TTC whilst breastfeeding. Tips, advice and support

Good to find out what's going on, whatever the outcome. From your timeline I'm guessing you're 5-6 weeks preg? If so at least they'll be able to find the baby on a scan. I hope all is well xx

Yes I'm going to ring hospital in the morning. I was under the consultant in my last pregnancy because I have a clotting disorder and have had a previous MMC so hoping they will see me again (they were really good in my last pregnancy). I'm not hopeful at all that this is a viable pregnancy but just hoping it's not ectopic

@PinkDucks oh no, I'm so sorry you're bleeding 🙁 it's always so scary. It may or may not be anything I guess. Will you get it checked out, just in case it is ectopic?

Ahh help! I’m freaking out a bit. Last month was our first month trying for no.2. I did a pregnancy test 10dpo it was negative and (typically) my period started that day. It was quite light and lasted 9 days which is odd but I am still breastfeeding so just put it down to that. I started opk’s today on CD12 and got a blaring positive opk this morning. I thought this was odd because I don’t normally ovulate until day 18ish and can normally tell when it’s about to happen so I was very surprised to see the strongest opk I’ve ever had. Did another opk later on this morning and again blazing positive. Just got home and went to the loo and I’m bleeding quite heavily 😩 at that point I started to think this is odd. Did a pregnancy test and guess what - two very pink lines! Now I have no idea what’s happening and the heavy bleeding is obviously not a good sign?! I’m thinking maybe an early loss? I'm worried about ectopic 😬

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 Thank you for your words❤️

I have to say it was nice not having periods for 16 months!
My dd really was a prolific breastfeeder though, I was still feeding her at least 3/4 times during the night and many times in the day so I think that had something to do with it!

Oh I know what you mean about eating all the treats! I put on quite abit of weight as I was hungry ALL the time!

When he starts nursery

I'm also thinking if things aren't getting better in a couple months, I might try to wean him off the feeding. Maybe just nights and naps, and formula for nursery

@Orangio oh hopefully just because it's hot, and the extra feeding settles down a bit 🤞 I don't know, I assumed the EWCM means I'm not ovulating because it is consistently here here 2-3 weeks at a time 🤷‍♀️

@OceanbreezeSun so sorry about the miscarriage but so happy you're pregnant again. Hope you're feeling well.
Hmm so periods didn't come back until 16 months.

@Pitstop1986 I think I'm taking the same approach as you! Delicious pastries and cheeses, extra snacks, if I'm fatter at the end I'll sort it out later 🤣

Oh no! @Orangio I hope that it is just a growth spurt and he settles down in a few days. We had Covid about 4 weeks ago, DD was sleepy for a day and I felt like death for about 48 hours, but she went from sleeping through the night to waking every 2 hours for a feed. Luckily that has passed and she's now back to sleeping through, with the occasional 2/3 am feed.

I have only noticed the odd day of extra mucus, so can't really comment on that @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 but it's sounding positive! I hope it's your body getting back to peak fertility! 🙂

I'm hoping all this cake eating works! I have a wedding in a few weeks and none of my dresses will fit at this rate! If it doesn't work, I've had a delicious journey. Weight can be lost after baby number 2, I'll worry about it then!

My periods didn’t come back until 16 months after giving birth to dd, I was still bf a lot at that stage inc through the night. We always knew we wanted a 2nd dc, but we didn’t want them too close together so it wasn’t an issue that my periods hadn’t returned.

We started ttc no.2 on the 2nd cycle after my periods came back, & got pregnant on the 6th cycle ( my periods were very irregular after returning, I don’t think I ovulated every cycle either)

Unfortunately we had a mmc at nearly 12 weeks in Jan.

I’m still bf now ( dd is nearly 3) but it’s only before bedtime now and maybe before a nap. I am currently nearly 12 weeks pregnant again 💚

Could be wrong but isn't ewcm just what your body makes when oestrogen is high? So definitely a good sign fertility wise!

