TTC while breastfeeding - Part 2

[silkenladder]

This is the place to come to share the frustrations of ttc while still nursing.

Many of us are sleep-deprived, some of us don't even know if we're ovulating and none of us know whether taking agnus castus is a good idea or not. We all just want to do the best by the children we already have, but would really like to be pregnant again. Quickly.

Part 1 had plenty of graduates . Here's hoping Part 2 will be equally successful and supportive!

Ladies would you ever use vitamin B6 whilst breastfeeding to increase your LP?

Also does anyone have a Clearblue Fertility Monitor?

Hiya

jaggy big hugs, so sorry you had a BFN. It must have been hard after a positive test. All the luck for this cycle. I wish I knew the answer about 2-3 BFs affecting fertility (its where I am). I think it doesn't affect some women but could affect others - and there's no way to know if its just BFing the reason you are pg yet or just that thr right egg hasn't been hatched yet IYSWIM. I'm not sure if/when/how far down the TTC route I'll think about dropping BF, or if I will at all... guess these decisions are part of the journey of parenthood!

Martha good to see you! Good luck for the cycle - its all sounding very positive! I say keep SWI until you are sure that egg is gone - unless you are totally exhausted from it of course

TweedleDee I think some on this thread are taking B6 (Yank, inuk?). I don't think its a problem. I think the extra B6 would stay in your body rather than go into milk as your body would regulate what goes into the milk (just my uneducated opinion!!)

QueenF get well soon xx

Thanks Isla and all :)

Yeah it was rubbish - no more + shaped tests ever for me. No tests at all in fact unles AF is late - I am charting so can find out for free as my temp plummets even before AF shows up!

I'm only on month 6 and to be honest only 1 or 2 of those months have realistically included enough well timed SWI. We have had bad luck with DS being up loads with teething/illness and have either been too busy with him or too tired!

With your chance each month even if you get everythig right being only about 25% I am trying not to get too disappointed. I bought TCOYF the other month and found it interesting.

Next official 'SWI week' I am off on holiday (not going away anywhere) so should be plenty of time

Yay to holiday Jaggy! Over Christmas was my fertile time and we were so much more relaxed. I think it helps! I know what you mean about timing as well - especially over this winter season one of the three of us always seems to have some illness and it doesn't help! Hopefully as spring approaches we'll get healthier!

... last post I was moaning about my body packing in, but now I think I might have ovulated, a few days early as well. Maybe the agnus castus was not so bad. I've been half-heartedly charting (after 2 months of proper charting, but relaxed this month, taking temp when I remember) and my temp seems to have shifted up, for the last 4 days so its sustained. DD is ill and been up a lot so I did wonder if its down to that as I didn't notice much, if any EWCM this month. If I did ov, we had a couple of well timed SWI since we've been trying every couple of days (until DD & DH got ill that is!) so theres a chance, but the lack of EWCM isn't too positive. Anyway can't do much but wait, AF due in a week if I did ov.

Well we did conceive DS in December 2 years ago so we were probably more relaxed :)

I'd actually originally planned to wait till DS was about 1.5yrs to start ttc, but DH was really keen so we started when he was 13 months! Really glad now as I have had a chance to get to see that my cycle is fairly regular and be ready to time SWI.

Just can't wait for another wee person really and I hadn't realised how much I felt like that until after a few months and no BFP.

FX for everyone!

I read that B6 can dry up your supply

well probably I don't know what I'm talking about then! Having googled it sounds like it can work to reduce prolactin, which could affect milk supply... I think it depends how established your breastfeeding is and how much milk your baby needs. So if your baby is completely dependent on the breast its obviously not a good idea but if DC eats lots of solids it might not make a difference to milk supply. Honestly, in your shoes, I would just wait it out a few months to see what happens with your cycle - its likely it will improve on its own since your DS is still so young xx

sorry TweedleDee I couldn't remember if you had a boy or girl and just looked back and its a girl! Apologies for refering to her as DS!

I know what you mean jaggy we thought we'd start trying when DD turned 2, as I thought about 3 yrs would be perfect for our family (I liked the idea that DD would maybe have started at preschool and be out of nappies) but we started trying for a 2.5 yr gap - I just got broody much earlier than I thought I would and after a few months of holding back but wanting to try we just decided to go for it!

Did I kill the thread?!!!

11dpo here... why am I so stupid? I POAS and got a BFN. I don't know why I did it!!!! My temp went down this morning and I just thought I'd check. So now I'm disappointed, but still ever hopeful til AF arrives. So I shouldn't have POAS at least then I'd just be hopeful rather than hopeful in a bad mood!!!

IslandIsla I think I ov'd 11 days ago too - Feb 27. Haven't dared poas, especially as we're not supposed to be trying - although DP wasn't exactly being massively careful at the key time. So I'm stupidly slightly hopeful although it would frankly be a miracle as he wasn't being that reckless either. Part of me also worries that it could be a bad thing anyway as I'm taking those thrush meds which would not be good if I were preggers - and also because I haven't beeen able to eat a decent meal due to side effects from the sodding meds. But then I get hopeful again. I'll try to be sanguine, even if AF arrives I've had a decent luteal phase for a first cycle so really can't complain. And it would be a hell of a shock for DP.

Fingers crossed isla and poppet
I am hoping that last weeks increased feeds and now return to normality will prompt a visit from af
What do you reackon my chances are?

