high. (Only .2 different, but those temps would usually be clearly up or down at this point in the cycle).

I know in theory it's the one after longest amount of sleep that counts, but that didn't play out yesterday. (Cue thoughts about implantation dips....) But I am kidding myself, aren't I? I'm fully expecting to be back with news of game over before anyone manages to reply!

In cheerier conversation topics, does anyone have exciting plans for the bank holiday weekend? The sun appears to have decided to join us here at last....

Hello,

no news here. Am on CD 22 and have had EWCM since day 12 or so. Think
this will be a long and useless cycle since DD is teething (molars, shudder) and has been a boob maniac. My nipples are raw! I also don't think we dtd often enough so far. Every 2-3 days has been all we've managed.

No exciting plans here I'm afraid. Just working and studying my arse off.

I don't know about the temping Alexanderina. I gave up on that after 2 days as I just wasn't getting enough sleep to do it properly. Hopefully someone else will be ale to help.

Blergh to molars.

What's the studying? <nosy> <may already have asked and forgotten the answer cos have brain like sieve>

Well the sunshine has buggered off again, but the small person and I did make it down to the farm earlier to see lambs and a baby Highland coo.

Tis now officially game over, but with LP up another day to 11 so that's good. And I won't have to make excuses for not drinking at a wedding later this month. <looks for silver lining>

sorry Alex hope you're ok. You too MrsH. I think we missed the boat on DTD this month, but when AF is due DH will be away for the weekend and my entire (large) family will be staying with me, so inevitably it will be late and I'll have to wait all weekend to test, only to come on on Monday! We haven't told anyone that we'd like another, and I know they'd be pretty negative about it, so I'll have a tidy up before the weekend and hide the pregnancy tests and folic acid! I just know my mum or my sisters would manage to find them!

Can I tentatively say hello? I've lurked for a long while on this thread and previous ones... currently bf 14m dd, ttc no. 3. I conceived dd while bf ds, (but he was sleeping through the night by 1, dd still feeding once or occasionally twice in the night). ds stopped feeding at about 3 (basically dropped his nap/rest time, and he was only having milk before rest, so he forgot about it) although he did have one feed last week because he asked for it. Anyhow, no AF at all yet, but just wanted to say hello.

Hi everyone and welcome to all the new recruits!
Haven't been around for a while as have been trying to not obsess about the whole ttc thing..... Needless to say, it hasn't really worked and I'm now 17 dpo with ewcm and have been dtd the last few days so looks like I'm in for another marvellous 2ww. Yawn!!!

Hi everyone!

Another new joiner - bf DD1 (8m) and starting TTC in a month or so. But no sign of AF let alone ovulation...

Thinking of night weaning as can't wait to have DC2 and although DD1 did not take long to conceive, we had 2 mmcs too.

Anyone have a good night weaning strategy? Have been reading the no cry sleep solution which recommends gradually reducing length of feeds.

Good to see some bfps on this thread!

Well god knows what's going on inside my ridiculous body!! Cd 20, ewcm dried up today but not 100% sure I've ov'd. Usually if I'm not sure, it means I haven't. Did have some ov pain Monday night which would add up why ewcm has dried up but usually the pain is worse and also my nips are still sore, which should have gone now. Think I will dtd again today to be on the safe side and then wait and see if AF comes or ewcm returns. I have had cycles where ewcm came back later in the month and I went on to ov very late.
Why is it so bloody confusing and difficult. Makes you wonder how all the pregnancies on Jeremy Kyle ever occur from just one dtd!!!
How's everyone else getting on?
Oh and welcome to the fold wild water!

I tell you how, Jakey! Those people on Jeremy Vile are about 14 and wouldn't think of breastfeeding!

Feeling a bit ranty myself as you might be able to tell. CD26 here and I feel like AF is on the way. Also no idea if I've ovulated because I'm trying not to monitor it too much and just be relaxed. Fat chance of that. Besides probably still having a crap LP, we also haven't been dtd an awful lot. I reckon AF will make her appearance any day now.

We really need a BPF on the thread to keep us all motivated.

Thanks Jakey!

Ah, those mentions of CD20 etc make me feel nostalgic about the days when I used to have a cycle! But it must be very frustrating to not be quite sure what is going on re ov and luteal phase. Lots of random dtd!
Really hope that will result in a bfp for someone very soon!