DS had got down to one night feed and three day feeds, but he munched all night last night 😑Do you think he's just about to have a growth spurt? I hope he's not taking a stand against the bf reduction!!

@Porridgeaddiction oh no! But TBF coffee and cake out sounds amazing. I darent get on the scales, have been eating a lot of creamy cheese and treats.

Has anyone had really weird CM while breastfeeding? I'm currently getting so much ewcm (much more than I've ever had before). But seems to be a lot more than 3-4 days a month. My baby is only almost 6 months so it could just be normal, I don't know

@Orangio well the oldest 3 are teenagers (17, 15 and 12) from a previous relationship so apart from the teenage drama’s and hormones aren’t too much trouble. I remarried in 2020 and hubby didn’t have any kids of his own so here we go again….. My older kids are very keen for no5 as they think DS2 will be lonely when they all leave home 🤣🤣.
I’ve been eating like a pig again the last few weeks but seem to be BF more again despite wanting to wean- DS2 is a booby monster 😂😂.

@Orangio that's the problem with me, I am very all or nothing. I either eat really well or I stuff my face. There's no in-between!

Baby number 5, @Wemetatascoutcamp ? You're a braver woman than me!

@Porridgeaddiction oh dear! Seems it's a fine line between inducing ovulation and inducing podgery 😆 I don't think it's a line I can successfully tread, so don't think I'll try!

@Orangio I feel like I am in it for the long haul also 🤣

Thought i’d jump on board as TTC baby number 5(🫣) while bfing our 13mnth old. Previously conceived my 2nd baby whilst still bfing but that was 16 years ago! Period only restarted in February so not been trying long however 4th was conceived almost immediately so suppose I was hoping for the same this time! Good luck ladies.

What a broad range of ages and stages everyone's at! I'm guessing it might take quite a few cycles/months for everyone to conceive, so I'm in this for the long haul 😆 Really looking forward to hearing good news from you all.

Also hopping on. DD just turned one and my periods returned when she was 9 months. They seem to have returned fairly regular but with a short luteal phase which has got 1 day longer each cycle. I always had a short lp before my daughter and acupuncture finally got it it 12 days and I know breastfeeding can cause a shorter lp so we'll see how it goes over next few cycles. It took us almost 2 years and a MMC to have our daughter so keen to start trying again. I've tried to cut her feeds down to just 2 a day and sometimes 1 overnight if she wakes. Had been going well but I'm struggling to get fluids down her in this weather so have upped the feeds again a bit which feels a bit of a backwards step but hopefully only temporary.
My period is just finishing so we'll be trying again from the start of next week.

Hopping on here too. Baby is 6 months, EBF. I'm not optimistic it will happen soon. We conceived first cycle trying this time but my periods always stop completely with hormonal contraception (implant and mini pill) so I'm guessing I won't get them back until I stop breastfeeding😒

An annovulatory cycle, when your hormones are a bit out. I had them after a miscarriage, apparently they can be normal after anything that affects your hormones. Such as breastfeeding I guess. Seems such a minefield

He feeds once in the night and like 2-4 times in the day. Sometimes more if overtired and fighting sleep. So not as much as I did when he was under 1.

Period without ovulating? Didn't know that could happen?

Hi everyone, I hope it is OK to hop on here as really stressed. 🙈
I have been Breastfeeding since my son was born on 23.06.21. I had my 1st period 15.04.22 which lasted 8 days. Then I didn't get another period until 05.06.22 and lasted 6 days. Been taking OT everyday since my period ended this cycle and I'm really unsure what's going on here. They don't seem to be getting dark at all. 😭
I'm so confused as when we were TTC with my son it was a very clear positive on a 33 day cycle.
Anyone else experienced this? Is it due to breastfeeding still? Does any day look particularly dark and could be a potential peak at all?

Any feedback I would be very grateful. 😊