TTC whilst breastfeeding. Tips, advice and support

Sorry just realised that last bit reads a bit insensitive. Don't think I worded it very well. I mean I hoped that we'd have some definite answers today and if it's not/wasn't a viable pregnancy then I hoped it was all over and done with already. If there's any hope of a good outcome then obviously I'd prefer that. My feeling is that it won't be though 😞

@Porridgeaddiction ah thanks for checking in. A bit inconclusive to be honest. They found a gestational sac in the right place, no visible pregnancy yet. But something that dawned on me today that hasn't before is that I didn't ovulate until day 21/22 of that cycle so im actually only 5 weeks, not 6. With one of my previous pregnancies they couldn't see anything but a sac at my first scan and when I went back 2 weeks later baby was visible. But I'm not clinging on to too much hope.

Sonographer thought the sac was a bit of an irregular shape so suspects it might be trying to come away which is would explain the bleeding. They've done my bloods and got to go back tues morning for more to see if hcg is rising or not. My gut is that this is still not going to have a good outcome. I kind of hoped that today they'd say I'd already lost the pregnancy and I just had to wait for my next period as being in limbo is the hardest bit.

Laughing at the speedy efficient BD-ing 😆 that's exactly how it is!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 and @PinkDucks My first DC was 16 months when we started TTC and we conceived when he was 17 months. He was on food by then but still EBF for all his drinks (about 6 feeds a day) as he had CMPA so getting him off breastmilk had proved tricky.

I'd like to join! Baby is 13 months and two short feeds, one in the morning and one to bed, no periods yet 😢whoever told me BF wasn't a contraceptive was lying! I don't think my boy is ready to drop either feed yet either...

I agree @PeekabooAtTheZoo we need some positive stories! Yours is a real positive too!

@Mc3209 similar dilemma re stopping breastfeeding. I don't really want to yet but equally I don't want it to take forever for us to have another baby. I know lots of people can/do breastfeed whilst pregnant but I do wonder if it makes it a little trickier maybe? I want DD to self wean - ideally once I'm pregnant with a viable pregnancy.

@Pitstop1986 yep it's a real mood killer when your half on edge watching the baby monitor expecting a cry at any moment. Speed/efficiency is definitely our aim now 😂

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 hopefully this is good news re your periods returning! Don't worry about any weight gain. I'm still carrying about 8lbs from my last pregnancy (or 12months maternity and eating a lot of cake) but figured I'll just work on losing it all once I'm done with babies rather than putting in the hard work more than once to shift the weight 😅. I exercise and try to keep fit (ish) but I'm not worrying about my weight now. I'd enjoy those extra calories guilt free!

To update generally I've eaten the extra calories and taken conception vitamins and an antioxidant booster. I don't know if it's correlated to my little one having just turned six months, but I had stomach pain and started spotting today. Hopefully my cycles are coming back.... I am however sad to say I'm two kg heavier 🙈

@PinkDucks I am so sorry. It is horrible waiting. Totally get the connotations with the private scan place, it's not nice having to go back somewhere like that

@PeekabooAtTheZoo we need some positive stories, and that's amazing you managed to get pregnant so quickly second time around. How old was your baby and were you exclusively breastfeeding?

@Pitstop1986 Yes!! We are managing once a week at the moment on weekend. Too exhausted during the week. And even then, on a weekend, DS is almost guaranteed to wake up at the most interesting moment 🙈 uuurgh.

Does anyone else find an additional obstacle to get over is trying to DTD with a young one?! I'm either exhausted or she wakes up and cries just as we're getting started!

Everyone is welcome @Mc3209

Sending hugs @PinkDucks it must be so frustrating having to wait until Sunday and not knowing what is happening.

Hello, lovelies! Can I join please?
Currently breastfeeding my 21 months old, whilst working full time 🥴 Feeding just once in the night, and 2-3 times morning/evening around work.
No cycles yet.. so annoying. I tried to track ovulation and after few false hopes and too many pregnancy tests stopped that idea until actual period arrives. CM has been all over the shop.

