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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

TTC whilst breastfeeding support thread - join me to share your ups and downs!

953 replies

smallblackflowers · 11/01/2010 21:23

Hi!
A little about me - I'm pushing 34, have a 10 month old DD that I'm still breastfeeding and really want to conceive no.2 asap!
I am on my second cycle since AF returned and am temp / CM / CP charting using fertility friend and have OPKs!
I ovulated on day 29 of my last cycle, and am on day 21 at the moment.
Have been having fun and games with very fertile signs over the past week, so lots of BD, but no ovulation, poor DH is full of a cold and not feeling very energetic but I keep insisting that he perform until my temps go up

So anyway - hoping that there are others out there in a similar boat who can help to keep me sane and hopefully share some good news in the coming months.

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DitaVonCheese · 20/04/2010 19:07

Oops sorry Meggiemo, missed your post before

Think I must be on cycle 7 by now, but have lost count a bit!

smallblackflowers; TTC#2; Cycle 4; BF 13 mo DD; age 34
DitaVonCheese; TTC#2; Cycle 7; BF 18 mo DD; age 33
Alibaba; TTC#2 iminently; BF 20 mo DS; age 32
LPsmum; TTC #2: cycle 3; BF 16 mo ds; age 32
QueenFee TTC#4 No AF yet BF 9 mo DS; age 28
iloveholidays; TTC #2; No AF yet; BF 12mo DD; age 29

graduates

Birdonthewing: TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 15 mo DD; age 34; BFP 16/3/10

Meggiemo · 20/04/2010 15:54

Thanks smallblackflowers for your info - congrats to your friend. I can't tell anybody that I want another as DH only agreed to no.4 after much negotiation and he is adamant that there will be no more!! There is a massive gap between the first 3 and no.4 though, so 1 more would even it up a bit. Complete novice at cycles, temps etc when bf as only fed briefly before. Have made it to 1 year now which is great but not much help for no.5. Have read most of this thread now so good luck to everyone else.

smallblackflowers · 20/04/2010 13:57

welcome meggiemo

to answer your questions a bit of science! The usual luteal phase length (the time after ovulation and before AF is on average 14 days, in reality it varies between 10 and 16 days. So in a 48 day cycle the latest you likely ovulated was day 32. However, most cycles that go over 35 days are anovulatory.

After ovulation your dominant hormone is progesterone, which often causes sore nips / tender breasts, this is the one of the hormones which dominates in early pregnancy and also the cause of sore boobs then.

If you read back at the beginning of the thread someone talks about the 3 staged return to fertility when BF, it might help make sense of where you are at the moment!

Some positive news - a friend of mine who is BF a 10 mo announced that she is pg today, obviously very but also pleased for her, and pleased for an other example of pg being achieved whilst BF

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smallblackflowers · 20/04/2010 13:48

here's the last stats list I could find, have updated myself ,had a go at updating everyone else, but am likely wrong as we don't all have the same length cycles. lilysma please feel free to add yourself to the grads section!

smallblackflowers; TTC#2; Cycle 4; BF 13 mo DD; age 34
DitaVonCheese; TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 18 mo DD; age 33
Alibaba; TTC#2 iminently; BF 20 mo DS; age 32
LPsmum; TTC #2: cycle 3; BF 16 mo ds; age 32
QueenFee TTC#4 No AF yet BF 9 mo DS; age 28
iloveholidays; TTC #2; No AF yet; BF 12mo DD; age 29

graduates

Birdonthewing: TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 15 mo DD; age 34; BFP 16/3/10

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DitaVonCheese · 20/04/2010 12:09

Woo hoo, that's fantastic news! Fainter line could mean anything - that it's implanted later so HCG levels aren't very high yet or your pee was just more dilute. I also had bad cramps for the first few weeks or more with DD - think it was just my bits stretching! Keeping everything crossed for you that AF stays away

Meggiemo · 20/04/2010 12:04

Hello everyone - new to this and have read quite a lot but still have a few questions if that is OK.

  1. Does ovulation cause sore nipples when feeding? Seemed to have a week of it starting around day 13.
  1. If so, I have ovulated the last 2 months but AF has arrived at 48 & 41 days - is this normal to be so long. Before DS I had 29-31 day cycles.

Only on cycle 3 since AF returned, so am probably being a little impatient.

smallblackflowers · 20/04/2010 09:30

Will try and resurrect the stats list later to add you onto the grads list. Just heading out now to the Bolton Breast Buddies AGM.

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smallblackflowers · 20/04/2010 09:28

lilysma a line is a line is a line, so they say!
That's wonderful news, am so pleased for you. Fingers well and truly crossed for your little bean. x

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lilysma · 20/04/2010 09:22

OMG, BFP this morning . Faint line, but it was definitely there. 14 DPO today. BUT, had reasonably bad cramps in the night that were enough to keep me awake, so not sure what to think. No bleeding though. Am all over the place.

What is also worrying me is that the line was faint, which is how it was at around the same time when I had my ectopic pregnancy. The line with DD was nice and strong. I know there is probably nothing in this, but I am still anxious.

