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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.

Original poster

TTC while breastfeeding - not for the fainthearted!

49 replies

beartime · 16/03/2006 10:54

Here's my situation: My ds is 4mths, am fully bfing, and still have not ovulated yet, but I want a baby! So I'm now obsessive about charting GrinDH is in bad health and 43 yrs old so if we have more it has to be SOON!

\link{http://www.tcoyf.com/ourtcoyf/gallery/gallery.asp?typeid=11\Here's} a great page of charts of people who bfed and became pg, or not!

And \link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html\here's} a great page of links abt bfing and fertility.

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Rubymummy · 18/03/2006 22:36

I have only been feeding once a day now, sometimes once every other day fpr a month or so..still no af. Starting to worry..

bobblehead · 18/03/2006 22:52

Have you tested yet Rubymummy?Wink

I think everyone is so different. My friends mum had 4 children with the exact same age gap between them. As soon as they started solid and hit a certain level of bfeeding she would conceive again!
Could happen anytime now.

Original poster
beartime · 19/03/2006 07:41

some people don't get af back till they stop totally Sad
for this reason I had thought maybe if I don't have it back by 6mths I'd stop bfing. But I would SO kick myself if I didn't get pg that it wouldn't be worth it.

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mower · 19/03/2006 10:34

I am now about 6 weeks pregnant, managed to conceive whilst still fully bf ds, who was 4 1/2 months when we conceived. So it can be done. Had two af's since ds was born.

Rubymummy · 19/03/2006 10:54

Congrats mower :) But I suppose it must be rare to get af back so soon when fully bf. DD has started to refuse breast a lot of the time so think its time to fully wean :(
Am not testing bobblehead - i had just convinced myself without any good reason really - as beartime said - fertile time doesn't mean ov! Don't want to waste test on certain BFN again.
Just pray af returns quickly when bf is finished!

bobblehead · 19/03/2006 14:14

I had a faint line on ov stick yesterday, which I know doesn't mean I'm ovulating, but makes me feel that hormones must be increasing slightly as I didn't get ANY line last month even with ewcm. Just hoping the hormones can work themselves up there by dds first birthday as I'd really like to be pg by then.

And congrats MowerSmile! Did you still do night feeds?

mower · 19/03/2006 19:23

Bobble head, I still feed at about 4am, so ds sleeps for around 8 1/2 hours, it used to be longer though, have been really lucky he used to sleep for about 10 hours without waking for feed, think this may be why I got af's back.

Good luck with conceiving.

sarahlou123 · 19/03/2006 21:58

hi, i've actually been taking my temps for 5 cycles now and have cycles of around 40odd days. ds is 10 and half months now so we've trying for a while, he still feeds 3-4 times in 24hrs. i kno from taking temps that ovulate but ovulate late in my cycle and at the min i have a short luteal phase so have little chance of getting pregnant even though af has returned. ds has slept through since he was 11 weeks but af didnt return until he as about 5 months (i think)
good luck everyone luv sarahlou xx

Original poster
beartime · 19/03/2006 22:45

Oooh Mower you just got me excited as Ds is 4.5 mths [jumping up and down with glee] - BTW I've been stalking your threads cos I'm so jealous and also want to continue bfing if I get pg. How many feeds were you on when afs came back?

Bobblehead - yay on the faint line Envy

Rubymummy - I would still watch for pg symptoms though cos you can ovulate b4 first AF and if you conceived on first ovulation = no AF Smile

Oh Sarahlou you made me depressed again now Sad - you know they can give you stuff to lengthen the luteal phase and also decrease the prolactin from bfing too I think - though maybe that's just USA don't know.

Had some cramps today - maybe its just wind Smile

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Original poster
beartime · 19/03/2006 22:48

Oh I forgot to say - I just realised after talking to some people on my postnatal thread that ds only really needs to feed for about 15 mins at this stage - I've been keeping him on there for about 35-40mins! So i think I have been a bit inattentive due to reading a book and him a bit sleepy so between us we've ended up with far longer feeds than he needs which explains why he's been spitting up so much! So today I really watched when he pulled off and it was about 15mins - and no spitting up either! So hopefully this will reduce suckling which may increase chances of ovulation coming back Grin

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bobblehead · 20/03/2006 00:06

Good excuse to stay sitting though beartimeWink
So suckling time makes a difference too? Thats good cos dd never takes longer than 10 mins and only ever feeds one side at a time. I think she's down to 3/4 feeds a day its only nights are the problem. Daddy will her put her to bed with bottle of formula tonight so we'll see if that works as an acceptable replacement (think I know the answer to that already!)

