Absent AF, screwed up ovulation, luteal phase defects? Sign in for the all new ttc while breastfeeding thread! BFPs guaranteed!

[MrsHuxtable]

As if ttc wasn't nerve wrecking enough, we like the extra challenge of getting that BFP while still breastfeeding a baby or toddler. While this isn't an easy endouvour, it certainly isn't impossible as many graduates on the previous threads prove.

I'm posting a link here for any newcomers about fertility while breastfeeding.

kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/

Am also wonderig if you'd like to have some sort of stats for the tread members. I'll just start myself.

MrsHuxtable, 29, ttc#2 from April, on pp cycle 4, luteal phase defect

yes totally second fertility friend for learning about charting I learnt so much from there! Have also heard tcoyf is really good, but never got round to buying a copy yet!

How long does it take your temp to rise after ov Blackberry? I always thought it was the next day for most people! I generally get a slight dip on what I presume is ov day, then temp is up the next day, but maybe I've been reading it wrong! CM always changes on the day my bbt goes up too.

Great news on the symptoms too Blackberry! Would be so awesome if you got your bfp in the first month of trying How many tests did you get in the end?

Love the description of your DD walking Wild! So cute My DD looks similar too, hardly lifts feet up so she waddles! I'm constantly amazed at how some of her falls don't hurt or do some serious damage though, guess that's the benefit of being much closer to the floor FX for your scan this week too

I have totally done the symptom spotting to the point of madness and so I'm going to try so hard this month to ignore anything until 12dpo yeah right lol Fingers crossed everyone on the 2ww

In the spirit if trying everything different this month I have decided to use my mooncup after we BD in place of a soft cup. I don't think they are quite as good because they don't place the sperm so close to the cervix, however there is a lot of evidence online of people feeling they helped, and as I use one for AF, why not!!

I am going to start using opks tomorrow so fingers crossed I can get a smiley earlier this month xx

I use an app called My Days but also Fertility Friend. I don't know why but I find their app a little tricky to use whereas the My Days app is a little more user friendly. BUT when it comes to the charts FF is definitely the one with the best info re ovulation plus it does excellent videos which really helped me understand the fertile window and the way the hormones work.

In terms of taking bbt I am usually leaping out of bed to deal with seb in the morning so keep the thermometer in the bathroom so I can pop it in my mouth while I'm having a wee lol hygienic!! Ideally you want to take your temp at the same time every morning before you get out of bed. But real life, with a child already, dictates that isn't always an option.

Loads of luck girls xxxxx

Hi everyone,
New to this board but thought you could give me some advise and wise words. Sorry about the length of this, hope it's all relevant and someone who has been in this situation can help!
I have 2 DSs, DS1 3 and DS2 14months. DS1 self weaned at 13 months and at 14months I was pg. DS2 was my 4th pregnancy and previously I'd got pg within the first month or 2 of trying so I know me and DH are super compatible
We are desperate for DC3 but DS2 seems more booby-obsessive than ever! It's his answer to everything, if he's bored, hungry, tired, fallen over, his brother has looked at him funny, etc, he will demand a feed. I was recently away overnight with DS1 in hospital and DS2 was absolutely fine with DH, slept and ate better than he ever has for me in fact.
So, I don't want to force him to stop, but I do want him to realise that there are other alternatives. And, I never thought I'd say it, but I want AF back! I fairly sure that when he stops my fertility will return.
So, anyone any experience of this? What do you all suggest?
Thanks so much!
Koko

Welcome Koko! You'll get lots if support on this thread! I'm not the best person to advise on reducing bf though- 14 month old DD seems to be increasing at the moment..,

Good luck to all of those POAS in the next day or so! Blackberry that is so wonderful re your DS's speech! Really impressive with five word sentences!

And eggs I know what you mean re falling over... I guess there are a lot if bumps coming up until they get more stable. DD tends to throw herself at things even if they are hard thing like the kitchen door!

I've just found out (chromosome testing for unrelated reasons) that we are expecting a boy! Absolutely delighted (would have been either way) but in a state of shock as DD is all I know!