Nothing I can do but wait though. Slapped on the progesterone cream quick as anything this morning though . Am going to see my accupuncturist today so will ask her to do everything she can to strengthen the little bean! Please keep everything crossed that AF doesn't turn up tomorrow!

DitaVonCheese · 19/04/2010 23:02

Hello all - been away for a few days so just having a quick catch-up. I've now worked out that I was putting too much spit on my microscope, though I seem to have a transitional result every day now Managed to SWI a couple of times this month but not really sure where I am (has my cycle snapped back to 28 days?) or whether I've OVed (slept incredibly badly the last two nights, so temps all over the place) so guessing we're on the 2WW but not particularly hopeful.

Good luck for tomorrow lilysma (DD loves the seesaw, but an only child on a seesaw is such a sad sight! )

lilysma · 19/04/2010 21:39

PS hope your spotting holds off SBF. This could be the month (holds breath!) .

I meant raspberry knickers of course

lilysma · 19/04/2010 21:38

Raspberry knickers I haven't actually been prescribed clomid, but saw a horrible consultant who nonchalantly said it was probably what they would do without having even tried to work out what the problem was and then sent me off for more tests. Haven't even been able to raise the bf issue with them yet (discussion was not an option with this guy!). Have ranted about this at length elsewhere! . Am seeing someone else next week so we'll see what they say...

SBF thanks for the sympathy. The spotting stopped today. AF is due weds so of course I have been getting all excited when I know full well that it sometimes stops briefly and I have plenty of other PMS symptoms including cramps if I would only pay attention to them! I hate the way I keep on hoping right to the bitter end . Planning to test tomorrow just to try to put myself out of my misery!

smallblackflowers · 19/04/2010 10:11

Hi all and welcome raspberryknickers

I'm one of the self medicators, and as far as I understand, the progesterone cream just raises your progesterone level to what it should be, so your baby doesn't get anymore then they would if your hormones were working normally IYKWIM.

Lilysma sorry to hear about your spotting
I am 2 DPO (i think) and started this cycle's progesterone cream this morning, so fingers crossed it helps to hold off my spotting...will update next week!

I've told DH that if we don't conceive by the end of next cycle then we'll both go and see the GP for bloods / sperm analysis! Must say that he wasn't impressed that I am questioning his fecundity!

Must go, DD has found a teabag (herbal, from the bottom of my mug) and is squishing it around the furniture

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raspberryknickers · 19/04/2010 10:00

Thanks Lilysma, They wouldn't prescribe you clomid whilst breastfeeding if it was a prob though surely!?
Cool that you are trying the accupuncture - good that it helps a bit with PMS - fab if it helps with conception too! I have the book chinese med infertility book by Randine Lewis and thought about trying the accupressure points she suggest as not sure i can afford the real thing...
Also got Toni Welshler(?) book.. not finding that v helpfull... actually going insane with too much confusing medical info!!
So glad to hear that there are people on here who are managing to conceive
Got my fingers crossed for the rest of us. X

lilysma · 18/04/2010 21:27

Hi raspberryknickers, sorry you've been TTC for so long. I've been at it 9 months and it feels like an age. I have been dithering about self-prescribing progesterone cream too but in the end have been so frustrated with the medical bods who seem to just jump to prescribing things like clomid without really looking at whether its needed, that I've thought what the heck. I suppose I figure as its just increasing your progesterone levels it shouldn't really affect a bf child, but perhaps I'm being naive...

raspberryknickers · 18/04/2010 19:42

Hello I'm new here... I've been trying to conceive since my DS was 9 months - he's now 27 months! - doing extended breast feeding! Thought i'd got lucky this month as AF is 4 days late but got BFN when tested this morn...
I'm taking vitamin B and was also considering trying the progesterone cream - although I asked at the chemist and they didn't think it was a good idea to self diagnose and prescribe...
Is it ok to use cream whilst feeding? I don't want my DS to suddenly start sprouting boobs - although he does seem rather keen on mine not sure having his own would be such a good thing!
TTC is very depressing when it goes on this long!

lilysma · 18/04/2010 09:20

Hi everyone, have been trying to avoid MN for a bit in the hope that it might help reduce my obsession with TTC but it doesn't seem to have been very effective .

Seems a lot has happened whilst I was looking the other way!

Bird, sorry you've had such a horrific time, but really glad your bean is hanging on in there and hope all settles down and your anxiety subsides a bit asap.

LP, sorry you're feeling sad about the apparent end of bf, but be warned that DD (now 3.4) has gone through brief phases of not wanting it before and even had an entire week off when I went away, but is still bf for britain and implacably opposed to even cutting down .

Fannylogan I know what you mean about tiredness and 'what the hell am I doing TTC?'! I say this kind of thing several times a day as the depths of my inadequate parenting are revealed in all their glory (truculent, rude, tantruming, refusing to go to bed DD)! And then she says something like 'I'm just going in the tent with my sister (teddy bear), mummy' and I'm desperate to give her a real one again....

