Page 4 | TTC whilst breastfeeding - cycle 4

ThatNimbleOP · 2025-01-01T20:01:23+00:00

Hello, Is there anyone who’d like to join me… Currently on cycle 4, CD11. Still breastfeeding my nearly 2 year old and co-sleeping, wondering if it’s having an effect on fertility as we conceived in a blink of an eye the first time…trying not to overthink it all. Anyone welcome to join, don’t have to be breastfeeding, just any support welcome! Thought last month was the month but here we are again… :/

january1244 · 19/06/2025 08:26

@Samsi17congratulations!! That’s brilliant news

january1244 · 19/06/2025 08:24

@ThatNimbleOPyes I was told the same, and nearly all the research I did suggested I’d be sub fertile breastfeeding. It’s why I didn’t really worry about it (my fertility) last time until I stopped, and then I was pregnant the next month.

Ive just fully weaned my daughter now and my period after that has been horrific, extremely heavy, and not nice. I’m wondering if my lining was sub-optimum and now it’s clearing out all the old not good stuff. I’ve been having regular periods for well over a year (they came back at 3 months).

@OneKookyPinkShakerhopefully they will! It’s so individual.

Samsi17 · 19/06/2025 08:16

ThatNimbleOP · 19/06/2025 07:54

@BB3Hopefully i know, tbh I think the doctors are just dismissing me because everything else is normal. They won’t investigate because I’m breastfeeding…had AMH count too through works insurance and all normal. Consultant there said breastfeeding can impact endo lining or the hormones can affect it. So in theory your body is ovulating/ready for a baby but the hormones are effecting implantation. Guess everyone reacts differently to these hormones just like every woman has different cycles and experiences etc.

We’re all uniquely different and can’t slap a label on anything tbh.

@OneKookyPinkShaker it might do! It’ll come when your bodies ready i guess…not helpful at all though I know! Think 14 months is average up to 2 years (whilst breastfeeding)

Also CD11, testing negative y’day so pretty sure I’m out! Period due Saturday 🙌

Sorry to hear you're out @ThatNimbleOP

I can't believe I'm writing this but I got a BFP 2 days ago when my period was due... in Portugal on holiday with my LO, and I'm struggling to feel any excitement since the mc a couple of months ago though... Just hoping it sticks.. x

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 19/06/2025 07:54

@BB3Hopefully i know, tbh I think the doctors are just dismissing me because everything else is normal. They won’t investigate because I’m breastfeeding…had AMH count too through works insurance and all normal. Consultant there said breastfeeding can impact endo lining or the hormones can affect it. So in theory your body is ovulating/ready for a baby but the hormones are effecting implantation. Guess everyone reacts differently to these hormones just like every woman has different cycles and experiences etc.

We’re all uniquely different and can’t slap a label on anything tbh.

@OneKookyPinkShaker it might do! It’ll come when your bodies ready i guess…not helpful at all though I know! Think 14 months is average up to 2 years (whilst breastfeeding)

Also CD11, testing negative y’day so pretty sure I’m out! Period due Saturday 🙌

OP posts:

OneKookyPinkShaker · 18/06/2025 22:40

Hey hope everyone is okay. Just wanted to check others experiences. I've been back to work 4 days a week now so only feeding morning and evening for 3 weeks and I'm currently on day 7 of night weaning - the wakes up were too intense for to deal with on condensed hours at work though feeling very guilty!

Do you think this may be enough to trigger return of periods? He is still a boob monster days I'm with him x

BB3Hopefully · 10/06/2025 08:35

Just reading these latest comments, I wanted to saw that I don’t think it’s unicorn at all to conceive while breastfeeding! Not that I’m an export but biologically it doesn’t make sense that your body would ovulate if you weren’t ready to carry a child. Our bodies are wise etc etc etc. Obviously it may take time for cycles to fully regulate and fertility might not be optimal for a while (I’m dealing with late ovulation and short luteal phase) but it’s all steps in the right direction, as far as I see it. Hopefully I’m not being too optimistic about it 😅

Samsi17 · 09/06/2025 10:32

ThatNimbleOP · 09/06/2025 09:38

@Samsi17 completely get you! My little one is 2.5 now which is insane...did always know i wanted to BF this long if not longer but had no idea it would be getting in the way of conceiving. My doctor actually said that the women who conceive whilst BF'ing are more unicorn then not...i was also thinking about speaking to La Leche League, they're great for this.