Thanks everyone! And Wild, a boy, they're great! I'd like a girl if I'm lucky enough to get DC3 but a boy would be good too

Good luck to everyone poas, I do every now and again just in case something is happening..

Koko, when blackberry talked about ecological nursing a few pages ago it was your scenario that I had in my head from what I had read in the past. Women who ecological nurse tend to co sleep, feed on demand, feed to soothe (so basically never say no), baby wear etc etc.

I think this is fabulous as long as it is what you and your baby want. If you are now less keen on feeding to soothe then I think you need yo start employing distraction techniques as he is feeding on those occasions as habit now.

Decide how you want to progress. Do you want to continue to feed him say, two or three times in the day and if he wakes at night? Or do you want to say twice a day and if he wakes in the night then you will feed water and do shush pat? I think you need to start with a plan of action and move forward from there. You can definitely sort out the feeding when upset or bored by distracting. If he comes over for comfort them big hugs and kisses but boobs stay firmly within bra, I assume you maybe feed him to sleep? Again this is habit and for it to be broken you need to be firm and consistent, but again I would say hVe a clear idea of what you will do I each instance.

I am in a slightly easier situation as Seb is a food monster who also likes milk. Given the choice I think he would go for fish pie . He was being fed on demand, probably about 5/6 times a day, once during the night. Now we are doing either a cows milk feed in the morn and a bf in afternoon and evening. Or, as in this morning, a bf in morn and evening and a cows milk feed in the afternoon. He sometimes wakes in the night but nowadays he seems to be sleeping through in the main.

Thanks Sebsmummy. You're right on pretty much everything! I think the main problem is that when we weaned him it turned out he has huge allergies so his first proper food (baby porridge) he had a massive reaction and it put him off food hugely. We now know what he's allergic to (dairy, eggs and nuts) so can work around them but he's still wary. He still feeds to sleep for naps but at night he goes into his cot awake and puts himself to sleep. If I'm there it's boob, for anyone else it's bottle (soya milk!). It is true though, I can't say no to him, he's just so cute and squishy He sleeps through mostly, maybe twice a week he wakes at 5am and then gets fed back to sleep [lazy emoticon!]

I'll start trying distraction techniques and see how it goes..

That makes perfect sense and I can see why milk has become the safe option.

I have read that 6 clear hours between feeds is the best way to regain fertility, I believe this is crucial at night but I also try to employ the same in the day.

If you google breast feeding and TTC there are some great articles out there which explain things clearly. Every woman is individual so unfortunately what works for one won't for another. This is why I have in my mind the possibility of weaning fully if I don't conceive at some point next year.

I should be able to conceive while breast feeding as I am currently, but for some women it just isn't possible. The advice tends to be for older mothers that if they are still struggling to conceive and their age is a factor in terms of their continued fertility then they should seriously consider fully weaning.

Oooh girls I have some exciting news!!

I have hugely stretchy (I actually measured it lol!!) EWCM at cd 10. Last month I had EWCM at cd 13/14 and ovulated cd17/18. Hopefully this means I will ovulate around cd14 and have a standard luteal phase

We've been doing lots of BDing as I've been a horny gal and I just assumed it was practise. But maybe not!!

I think that's been posted before where people have thought the bleed line under the spongy area was a bfp. Also, like I posted before, don't go looking for faint lines on ICs. Some if them will always give you a faint line, even if you dip them in water. Only believe then if the test line is strong.

Sebsmunmy. When you say beware of faint lines in ICs do you keen the ones that are pretty much just a strip of paper. Do far I've had one super faint and fading on an asda midstream and a super faint but staying put on a cheap pee-dipper. I've got some midstream internet ones arriving suposedly today, so hopefully tomorrow! Do they all give bad results?

I only mean the strip ones mummy sparkle. If I had a faint BFP come up on a cheapie from boots or super drug etc I'd be blimming excited!! When I was pregnant with seb I got a faint BFP a couple of days before AF was due with a FR test. But had to wait another four or five days for the faintest of lines to show on a big standard test from tesco.

Thanks blackberry, neg opk this morn.