Anyone else been here?? Extended bf and fertility question.

[Jakeyblueblue]

Hi, have posted before about this and got a couple of great responses but still mithering about it and wondered if there Was anyone else out there with any advice.

Ds is 26 months and I'm still bf, we also co sleep. Im 34 and dh is 48, took around 2 years to concieve ds. Gp felt it was because we weren't trying hard enough and as soon as we started Dtd 3 x weekly, every week, I caught. First period returned around ds 1st birthday but been ttc ever since. Know alot of those months my luteal phase was less than ten but now cycle more regular and LP is 12 days. Def think I'm ovulating as have unmistakable ov pain but have had months where I've had ewcm for 2 weeks and not ovulated until day 25 and the likes. Can't chart due to night wakings.

Up until last month ds was still feeding loads on my days off and weekends plus several times in the night too. Thinking it may be stopping me getting pregnant, I've now weaned in the day and am getting about a 13- 14 hr break from morning to night feed but still no bfp.
I'm a nurse so know all the science behind bf related infertility but all the literature suggests most women are able to concieve whilst bf.

Gp is rubbish, knows bugger all about bf and thinks I ought to have stopped ages ago so no advice there. Don't know anyone else who has bf as long as me and anyone who I do know that has got pregnabt whilst bf had night weaned.

Starting to mither that its not the bf and that ds may have been a fluke and theres been a problem all along. Was hoping some one might be able to put my mind at rest. Has anyone out there had to wean to get pregnabt despite the fact thier periods have returned?
Should I try night weaning and if so how the bloody hell do you do it when you do sleep???

I got pregnant when DS was about that age and still bf and co-sleeping. He fed about 4 times a day at the time (morning, nap time, bed time, middle of night) sometimes 2 or 3 times in the night. I night weaned him soon after because feeding became so painful. We had had two attempts before which were hell (nights of DH trying to deal with a screaming angry baby on his own) but that last time was quite easy. I just said "no milk now. Milk in the morning" and after one night of protesting a bit he was fine, finally started sleeping through, and started to eat more. I guess he was just ready. Have you tried night weaning recently? We still co-sleep so that doesn't have to stop.

Thanks thumbs, its reassuring to know that gentle weaning is possible if you chose the right time. To be honest, the day weaning was far easier than I thought and he just accepted it was all gone.
Could I ask, how long had your periods had been back for before you caught? I know its possible to get pregnant whilst bf and I also know that lots of mums struggle to concieve because thier periods haven't returned but I was really wondering if there is anyone out there who still couldn't get pregnant due the bf, even though they were having periods?
I do think my cycle is improving, ie luteal phase is lengthening slowly and each cycle is getting more like a typical pre pregnancy cycle. Am hoping I'm just working my way back to fertility slowly but also don't want to rest on my laurels thinking its to do with the bf when actually there's another issue I could get treatment for.

In similar circumstances we night weaned (still co sleeping - offered water) and I took Vit B supplements. Am now 30w pg.

After DC1 I had my first AF at 14m, and conceived again at 20m (second cycle of trying). After DC2 first AF at 16m and conceived at 20m (fourth cycle).

Both my first conceptions ended in miscarriage though, and I didn't hold a pgy until the bf had reduced to one or two feeds a day.

I night-weaned a determined BFeeder at 13 months.

In the couple of weeks before I upped his daytime milk intake.

Then took the plunge one weekend and only ever offered water when he woke at night. Difference was, at that time he was in his cot (we flit in and out of co-sleeping) so I would lift him out, but not hold him in the feeding position and walk him up and down, offer water.

It worked fine - few tears and he quickly stopped asking for milk at night.

Only time we've gone backwards was this summer holiday (aged 22 months!) because he was refusing most food during the day so was really hungry at night and I figured he needed to feed (as opposed to comfort/habit feeding).

Am also TTCing (first month) so hope BF won't affect it. Time will tell I guess

Could you try wearing a non-feeding bra at night/inaccesible clothing so it's too hard for him to feed when sleepy?

I found that when co-sleeping DS reacted well when I said no milk, sleep time and physically turned my back on him. To my surprise, he just snuggled up to my back and went back to sleep!

Mine had been back a while. They came back when he was about a year old, so over a year. It took 4 cycles.

Thanks everyone.
Guess I will plod on with the ttc and think about night weaning!