Any news Islandisla???? Fingers are crossed for you!
oooooooh, you too poppet! Very exciting. This TTC business really makes each month a complete roller coaster doesn't it.

I am now about 9dpo and already imagining all the 'symptoms'. Every little niggle, pinch, cramp, lightheaded moment gets me all nervous and excited....
I feel like I am WAY over-reading my body! I am really holding out to test. Last month was expensive!
I have been feeling quite crampy and kind of 'heavy' in my pelvic area. I don't know if it's implantation cramping....no bleeding though.
Just have to take a deep breath and try and forget about it for another week or so....(HA! yeah right)

Do let us know if you test again island and poppet!
QueenFee - good luck with AF returning, I'm sure the last couple of weeks will have made a difference.
xxxxxxxx

AF came this morning which I knew was on the cards after a BFN but had a little cry. Was hoping LP longer than 11 days this time. We are going on holiday with BIL/SIL family in a couple of weeks and she is 4/5 months pregnant and I was so hoping I'd be pregnant too! Oh well, now I can have a drink or too, and maybe we'll be a bit relaxed for SWI on holiday! Although just a little worried how we'll manage SWI with travelling, a toddler and jetlag! I took agnus castus the first half of the cycle - Ov was 4-5 days earlier than normal, but LP the same (was hoping to lengthen) and hardly any EWCM - much less than normal. Probably will give it a miss this month as going away but wonder anyway if the benefits did outweigh the negs for me... less EWCM isn't good.

Good luck poppet and martha - keeping my fingers crossed for you !!!

QueenF well a sudden change in feeding pattern is supposed to be good for fertility - hope you're getting some SWI in

Oh, so sorry Islandisla . It's just so disappointing isn't it?
I guess with each passing month our chances get a little higher and our hormones a little more 'normal'. AF always gives me a little renewed hope for the month to come. Isn't pineapple juice good for EWMC, or is that a myth I've picked up somewhere?
At least being on hols should be fairly relaxing which bodes well. Good luck with the SWI.

i think it might be grapefruit juice Martha, pineapple juice for 2nd half of cycle maybe, can't remember why though!

cd11 here so nothing to report, except i should be getting on with the SWI. was too tired last night, probably because i was up late a bit drunk the night before. was also sleeping in room right next to in-laws at their house which tends to put me off (wasn't drunk enough not to care)!

sorry about AF Isla :(

fx for those in 2ww.

Well still no AF here and its two weeks since ovulation. However I had a heavy draggy feeling this morning that makes me think it's coming real soon. Hey ho.

11dpo here but also have that heavy, dragging, tired feeling that makes me think AF is on the way.

I remember when I was first preg with DS and I got this tired feeling- it was as if someone had thrown a heavy, damp blanket over my shoulders and I had to carry it around all the time, felt completely weighed down and breathless. I wonder if it will be the same next time....I really remember the tiredness and then the nausea....is it wrong to look forward to those symptoms!???

fingers x'd for us poppet!

Thanks for your good wishes

oooh poppet aren't you tempted to test!

good luck martha!

jaggy I so know what you mean about the ILs in the next room putting you off - always seems to happen to us at ov time!

AF is really heavy this month. I thought having taken agnus castus would have had the opposite effect! Can't wait for it to finish!

I have got some grapefruit juice in this month... I actually like it, figure it would be nice for a change!

I daren't.... I'll come on within an hour, I know I would so I'm deliberately not having any kits in the house. I think I'll come on in the next couple of days for sure, have that weird heavy feeling. Also I used to have a long cycle so I'm just not getting any hopes up. Plus of course if I am there's the breaking it to DH :S But I'm not, I'm sure I'm not, I feel very due on.

Ooh fingers x'd

I am now considering angus castus. surely at 20 months af should return grr I am feeling very impatient

fingers still x'd!!!! How are you feeling poppet???
I'm now aprox 13dpo. Still feel like AF could turn up any second. But was extremely nauseas when I went to bed last night and also tea has started to taste funny....I know this is just wild symptom spotting though! I am going to try not to test until at least 16 or 17 dpo because last month was so demoralising.

I think i'm 16 dpo, still got that draggy feeling here too, I almost feel like my body is trying to make it's mind up one way or the other. I keep putting on my grimmest icky time of the month rubbish pants then not needing them - sorry if tmi. I too have started wild symptom spotting, mainly massive tiredness and ravenous hunger. Of course I could just be tired and hungry. Had very few symptoms with DS mind - hence he was such a surprise - particularly after a test at my GP led him to tell me I wasn't preggers. Think I will test on Monday excited face. But I suspect by then I won't need to.

good luck ladies!!!

Just heard another friend is pregnant, and I'm feeling left out. Also wondering exactly how we are going to make a baby this month as DD ill for the past 2 weeks and is sleeping mostly in our bed!

at poppet's grim rubbish pants....we all have them.

Sorry I've not been around much. Started temping and it is going well, but might have to set the alarm a bit earlier as I keep waking up to either baby crying, dog barking, or needing a wee before 6:15.

CD15 here, no sign of ovulation at all. No SWI either as DH's back has been quite bad the last week and last night he was in Paris.

Think this month might be out, I'm having a colonoscopy tomorrow and prepping all day today (severe laxatives). If ovulation happens in next few days there is no way I feel like SWI.

Good luck to everyone who is waiting!