Things trundle on much the same here. Am nearing the end of the 2ww and have had spotting as usual from day 10, so not holding out much hope .

I've had two accupuncture sessions though and think they have helped with the pms symptoms as I've been feeling generally more positive this month. I think cycling a lot and the sunshine may have helped lift my mood as well though . Had a bad day yesterday due to lack of sleep but feel a bit better again today. Have held off on the progesterone cream partly because of having day 21 blood tests and partly cos the accupuncturist wanted to see what effect her treatment had this month. Has been hard though, as I really wanted to see whether it helps with the spotting. Oh well, roll on next month...

God this post is long! Sorry

FannyLogan · 17/04/2010 22:13

Hmmmmm sure I ovulated Thursday, but no SWI (I was too pissed off with DH/tired) so that was a comletely wasted opportunity .

If I am already knackered can I cope with 2???

However, will await AF to check luteal phase - was quite short before DD.

smallblackflowers · 16/04/2010 21:35

Hi!

Thanks for the reassurance Lpsmum, and sorry to hear lp didn't want his milk tonight. Tomorrow is another day though and who knows what it may bring

dita the new house sounds like an exciting proposition - would love chickens, but unfortunately DP thinks it's a silly idea!

Well my exciting news (totally unrelated to TTC) is that my DD took her first steps today - completely took me by surprise as I thought she was weeks off. She has then done it over and over again, about 4 steps followed by a dive into the carpet!
Think I am ovulating today - have had a sharp pain in my side for the last few hours, and +ve opk yesterday, although it feels like it has been building up to it for days.

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Lpsmum · 16/04/2010 21:17

Hi all
Looks like I'm with you Little Silver - think my days of bf'ing are officially over . We were down to just the bedtime feed but tonight my LP took himslef off to bed without so much as a by-your-leave. Fairly sad as I'm now not that special person to him in the same way but hey-ho. Also worried as that was always my trump card to get him to do whatever I wanted - "lets get ready for bed now LP and have some mummy milk", "time to get out of the bath now LP for mummy milk", "get your head from down the toilet now LP and we can have some mummy milk".

Hope things are more settled with you bird
sbf I don't think your should worry about your supply. I can only go from my experience but for the past couple of months by boy has alternated between 1 and 2 feeds a day and I've never had any problems.
Dita how exciting to be looking at somewhere new! at the large garden. We've spent today in out small garden on the sand/water table (uugghhhh) but would love to let my boy run around a big safe garden.

I'm currently on CD22 so not long left now

DitaVonCheese · 15/04/2010 08:50

Hello all! Just doing a quick catch-up.

Bird that sounds horrific. Really hope the rest of your pregnancy is a bit more stress free.

lpsmum I winced when I read your post re biting but completely forgot to send my sympathies DD usually pre-warns these days (she looks up at me with a winning smile and says "Bite?" as though I'm going to say "Oh go on then, just this once" ) but it is so incredibly painful, and makes you really reluctant to carry on bf.

Not really sure what is going on here Like last month, I seemed to have a transitional result on the microscope and got really excited, particularly as it was on CD12. Then ... nothing. Not sure whether I'm just not very good at using the microscope Anyway, we've been SWI-ing away so just waiting for my temps to go up. We're away with my family (again!) this weekend so tonight is our last chance really.

DD is still wanting to feed 24/7 and I'm getting pretty fed up with it. For one thing I'm more nervous about feeding her in public at the moment, and I'm already getting plenty of comments from my family, but she is wanting to feed every 20 minutes or so, but it's do it in public or don't leave the house (and I hate this house, I get cabin fever after a couple of hours). Our big news is that we might be buying somewhere - an absolute wreck so lots of work to be done but it has a big garden so DD can run around and we can keep chickens and everything

smallblackflowers · 14/04/2010 21:43

Hi Queen, she's 13 1/2 months.

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QueenFee · 14/04/2010 20:58

My 2 weaned down to just 1 last feed in the evenings with no issues They were 14/16 months respectively and have always had great immune systems (DD has had a mere 2 days off sick since she started school 3 years ago!) I am sure she will be fine, remind me how old is she now?

smallblackflowers · 13/04/2010 20:24

I think DD may be starting to self wean...we're down to 2 feeds per day (wake up and bedtime) and these seem to be getting shorter. Am feeling quite mixed about this. Sad that it may be coming to an end, as I was hoping to carry on until she was at least 2, to help her immunity when she starts at nursery in July, and happy(ish) that it may mean the elusive DC#2 may be conceived more quickly.
I'm also worrying a bit that the shortness of these 2 feeds may mean that my milk will dry up before she is ready to completely stop. Does anyone have any experience of this?

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smallblackflowers · 12/04/2010 22:13

littlesilver 'course you can stay! As I have said, we need more graduates to inspire and motivate us!

CD13 for me and my cervix is at its most fertile (apologies if TMI ), approx a week earlier than the last few cycles, so fingers crossed this is me up to level 3 of fertility. Finding it very hard not to SWI tonight, as planning to do only every other day this cycle, but worried I'm missing an opportunity.......

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