Doc also said it can take 1 year after BF'ing for hormones/endo lining to return to normal levels, eek!

Every woman's body is different/individual...factors like nutrition/stress and environment all factor in as well. Our bodies can sense if it's the environment for a baby to be brought into right?

Yes i'm gonna test! Weirdly gives me less anxiety, if i get negatives by 10/11DPO normally know i'm out so can prepare myself mentally :)

Also, i'm really focusing on my health/excercise now and trying to lose a little weight. Helps with TTC because no being pregnant obviously works better for this haha!

@ThatNimbleOP that's amazing you've gone so long, well done!
Thats interesting from your doctor as I just seem to read and hear lots of women who get pregnant while breastfeeding so I found it quite frustrating! It's just age is against me so I'm keen for it to happen sooner...
Yeah I know, it just obviously wasnt meant to be but frustratingly I was as healthy as ive ever been. C'est la vie...
Yeah I understand about the tests! Good luck when it comes! AF is due in 8 days so will keep you updated also!

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 09/06/2025 09:38

@Samsi17 completely get you! My little one is 2.5 now which is insane...did always know i wanted to BF this long if not longer but had no idea it would be getting in the way of conceiving. My doctor actually said that the women who conceive whilst BF'ing are more unicorn then not...i was also thinking about speaking to La Leche League, they're great for this.

Doc also said it can take 1 year after BF'ing for hormones/endo lining to return to normal levels, eek!

Every woman's body is different/individual...factors like nutrition/stress and environment all factor in as well. Our bodies can sense if it's the environment for a baby to be brought into right?

Yes i'm gonna test! Weirdly gives me less anxiety, if i get negatives by 10/11DPO normally know i'm out so can prepare myself mentally :)

Also, i'm really focusing on my health/excercise now and trying to lose a little weight. Helps with TTC because no being pregnant obviously works better for this haha!

OP posts:

Samsi17 · 09/06/2025 09:26

ThatNimbleOP · 09/06/2025 08:59

@Samsi17 yeah it's weird though because last few months were 27/28/29, seems to flip flop about between early and late. Common theme being inconsistent! Again, so hard to tell if it's the BF'ing or normal but i know i was super regular pre-baby.

Re: your miscarriage, that could well be possible! You've completely weaned now though?

I haven't even had a line which is the weird thing...presuming if it implanted there would be some HCG so maybe it just can't even get to that point. It's funny because there/s been 2/3 months where i was "sure" i was pregnant. May well have been the case.

Oh 8DPO! Have you done any testing? I think i'm 2DPO now so we can keep each other company :) Also managed it 5 times this month - go us!! Normally it's 1 😵

Hi @ThatNimbleOP
Yes completely weaned now, babe is almost 17 months and has adapted well. I miss it though at points! But I'd only just started when I got pregnant last time. Maybe there's no correlation i guess I'm just looking for a reason why it happened...
I just felt my body was hyper sensitive to hormones when breastfeeding ad I'd been ttc for months but maybe it was just coincidence...
No, no testing. I've decided not to until my period is due. It mentally destroys me if I get a negative and after last mc I guess I'll have a bit of anxiety even if it was a positive so the later I know the better in a way is my crazy logic! Will you test?

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 09/06/2025 08:59

@Samsi17 yeah it's weird though because last few months were 27/28/29, seems to flip flop about between early and late. Common theme being inconsistent! Again, so hard to tell if it's the BF'ing or normal but i know i was super regular pre-baby.

Re: your miscarriage, that could well be possible! You've completely weaned now though?

I haven't even had a line which is the weird thing...presuming if it implanted there would be some HCG so maybe it just can't even get to that point. It's funny because there/s been 2/3 months where i was "sure" i was pregnant. May well have been the case.

Oh 8DPO! Have you done any testing? I think i'm 2DPO now so we can keep each other company :) Also managed it 5 times this month - go us!! Normally it's 1 😵

OP posts:

Samsi17 · 09/06/2025 08:21

ThatNimbleOP · 08/06/2025 20:17

Hi everyone,

How are we all?

Small update for this cycle, thought I ovulated early and in fact looks like I ovulated CD18 in the end! Just goes to show, breastfeeding while TTC makes your cycle all over the place and my bodies signals are so quiet - before pregnancy I just “knew” also fancied every man in sight, no the case now haha!

