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

Hi blackberry, I'm now in 3rd week of 2ww! But still no BFP so think cycle still getting back to normal. Sleeping still bad ( empathise Koko) so wouldn't rule out that I've even taken steps backward in fertility returning ( if that's possible!)

Good luck everyone!

Can I join you? I have a ds (nearly 16 months) and started thinking about ttc number 2 over 3 months ago, but only had proper AF once since ds was born so I'm not really surprised we haven't got anywhere yet, I was always quite irregular before ds and seem to be back to that now as I've had nothing for 2 months. Ds still feeds 3-4 times a day which probably isn't helping things.

I was interested to read on this thread about the 14 month average for on demand breastfeeding as this is how long it took for me, I didn't realise it was normal to take so long!

Anyway, I'm just feeling a bit disheartened at the moment as I always vaguely planned to have another baby by the time ds is 2 and just realised that's not possible any more, a stupid thing to be upset about really, I think maybe AF is on the way again as I'm a bit over-emotional today and DH is away so I have no one to talk to!

Sorry for the long ramble, I do have a question for those with more experience at this - I cut out most night feeds about 2 months ago but ds still wakes between 5-5.30am for an early feed every day before going back to sleep for an hour, is this likely to be having a big impact on my fertility (I know night weaning is often crucial)? Have been thinking about trying to drop this one but ds is VERY reluctant, any advice?

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

thanks blackberry and here is hoping your 2ww is just extended and hello everyone. i'm still confused about ewcm - seem to have it all the time, but guess it isn't the real thing. I do vaguely remember it from years ago, when i had semi-regular cycles but then there was more variation so it was easy to spot. everyday i hope that AF may return - never been keen to see it before! i was planning to try and chart my temperatures but so far haven't got round to it.

i know how you feel mistersafety. i really want to conceive no. 3 and would have liked a similar aged gap to between 1 and 2 (26 months) and i keep thinking i was already pregnant with DD2 when DD1 was age DD2 is now (if that makes any sense) and then I feel really sad. i have to remind myself that i should (and am) just be so grateful for 2 lovely girls, and that maybe it is my bodies way of saying that DD2 isn't ready for a sibling just yet as she is too keen on her milk...i keep thinking AF may return soon, and over the last few months have been more aware of things that may indicate this, but then again, this may just been because i'm becoming more obsessed with the absence of AF because I expected it to return around 14mths again as it did last time.

fingers crossed for everyone else. how is it going sebsmummy?

mistersafety, i'm not sure about the fertility side but i also managed to night wean dd2 about 13/14mths but only til 5am ish and have only recently dropped that. it was quite painful for a few nights but i felt that DD was almost programmed to wake at that time as i allowed milk then, and if i could get her body used to waiting til 7am, she might sleep better (this theory is definitely not proven by DD..!). that last bit can be hard, especially when you know giving in to feeding will = more sleep which is what one craves at 5am. i'm hoping the full on night weaning will bring back AF and am trying to distract in the day a bit too, as still feeding quite often then. i think if i never sit down in the day, i might cut the feeds as sitting on my lap seems to give her ideas!

anyway, sorry for the epic post.

Still no AF on day 35 [ confused] ?

even!

Get well soon mr BB ! About time for another BFP on here.

Welcome Mister ! There have been lots of bfps on here so it's a good place to be.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

ekk0 you're right I should and do feel very lucky to have my wonderful ds, especially as I always had the fear I would be unable to have children due to hugely messed up / irregular cycles, in the end it only took 4 months so I felt very lucky! I should really stop setting myself deadlines, I suppose it's just my way of trying to feel more in control.

Blackberry yes that makes sense about the natural spacing. Ds is quite independent and sociable but does get jealous very quickly if I pay attention to other children and at 16 months doesn't have any words he uses in context (not even mama/dada) and seems quite young for his age, so I expect he will benefit from a larger gap. Since I went back to work (p/t) 4 months ago we had to cut back on daytime feeds and he now only does morning and evening + usually one extra on days I am at home, before that it was still every couple of hours day and night. Night weaning has been much more of a struggle. Given a choice he would still feed 3 or more times at night I think, but we could never get co-sleeping to work for us and I couldn't cope with working on so little sleep so have had to force the issue and he seems mostly ok now but I am reluctant to deny him a 5am feed at this stage. It's encouraging that you are ovulating though, I hope that means you won't have to wait much longer!