At this end we're just stuck on trying to get AF back... Not sure what the best strategy is. DD still a bit of a milk monster - tends to throw herself at me mouth open when she hungry. Even latched onto my chin on the weekend, has she learnt nothing in 8 months?!

So keen to be able to ttc though!

Hi ladies.

Well it finally arrived, 2 yrs and 18 days after dd was born.

So, had very clear + opk's on day 16. Don't know about any other days as I just randomly tested. Swi ( shagged with intent ) on day 17 and that's been it, dh has been working late and had 2 overnight always so not really holding out any hope.

We will see, normal cycle used to be 28 days on the dot, moving to more 30

DS cosleeping tonight and woke me up for a feed at 3am. Went for a wee, did a test to know before my family descend for the weekend and DH goes away, and got a BFP. Faint at first, but definite! It can be done!

Oh wow agenda

Massive congratulations!

You give us all hope!

Congratulations agenda! I'm really jealous. CD 28 here and I feel like af is on her way. This might sound stupid but I'm really struggling with the idea of not falling pregnant on our first cycle of ttc because that's how it was with dd. In my head I know that between the breastfeeding lp mess and the lack in sex it's pretty much impossible to get that bfp but I'm still disappointed. How.ridiculous. Any updates from anyone else?

Wow congrats agenda! At last some good news! Hope all goes well for you!
No news here, in the 2ww but not really sure when ov'd so just going to sit it out and see when AF turns up. I'm thinking next week sometime.
Try not to stress mrs hux, you never know, stranger things have happened. You may be one of the lucky ones. My AF came back a year ago now and I know its very easy to get sad about it all but we have to remind ourselves of what we've already got. Some people aren't that lucky. If I'm honest, I do breathe a tiny little sigh of relief every cycle that passes that I'm not Preg, ds takes up so much of my time, I sometimes wonder if I must be mad and how I'd cope!
Keep going, it will happen for both of us

Hello, can I join? I'm 35 in two weeks' time and still feeding DS, who's 2.7. I didn't mean to feed him for this long - it's kind of ended up this way.

DH and I took a long time to decide to TTC again. I had PND during DS's first year - he cried a lot and never slept - and we weren't sure we could go through it again. We finally decided to go for it and last month was our first proper month trying. I got AF today

We've never had an unsuccessful month TTC - the first time, I had an early MC. Then I got pg with DS the very next cycle, without even a period in between. So we kind of expected it'd be the same this time. Am a bit to find out bf could be a factor - AF came back when DS was 10mo so I thought all was back to normal. Apparently not

DS feeds first thing in the morning, last thing at night and at naptime (fed to sleep). More if ill or tired, but not at night (nightweaned at 18mo).

I had a short LP anyway - 10 days max in a 23/24 day cycle. Looks like it was only 8 or 9 days this cycle. After reading up here I've bought some B6 so hoping that'll help.

So glad I found this thread - was feeling quite this morning when AF arrived but it helps to know you ladies are there too. Fingers crossed for everyone

Excellent news agenda Are you going to be able to keep the grin off your face with your family around so they don't suspect, or will you tell them?

Welcome to all the newbies, it's good to have you here.

Nothing to report here - I'm in the dull bit of the cycle where it's not yet time to SWI (I like that acronym lia). About to go away for a few days with the small person leaving husband at home which inevitably means ov will be early and we'll miss our chance this month.

Hi can I join you guys? Have been lurking for a while learning what to expect DD is 8m and AF has just returned. Never been so glad to see her in my life Although i was a little hopeful as I had definite EWCM last month but LP would only have been 6 days So now just waiting to see what happens with this cycle. Will probably try some B6 as so many of you have had success with it Things had been going quite well in terms of reducing BF and getting DD going on solids, but she seems to have changed her mind recently and now won't eat anything other than milk so my recently increased fertility will probably take a nose dive again.

I have always wanted to have DCs close together but it took a long time to conceive DD, so not holding out a lot of hope! Great to see some BFPs here though

Welcome count and eggs! Eggs - can I ask how much your DD bf now? Our DDs are the same age but although mine now bf only 4 times in a 24 hour period, no sign of AF.

Jakey - I know what you mean about reminding ourselves how lucky we are - so true!

Thanks for the welcome wild DD is feeding 6-7 times a day, only has the occassional night feed though. She is a pretty quick feeder though, only more than 6 mins if my supply is down a bit and she has both sides. I have read that the total time spent sucking is more important than the frequency in terms of inhibiting ovulation, with 60 mins/day being the magic number on average. But don't really know if it's true!