Also interesting, I had a private fertility check and they mentioned my endometrium lining was on the thinner side (CD 16). I’ve read on another thread how breastfeeding can keep your lining thin and sounds like it might just be the case for me! Could be why nothings happening.

Also phoned the doctor again and they’ve told me for the third time it’s the breastfeeding and I need to stop if I’m serious about a second! Thanks docs…

So there we go, some thoughts for you ladies. Either way, weaning is fast approaching. Mid-July, we shall see after that 😊

Hi @ThatNimbleOP, that's what kept happening to me. I kept ovulating day 18 or 19 when breastfeeding. The docs said the same about stopping breastfeeding to me and were of no use. I do wonder if that's why I had my mc cause the lining was too thin but they said there was no reason at the hospital...
Anyway hope the weaning goes well and is easier than expected. I seemed to ovulate on cd13 and gave it a good go dtd every day! 8 dpo now...

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 08/06/2025 20:17

Hi everyone,

How are we all?

Small update for this cycle, thought I ovulated early and in fact looks like I ovulated CD18 in the end! Just goes to show, breastfeeding while TTC makes your cycle all over the place and my bodies signals are so quiet - before pregnancy I just “knew” also fancied every man in sight, no the case now haha!

Also interesting, I had a private fertility check and they mentioned my endometrium lining was on the thinner side (CD 16). I’ve read on another thread how breastfeeding can keep your lining thin and sounds like it might just be the case for me! Could be why nothings happening.

Also phoned the doctor again and they’ve told me for the third time it’s the breastfeeding and I need to stop if I’m serious about a second! Thanks docs…

So there we go, some thoughts for you ladies. Either way, weaning is fast approaching. Mid-July, we shall see after that 😊

OP posts:

BB3Hopefully · 01/06/2025 11:34

My cycle came back at 16 months with my second and it coincided with Xmas and a holiday in Jan where I was eating loads so definitely think that signaled something to my body! My cycles are taking time to regulate though, they are bag in 28 days (as they were for pregnancy) but I’m ovulating around CD18, so my luteal phase is short. It’s getting longer each month though as ovulation shifts forward by a day. I think my luteal phase was 11 days when I was still breastfeeding my first and got pregnant with my second.
Im CD2 now, first month of TTC was unsuccessful (as I expected), on to the next cycle 😊

OneKookyPinkShaker · 01/06/2025 10:28

@january1244 I have been trying to up calories as read a few articles and just seem to be gaining weight but we'll see how it goes!

I also read about the progesterone challenge so I'm on day 6 of the mini pill and will stop on Thursday.

january1244 · 01/06/2025 08:09

@OneKookyPinkShakeryou could try metabolic load theory to get your period back when breastfeeding, which is basically just eating a lot of extra calories for a month so your body feels there’s enough energy to restart periods. I think it worked for me twice, without trying. Period came back at six months with my first (coinciding with a month travelling and eating out all the time) and at about three months with my second (also after a month travelling and eating out all the time)

I’m hopeful I can rejoin you in a month or so. The broodiness hasn’t gone away and so we are re-discussing another 🤞

Samsi17 · 01/06/2025 07:45

Hi all
Welcome to the newbies!
I'm cd13 today and test3d positive for ovulation using cb tests today. It's the first cycle after my mc so taking a positive that I'm ovulating at least and dtd 3 times already. Going to aim to keep going the next couple of days then the dreaded tww. How are you all getting on?

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 31/05/2025 21:24

@OneKookyPinkShaker my periods returned around 14 months but they took a while to regulate, probably another 6 months more.

Tbh they are still a bit random now, they’ll regulate then be longer, this month feels like a super short one…my cycles were pretty much on the money before DD so think the breastfeeding can make it go dodgy based on how much they feed/stress levels in the month - body thinks a tigers going to eat me so no baby here this month 🤣

@Strongbrewplease are you still not testing! I actually found testing early helped because by the time I reached 11DPO I knew to expect my period so mentally prepared. Everyone’s different though!

Has anyone tried insemination? Is it twoplus..,thinking of giving it a go to get more chances in!

OP posts:

OneKookyPinkShaker · 31/05/2025 20:59

@Strongbrewplease oh 3 months is rubbish to get it back when your in the thick of it! I had hoped it would come back by now - I'm back to work from maternity leave tomorrow 😭 but maybe extra time away in the day time may bring it back?

