Is anyone/did anyone fertilty chart while breastfeeding?

[Angifi]

I am wondering if anyone can help shed some light on what to expect whilst BF.

My DS is 13 months and I am trying to track my fertilty by taking my temp,and using fertilty friend. I have also read Toni Weschler's Taking Charge of your fertilty.

Has anyone else done this while breastfeeding? My temperature is all over the place and I am yet to have my first period. I would love to catch the first egg, and thought I had ovulated about three weeks ago, but obviously didn't (despite a temperature shift) because I haven't had a period and have had many negative preg tests(the last one at 19 dpo,so def. not preg). I know it can take a while to resume menstruation, and my ds likes to BF alot, but is sleeping through most nights.I guess my age might be a factor too as I am 42.

Any experience/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mathanxiety]

Sleeping through most nights is that 4 out of 7 or just waking a few times a month? If you don't get to sleep undisturbed your am temp will be unreliable. What other indicators do you use (sorry if too personal question) cervical position, mucus? They can be better indicators than temp while bfing or temp alone if your sleep isn't reliably undisturbed. Plus, how often does your DS bfeed per day -- you might not be ready to ovulate if the bfing is very frequent.

[mawbroon]

Hi Angifi - yes, I did fertility charting whilst breastfeeding. I started ttc when ds was around the same age as yours (looking for 2yr age gap!!).

I had been on mini pill until this point, and I started ovulating as soon as I came off it, so I have no idea when I would have started if I hadn't been on the pill IYSWIM.

Anyway, I charted something like 30 cycles before finally getting pg in May this year.

I absolutely agree with mathanxiety re the temps. If you haven't had three hours sleep before taking the temp, and if you don't take it at roughly the same time, then the temps are not that useful. I ended up using cervical fluid and position to help pinpoint ovulation.

I wasn't doing it exactly enough to rely upon it as contraception, because I was never 100% sure without the temps that I had definitely ovulated, but it served well re ttc.

Everyone is different when it comes to ttc when breastfeeding, but my lack of conceiving was because breastfeeding was delaying ovulation and my luteal phase was too short for implantation. It checked out at about 8 days I think when I started, and I saw it gradually lengthen to 13 just before I got pg this time round. But then many people catch the first egg, so it's luck of the draw I guess!

It wasn't until ds night weaned completely (or rather, I night weaned him) at age 3.5yo that I finally conceived.

Good luck.

[Angifi]

My DS is feeding frequently - basically whenever he wants for comfort. But I am encouraging him to drink juice and water and make sure he has three meals and snacks. At night he sleeps until about 5am (we co-sleep) almost every night now.Maybe it hasn't been long enough. I really don't want to wean him.He is really supposed to be my P.L.B (precious last baby), but I have enjoyed him so much and there's a big age gap, so would like a sibling close in age. Sadly I think it may not happen as I am 42 and if it takes a couple of years for ovulation to happen, it will likely be too late.
However, right now I'd like to continue BF, so will endeavour to chart and hope for the best.
Thanks for your replies.

[mathanxiety]

Is there any way you could move the DS into a cot in your room? While co-sleeping, your sleep may be a bit disturbed even if he sleeps through regularly. You never know with ttc, just keep on with the t part...