Will be starting vitamins and increasing calorie intake. I am trying to have an 8 hour gap in the night between feeds, however that's not happening yet. I am not quite ready to stop breastfeeding, but would love #2!
I hate not knowing what's the craic with the cycles. Prior to #1 I was regular as clockwork.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 sorry that was insensitive of me to post that right after yours. 💐

Hey I’m not TTC right now but I conceived intentionally while BF last year.
Now I have an 8 month old and toddler. I took pregnacare breastfeeding supplements for first six weeks then hyperemesis kicked in.
I used an OPK and DTD every two days across ovulation week. I conceived second month of trying (very irregular ovulation). Hyperemesis and breastfeeding is awful because you get dehydrated faster. But for the age gap and how close the babies are already, I do not regret it.
It took 7 years to get DC1 so I was stunned that TTC while BF was easier for me! Just watch out for sore nipples weeks 8-14 if you BF while PG. 😅DC1 self-weaned when I was about 16 weeks PG btw, which was sad, but am now BF DC2.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ah thank you! It helps being able to share what's happening as nobody else apart from my husband knows.

I could go private. I'd not really thought about it to be honest which is strange because I did have a private scan with my first pregnancy - but we went for a reassurance scan and found out it was a mmc (after a previous positive scan so came as a shock). So maybe I associate the private clinic with bad memories? Not sure, I'm wondering now why it hadn't crossed my mind actually...

I'm almost certain this one isn't good news and I've kind of accepted it's not going to work out this time. I think because I felt from the start that it wasn't looking good I never got excited/my hopes up I'm feeling quite accepting of it. A bit tmi but I've passed a lot of clots/tissue today even though I had almost no bleeding yesterday- still no pain at all which is a bit odd! Pregnancy tests still very positive 😕

@PinkDucks ohh being in limbo and waiting is horrible. You're absolutely not derailing the thread, as Orangio says, it's for support for all of us.
If a private scan is an option, I had one early in my last pregnancy to check if it was viable, and it was £70 and they were fab. Saw me same day as I was bleeding, and I was in and out in 20 mins (unlike EPU after my MC when I was there for four hours....). Anyway it was a harmless haematoma, and they showed me the small pocket of bleeding on the scan.
Hoping it's all good news for you on Sunday

@Orangio just too busy I think. When they rang me back with the date they were very apologetic and said they wished it was sooner and know how frustrating it is etc 🤷🏼‍♀️. I know they do like to wait until after 6 weeks too so maybe they are stalling a bit? Not sure, they saw me in my last pregnancy the day I was 6 weeks so I could start clexane injections. I will be 6 weeks tomorrow with this pregnancy if my dates are right based on my last proper period. But with that pregnancy I was already advised to take aspirin from a positive test so felt a bit more reassured.

Pregnancy is such a worrying time! I loved my last pregnancy eventually when I felt movements and knew all was good after the 20 week scan. Hopefully I'll feel the same this time if this pregnancy does work out (not sure with a toddler in tow though 😂)

You are definitely not derailing! Support is what we're here for. Pregnancy is so tough.
How come they can't see you? Are you not far along enough? Sunday is a long way away, so hard to wait not knowing 😔

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm ok thank you. Epu can't see me until Sunday. It's frustrating as I just want to know what is happening. The bleeding has pretty much stopped but it was quite heavy so I'm not feeling hopeful. Pregnancy tests not getting any fainter yet. I feel in a real limbo as if I am pregnant I should be on blood thinners by now but I've been advised to wait until Sunday before I start taking anything. So now I have the worry of if this is a viable pregnancy hopefully it will still be come Sunday

It's a really strange feeling as I just wanted this time around to be more straightforward and to feel excited and happy from the point of getting a positive pregnancy test. Instead I feel confused and frustrated and the positive pregnancy test was such a complete unexpected shock (unlike my previous pregnancy when I stared at the test willing those pink lines to appear)

Sorry I feel like I'm derailing this thread a bit already!

How's everyone else getting on?

@PinkDucks how are you?