Don't feel ready to fully weaning him as much as nights can be brutal! Plus its so easy to get them back to sleep

Strongbrewplease · 31/05/2025 20:52

Hi @OneKookyPinkShaker ! My DD is another one that's boob mad at night, we've had a couple of nights recently where we've just had to let her cry because I couldn't hack anymore suckling 🫠 last night she was basically stuck to me for the full night!

So funny how much variation there is in period return, mine was back after about 3 months, I felt cheated 😆 not that it's made a difference to fertility mind you.

Cycle day 34/ 13DPO over here so due tomorrow. Unfortunately feels like it is on its way, although not surprising given we only had chance this month and that was on ovulation day.

@ThatNimbleOP what a week!! Hopefully things will settle down a bit and hopefully you DTD in time!! I'd take a short cycle any time!

OneKookyPinkShaker · 31/05/2025 14:23

@ThatNimbleOP hey!

I'm 13 months pp no sign of period yet though annoyingly I have started getting super spotty so not sure if it's a sign of hormones starting to get back to normal or just unlucky lol

Sorry to hear about your daughter a&e is never fun hope she's okay!

Fingers crossed you managed to catch ovulation

Original poster

ThatNimbleOP · 31/05/2025 13:35

Hi @OneKookyPinkShaker of course!

Welcome! It’s not the fastest moving chat, most likely because we’re all mums here already 🤣 but all in the same boat. How many months PP are you?

Weve had a cracker of a week, daughter cut her foot on glass so stitches in the hospital. Weirdly think I’m ovulating/ovulated super early as well. Getting dark ovulation strips and mid-cycle pain and it was CD9/10! Managed to DTD the yesterday but tbh no idea what my body is doing. Had grand plans for SMEP so all out the window haha!

oh well at least this month should be a short one…

OP posts:

OneKookyPinkShaker · 28/05/2025 13:47

Hey hope it's okay if I join this chat?

I'm currently breastfeeding my 13 month old who is boob mad at night so lots of co-sleeping. I have tried to cut down the number of at night feeds but I just feel he isn't ready he sobs inconsolably for an hour.

My period hasn't returned yet, I'm taking a breastfeeding multivitamin and floradix iron. I feel like something is going on I had very light spotting this month on a day and lots of cramping, increasing discharge so not sure if my cycle is getting ready.

We don't want a big age gap and it took around a year to concieve first time so was hoping my period would be back by now.

BB3Hopefully · 24/05/2025 09:29

@ThatNimbleOP yeah I think bb2 was 17 months before my cycle returned! I was starting to get a bit concerned because with my first my cycle returned at 10 months and regularised quite quickly. But I think sometimes it just takes time!

@Strongbrewplease with my first, night weaning went so easily! I was prepared for a battle because it was around the clock nursing and I knew my supply was dropping as I was pregnant with my second, but baby just latched one day, unlatched, and never latched again! So hopefully it will go smoothly for you too!

Strongbrewplease · 22/05/2025 22:33

Glad to hear you're all day OK!

About 5dpo over here, but only dtd the once on ovulation day so not really expecting anything this month. We accidentally did SMEP last month @ThatNimbleOP ! To no avail unfortunately but it was a fun month.

This month has been full of illness and teething (6 coming through at once 😱) so not had much of a chance!

We're just on night boob now, although it's more DD using me as a dummy more than anything else. I think weaning is in the horizon but I'm scared of the tantrums that it'll bring in the night...

Samsi17 · 21/05/2025 20:16

ThatNimbleOP · 21/05/2025 16:59

@Samsi17 oh cool! How is co-sleeping without boob? I feel like my daughter does it in her sleep, so how did your little one cope when you stopped? Did she just stop thinking about it :D I don't even know how that's possible right now!

Hi @BB3Hopefully welcome! It's a very chilled chat, people post as and when they need to :) Oh wow so when they were 16 months, mine was about the same! I've heard first few cycles can be anovulatory. Wishing you the best of luck :)

Yeah mine was the same. She'd wake several times and go straight for the boob. I thought it would be a nightmare weaning her and would've happily continued if I'd gotten pregnant. But she slowly started to show signs of dropping feeds, I started just trying to give her a cuddle to settle her in the nights and that seemed to.work and she'd drift back off to sleep so she maybe just needs help connecting her sleep cycles I'm not too sure. The very last one to go was getting her to bed but she started only feeding for 5 mins or less then pushing off and cuddling into me to sleep, I then just decided to see if she'd do without and was amazed that she did. She just lies beside me and cuddles in to sleep now, some days are trickier than others but it was like that feeding also.