Original poster
beartime · 20/03/2006 08:04

from what I understand if they've got used to feeding in the night then its a hard cycle to get rid of cos they'll feed less in the day cos they're full but then wake up in the night again, so I think you have to take away one feed at a time at night gradually, so they build up their feeds in the day and try to get them back to sleep without it - maybe cooled boiled water or a dummy?

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Rubymummy · 20/03/2006 08:36

Couldn't resist - BFN. Haven't bfed in 24hrs though so hopefully af will return soon!

mower · 20/03/2006 11:41

Beartime, I was still doing alot of bfing when afs came back, this was when ds was 3 months at this stage though he was going around 10 hours per night without a feed (wish he still would now!). Then had another af 5 weeks after the first one, then found out I was pg.

Been for scan this morning as had spotting few weeks back, I saw the heart beat and every thing is ok!

I wish you lots and lots of luck and hope you fall soon.

Did you have a normal birth or c-section? I had c-section am abit worried about scar, but was told this morning that I will be ok.

Original poster
beartime · 20/03/2006 12:44

mower - I'm so glad you've seen the heartbeat - I had the same as you with bleeding in the first few mths so I was also relieved to see the heartbeat. It's funny though, even tho' they say miscarriages have nothing to do with your exertion, my bleeding happened every time after I'd lifted something heavy or walked fasrer than usual - and they call it a threatened miscarriage. So I would say take it easy anyway! I had a normal birth so can't help with scar. Have you bought LL's book on bfing in pregnancy and beyond?

Rubymummy sorry abt the bfn Sad I've got quite a while b4 I stop bfing so I hope mine come back sooner!

Sorry abt this subject - but does anyone know how to distinguish what is your cervix so you can feel if its high/soft etc.?

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mower · 20/03/2006 13:15

No haven't brought that book beartime, who is LL, may buy it as now am completly parinoid about miscarrying as I am still doing lots of bfing, can't seem to get a clear answer from anywhere whether it increases my risk of miscarrying.

koolkat · 20/03/2006 13:18

mower - see my reply on your thread - LLL - is La Leche League - they have lots of books on their website incl. the one I have referred you to on your own thread. You can order them online.

No need to worry unless you are high risk or have miscarried several times before.

mower · 20/03/2006 13:23

Thanks koolkat

Original poster
beartime · 20/03/2006 16:04

Mower - read \link{http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/faq/01safety.html\this}

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Original poster
beartime · 21/03/2006 20:59

I might be ovulating - had slight spotting today, pain in left side for 5 seconds (is that long enough to be an ovulation pain or is it psychosomatic I wonder?!) and lotiony cf. I hooope so!! Well I'll be able to tell in a few days...

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Original poster
beartime · 21/03/2006 21:01

Trying to figure out if should get bding today or wait till ewcf though - if I'm spotting doesn't that mean its really close? DH is getting a bit older so just wants to tell him the one day and thats it Blush - so can anyone help Grin

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bobblehead · 21/03/2006 21:53

Tomorrow would probably be your best bet as sperm can survive up to 5 days. My dh is the same so we have to get the timing rightGrincouldn't imagine doing it every second day right through the whole cycle!!!!!

Sorry if asking tmi, but how much spotting? I had literally a couple of drops of pink back in Jan, then 2 weeks later ewcm so thought it was af starting back, but alas no sign since.

Good luck though beartime I'll be very Envy if you are ov (but Smile for you)

Original poster
beartime · 22/03/2006 07:08

not very much spotting - just a slightly diff. colour that's all. Don't worry I'm not getting my hopes up too much, but its fun to be excited Smile I'm glad your DH is the same, I am saving it. I also thought better to wait until ewcf as sperm have a better chance of getting there.

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Rubymummy · 28/03/2006 12:08

Hi all - finally got AF - bfeeding down to once every few days and dd very uninterested so probably dtop altogether shortly. Does that mean I have to leave the thread?!?! Hope everyone is well x

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