Oh wow thanks eggs - can't believe it never occurred to me that feed length, rather than frequency, might be the issue! I was struggling to see which feed I could drop, but shortening the evening/night ones in particular seems more achievable I'm usually so tired I just kind of sit there snoozing for ages while she eats

gosh, I didn't think about feed length either - but I'm sure dd usually feeds much less than 60mins a day and no AF here yet... when I was feeding ds it arrived when he was about 14months - he was only having 2 feeds a day at that point.

Hello all, and congrats Agenda!

Just popping in to say that sadly I will be leaving this thread. With DS just turned 20mo, no sign of AF,and my 39th birthday just around the corner I have made the difficult decision to stop bf. Not entirely sure how I'm going to do that, but that's for another thread.

Thanks to everyone for the support and I hope that there will be BFPs for you all very soon - I may pop in from time to time to check!

Massive news here! Am on CD32 and just got a BFP!

I did a Clearblue digital and a cheap Amazon test 2 days ago and both were negativ. Yesterday at work I ate a crisp sandwich. The only other time I ate one was the week before I found out I was pregnant with DD so did another 2 cheap test this morning an got a very faint line. Went and bought another Digital and there it was: Pregnant 1-2 weeks. am now massively apprehensive about chemical pregnancy etc as I have no idea how early I got my result. No idea of cycle length.

Wow that is huge news MrsHux! Big congratulations ! Have you told anyone yet?!

May I be so rude bold to ask you for a brief overview of your bf history, ie when did AF return, how long after that is this BFP, have you made any bf changes that helped? Just to get an idea of what I am dealing with here

Sorry to hear you're leaving Betty. I hope stopping bf goes well for you and DC.

No problem Waterfalls!

DH knows now as do my 2 best friends and one of my sisters. I'm not good at keeping a secret but that's it for now as I will have to keep the news quiet at work til August at least.

AF returned when DD was 10 months old, she's now 15 months. There was no logic to it, she didn't feed any less that month than she did the others. We co-sleep and she still wakes 3-4 times at night to feed.Also feeds during the day, 2-3 times. I had a short luteal phase of only 4-5 days for at least the first 4 cycles, after that I stopped paying attention as it was getting me down. This cycle that got me the BFP was my 7th cycle postpartum I think and I didn't change any breastfeeding behaviours. That said, it was also the first month we were ttc so I have no idea if I would have been able to get pregnant earlier had we tried. I just assumed there was no chance because of the luteal phase defect. I started taking Vit B6 a few months ago, first 50mg and then 2 months ago, I started taking 100mg. That was also when I got frustrated and gave up paying attention to my cycle. So the 100mg Vit B6 might have increased my LP to a viable length.

I'm taking all of this with a pinch of salt as I'm a pessimist and fully expect this pregnancy not to work out, sooner rather than later.

Feel free to ask me anything specific you might be wondering!

Sorry, DD was 9 months when AF returned.

Advice needed please ladies!

DS is 22 months and still bf. I have pcos and an underactive thyroid and even before having DS I had very irregular cycles and usually only around 6 per year (average cycle length 40 days).

I haven't had any AF since having DS and have been slowly cutting down bf to try to get AF to return.

Still feeding before/after naps and last thing/first thing, though.

Now tonight I have EWCM trying not to get too excited, but does this mean AF is coming back???

Thanks MrsHux that is all so encouraging. DD is 8.5 months and s bf much more during evening/night than during the day. So good to know I may not have to give that up for AF to come back.

I am so excited for you. First month of ttc as well! Lovely to have the DCs quite close together in age. Hope you'll keep us posted, and perhaps there is a bf while pregnant thread somewhere as well you can now join!

Reading back through the thread - congratulations mrs huxtable

Huge Congrats MrsH! Awesome news, and 1st month ttc too! Hope you're not feeling too nauseous bf!

WouldBeHarriet, I'd dtd whenever there is any fertile mucus. You might catch your first egg. That said, the months because AF came back for me, I also noticed EWCM and then, a few days later, there was a tiny amount of blood on the toilet paper when I wiped. So it might very well be your body gearing up for proper cycles.

God, I hope that the theory is true that breastfeeding reduced morning sickness. I had Hyperemesis last time, for 9 bloody months!!!!! So going through that again, plus having a breastfeeding toddler and studying and having a new job fills me with dread!