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

I am cd 11.

I tell you what my fertility signs are ridiculous this month. I put the moon cup in last night straight after BDing and kept my legs elevated for about half an hour. When I took it out this morn I had the most massive stretchiest amount of clear EWCM mixed with semen. Much more stretchy than yesterday and about five times the amount.

To my mind with these signs I should be ovulating within the next few days. They say you are at your most fertile following a chemical pregnancy is I am going to keep BDing daily and fingers tightly crossed.

Yesterday's faint line was on a paper strip one so I'll take it with a pinch of salt. I've been feeling nauseaus and a bit dizzy today and yesterday, but I'm still not getting my hopes up. Hopefully my midstream tests will have arrived today. Should I try one tonight?

Hopefully you'll ob soon sebsmummy, sounds really promising!

Just had a look back over your posts MS and can see you don't really have clear cycles at the moment do you ? Ie you wouldn't know where in the cycle you were?

Going from the amount you are breast feeding and the fact that so far you've had one period, your cycles are probably sorting themselves out at the moment. Normally the first cycle post partum is anovulatory (no ovulation). Mine was 21 days long from memory then 26 days then 27 days then last month 30 days. Not at all helped by me taking the pill for three months as AF showed up when seb was three months old even though I was ebf!!

I know, I'm getting far too hopeful far too soon . Counting this cycle I'd be on CD 40 now. My first AF was awful, really heavy and bright red and really really painful, I had to use my labour breathing techniques to get through it full of clots too. So I guess I'm hoping I don't have any more for a long time too!!

If the first cycle is usually anovulatory then how Do peop
le conceive before AF?

You're not necessarily getting too hopeful!! I just had a look through what you had written and it sounds as though your hormones are trying to regulate, but there is always a chance!!

That is a bloody good question. I imagine it falls under the heading of 'usually' the first cycle post partum is anovulatory but yep, some women ovulate and fall pregnant the first month their cycles come back without ever having their period.

I wonder if that's rare?

We should look into it. I always thought it was relatively common, but thinking about it I have based that information in an episode of call the midwife...

Pretty sure I just got my BFP! I used a cheapie midstream this evening and it's faint but definitely there!! Very excited! Although I'm 6 weeks in to a new job and DH doesn't want anymore babies for a while... Hopefully he'll come round to the idea quickly :) his mum has been asking us when we'll have another one. She is 18 month older than her sister and they are best friends, so they've been saying 'pooh when are you having another one?? Need to get pregnant soon or they'll be too far apart! DS is so kind and loving, he will be an amazing big brother :)

Do you use OPKs or just charting (or am I just being mosey now? - tell me if I am!)

That's really interesting blackberry! Do even if I hadn't taken the pill for those three months it still might have taken a while for me to have started ovulating and potentially got pregnant? I wish I hadn't let the midwife and doctor scare me do much re. getting pregnant very easily when breast feeding. I really don't think that's the case at my age.

Ooooh mummy sparkle are we calling this a graduation ceremony?? Congratulations xxxx

Sorry blackberry, I didn't see your posts earlier.

I suppose this must be a graduation ceremony! I'm a little bit shocked. OH is still taking it in!

Roll on June!

Ooh another BFP!!! Congratulations sparkle!

on the indent giving you false hope Blackberry. That has tricked me a couple of times too before I've looked more closely!

Sebs, yes taking the pill probably didn't delay you starting to ovulate again post partum it just takes a while for things to get going again! I think I read something a couple of months back... stats were something like women whose AF returned at 7m got pg on averagae at 14m post partum, but women whose AF didn't return until 14m got pg on average at 17m. Some women obviously do ovulate early and conceive really early, but I think it's actually a minority (although seems like evvvvverybody else ).

I'm now actually really glad I didn't conceive earlier. My hormones have totally wrecked my milk supply . There is still a little bit there, but not much. So at least DD is over 12m when it's happened. I'm going to keep going for as long as possible though, I've read a few reports where people have said their milk has totally dried up at 16-20w, then come back at around 25, so just hoping we can make it that far. And DD seems to have become so much more milk obsessed since turning 1 too, she would now go for 4 or 5 feeds a day quite happily I think!

Eggs I can remember reading that also but that the milk will come back. I also read it might start to taste different so some babies self wean because of that. They also say that you can still allow suckling for comfort even if there isn't much milk coming out, so that will still allow you special cuddles with your daughter.

Cross with my DP as he was meant to be back from work an hour and a half ago but of course he is still not back and we have baby making to do!!! If he decides he is too tired tonight I shall be very pissed off

Nope he is not back

He got back soon after my post

I actually think lack of symptoms is a good sign from what I've read. Don't count your chickens till their clucking

Hello all...not been around for a while sooo...wondering if you lovely ladies have any thoughts on my current predicament...still BF DS1 twice a day (3 mins each side morning and evening) which to my mind isn't a lot, but I don't know whether this is still too much to stop me having a welcome and properly lined place for a new bean to burrow into and implant?? So that's my first wondering if anyone has any knowledge on the subject be v gratefully received!

But on the flip side I had an odd AF last week...bang on time and heavy at points but quite watery (sorry TMI) with clear muscous in there too...this week I have been SO exhausted and have a permanent horrid (metallic?) taste in my mouth...I have tried testing and just get BFN...but just have this feeling?!?! (though could obviously be wishful thinking that I am actually pregnant!).

Argh I think this may actually be worse than TTC no. 1 as I keep thinking about age gaps etc and hearing of friends who are no pg with no. 2!

Sorry not to namecheck will pop back later with some cake

Blue I am pretty much in the same situation as you and wonder the same. Are you having regular cycles, do you know how long your LP is on average? Do you know you are ovulating? Are you testing too early on this cycle do you think? The metallic taste is a very strong pregnancy symptom.

I am still waiting for a pos opk this cycle, although I had a good amount of EWCM a few days ago, so far no O indicators (I'm charting as well).

Hi sebs I haven't been charting but had bought an ov kit to try this cycle which I should really start today as I'm CD10 if not pg! Cycles have been clockwork 27/28 days since May apart from one month when I was almost a week late in August. DS1 is almost 16mo and technically I could wean him totally but he shows no signs of not wanting his milky...still very keen... so I feel bad stopping just to TTC not knowing if that's what's messing things up...v frustrating! And as for the metallic taste it's driving me nuts as is a constant reminder of my current feeling of limbo! In terms of LP I think it's probably just about 10 days which I know is the minumum...hence buying the Ov kit to try and be a bit more scientific about it all (although I do often get Ov pains/heartburn at that time so have been fairly sure when it's happening though not certain it's happening every cycle).

Hope you get some answers soon too!

Hmmm when you say cd10 do you mean dpo 10? If so that is still early to get a BFP.

Alas...10 days post AF due date...so probably 20dpo by now! I did have some bleeding last week when AF was due though so I'm probably just grasping at straws