TTC whilst breastfeeding. Tips, advice and support

I think this is the thread for me! Still waiting on the first AF since giving birth 8 months ago. My age means time is not on our side so the sooner we can TTC again the better. I just need to get over the birth trauma that's now gotten me terrified of giving birth again. Dropped night feeds two months ago and down to around 4-5 feeds per day so I wonder if it's just a lack of vitamins stopping my cycle from returning 🤷‍♀️

@Golaz I am on CD16. Judging by ewcm I probably ovulated this weekend, but otherwise who knows. I think I am back to my 26 day cycles I had pre DS. Let's see what this cycle will bring.
@Billyv oh I hope you little one gets better soon. Night have been pants here as well. DS is in our bed half the night, doing snotty snores and coughs. I am not much better. Ugh, I want summer back.
@Orangio thanks 😊 I am planning on tucking into that coffee for survival.

Thanks @Orangio will report back tomorrow.

Good luck if you test @Golaz !
And good luck with your doctor appointment tomorrow Billyv. Hopefully they'll be helpful.
Hope your first day back isn't too bad @Mc3209 and the potty training continues to work well. I can't wait for that stage!

@Mc3209 not going to lie , I’m 7dpo tomorrow and can see myself POAS 😂🙈. Ideally I would wait until at least 10dpo (if I make it that far).

what CD are you on?

Thank you @Mc3209 yes. I will admit I'm paranoid 🙂I was kind of a POAS addict to begin with anyway.

My plan is to stop testing after tomorrow morning. There. I'm a proper addict. Just one more hit and then I'll quit, I promise.

Urgh my DS has a cold as well. How are your nights? We had another crap one here. DS snoring in bed next to me from 11.30, with DP on the futon. Woke a few times after that, too. Would not go back down in his own bed.

@Billyv that's no longer a squinter, it's a solid positive. I'd say step away from the tests, you are starting to spin, lovely 😘 See what the doc says on Monday.

My plans to night wean have been sabotaged by a stinking cold in both me and DS. I didn't have the heart to take away his big comfort when he is unwell. So not looking forward to going back tomorrow after annual leave, head cold is not making it any better.

On the up side, DS seems to have taken really well to potty training (touch wood, cross everything 🤣). Let's see how he will do in nursery.

@Golaz I am a self proclaimed POAS addict too. Last cycle I started testing at 7dpo (despite trying to hold off until 12dpo)

@Golaz oh haha don't, he already thinks he's got the world's greatest swimmers after making DS in one try.

if I told you how often I’ve been testing you’d think I was completely mad 🤣. Last time around I was like you, I only tested after a late period, but this time I’ve turned into a POAS addict. I guess it’s because AF kept appearing then disappearing, so I had no idea where I was in my cycle.
6dpo tomorrow 🙌🏻😅.
Im with you in that I’ll be happy just with a decent LP this cycle 🤞🏻, I’m not too hopeful for anything else: only DTD once and I think it might have been a bit late.

I think that looks really good tbh! The line today is much darker and very much a solid sticky bean looking positive. I think your DH may have mutant sperm after all 🤣

Oh also thanks for the Digi suggestion - i think I'll see what the Dr says and if they offer a blood test before I buy more tests. I'm pissing on a fortune!

@Orangio ahh. So innocent 😉yes, they can go quite a bit darker. I was so impressed when you said you've only done three tests in your life - I've done 3 today!

I think you can get sucked into obsessive worrying by reading too much/looking at other people's tests on Mumsnet. Bad habit, I did it with my first and that was a textbook pregnancy.

Today's one looks as dark as the control line! I don't see how you can go darker, surely dye stealers don't happen to everyone?
I've always used digis because I like how unambiguous they are. Would you consider the digi with weeks? I think the weeks are only accurate for about 90% of people though because of the huge variation in HCG levels, but it should be at least 2-3 weeks by now shouldn't it. Might be worth a shot if you're going nuts waiting.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ah thanks. I don't know. I keep looking at line progression examples and people get proper dye stealers at 16dpo... I am thinking realistically there's not enough of a change between the 9th and today, if HCG is supposed to have more than doubled in that time.

Hoping the Dr will get me in for bloods right away.

@Billyv I don't want to get your hopes up, but I'd say tentatively that does look like good progression. Maybe you implanted very late. But the lines are darkening. Will it be another week or two before you could consider a scan?

Yeaaahh. It's not looking good.

Aw shit.

@Golaz well if you're feeling desensitised at least that makes it less stressful hopefully! How often do you test?
I've never been an early tester, I've mostly waited til roughly when my period is due or just after, so I've only ever done three tests in my life. I don't think I'll find it too sad if AF comes, as I'm really feeling it's pretty unlikely I'll conceive while still BF so I'm expecting not to iyswim. Anything else would be a pleasant surprise! I'll be happy with a decent LP tbh!

@Golaz I keep counting various scenarios out on my fingers, hehe. But I think I'm definitely clutching at straws. So much straw clutching going on here!

😂😂😂 lololol.

I may be naive but I’m thinking line progression is the most important thing? If it were a miscarriage then surely the lines would be getting lighter, or at least not significantly darkening . With ectopic I’m not sure you would have such rapid progression, and I think you would probably have some more on and off bleeding? So if you’ve stopped I think it’s a good sign. Theoretically, say you ovulated 5-6 days later, and implantation took a few days longer than average, you could be the equivalent of around 13-14 dpo and those lines would be normal I’d say. I dunno I’m just hopeful for you ☺️.

Fingers crossed for our LP @Orangio . If Af stays away are you planning on early testing? I’ve had no idea what was going on with my cycle, so have been randomly testing every now and then, so I’m a POAS addict at this point 🤣. totally desensitised to the whole thing

Of course he does! 🤣

Of course, DP already thinks he's got miracle sperm.

@Orangio I know, I think I've got to be 18-19dpo at the very least, it's pale for that too. So I'm not even sure if progression is a good thing under the circumstances, if it's ectopic I certainly don't want it to be progressing... If it's a normal pregnancy it'll be some kind of miracle long lived sperm

GAH that was meant to be @Golaz ! My thumbs just have a mind of their own sometimes 🤣 I was going to say I'm also about 4 dpo, so here's hoping for a nice lengthy LP for us both 🤞

At least it is progressing @Billyv ! It does seem light for 22dpo ish, if that's right, but I'm not familiar with that type of test so maybe that doesn't mean anything. It's so tough having to wait til Monday though!

@Mc3209

Haha that's very inconsiderate of him. Oh well there's always a chance 🙂