I have been feeling a bit strange over the last few days, dizzy spells, low level queasiness and some mild cramps which are all much like when I was pregnant with ds so I got my hopes up a bit and took a test this morning, no joy though. I'm not usually one for symptom spotting so it's a bit odd, hopefully just signs of imminent AF as it's now been 2 months. Noticed EWCM today as well though so who knows what's going on.

Hello all...room for one more?? Well I have been in desperate need of you all and have only found you from the link put up today on the Breast and Bottle Feeding forum by Victoria2002 ( for you Victoria). I have a 14mth old booby monster DD and a desire to get my AF back. DD was born following IVF. I am 37 - 38 soon so really feeling the pressure. Not exactly helped by DM and DMIL who don't understand bf anyway and seem to think its some sort of weird deviance at DD's age We have a couple of frozen embryos but I can't go back to fertility treatment until we are weaned Life used to be crazy with us both travelling a lot...we are tog now so hoping we could managed on our own this time but I have a short LP - my Fert Dr said you need 10 days - and as of yet I've had no AF. We nightweaned (it really wasn't as bad as expected) but then moved house...then teething....so not quite maintained it. Really interested to hear the nightweaning isn't the be all and end all anymore.

My GP has really frightened me by proclaiming shock that my AF hasn't returned yet. I was seriously worrying about menopause. But I am still feeding at approx 4, 6 am then mid afternoon and a good guzzle at bedtime and then coming into our bed around 12. Really trying to not feed in the day but it depends on what happens.

Any advice re encouraging AF back would be most welcome.

I really feel as though things are back on - ie def change in discharge across weeks - sorry for TMI - but figured if no AF it's not really likely to be really back on??

Sorry for long waffle. Will back read and try to get up-to-date with it all and with how everyone is.

X

No AF yet so cycle must be shot to bits...going to poas in a few days if it doesn't appear. Very confusing

I should say I did get a bfn a couple of days ago but don't want to test too often

Lost resolve already! Another bfn.

On another note, we have been struggling with sleep deprivation for some time and are thinking of co sleeping ( properly I mean, not just ending up squashed in bed together as we do now!)

I think that might mean a big step back in terms of fertility returning but was wondering if anyone has any knowledge or experience of this.

With us both working full time, and my ever worsening troubles with my wrists, we need to find some solution that enables us all to get some kip and that doesnt require me to actually have to physically hold onto dd all night long!!!

Hello all, thanks for being so welcoming Blackberry - learnt loads already So positive hearing from people who actually know what they are on about for a change!

Sorry about the bfn Cat - so hard to not feel upset. It sounded so, so hopeful. We cosleep too. Squidger goes into her cot and then in with us about 12ish depending on how quickly she notices she's in the cot after falling asleep. We pop her in the middle above the covers - also have a bed rail on my side which helps. Some nights all the wriggling is a pain but we all get so much more sleep. When we nightweaned it took a full week or two - but she did get that if she wakes at 3 it's water or a quick tweak of nipple and its back to sleep. We tried the Dr Sears 'give then a couple of gulps' approach but that just infuriated her. Hope you get some more sleep soon. I also do at least one night a week going to bed at the same time as Squidger - preferably after an easy tea. Being exhausted is too hard to cope with.

After tonsillitis last week Squidger is still a bit clingy. We had eliminated daytime feeds but it's gone backwards a bit. New start tomorrow hopefully.

Night all xxx

Hello ladies, may I join you lot? My beautiful DS is 9 months and I'm 38 so TTC no 2 and 3 sharpish! Sorry about the BFNs.

We co-sleep and I love it. He still feeds about twice in the night.

I ovulated (had pains and got smiley on OPK) on the 26th of Oct but 4 days later on the 30th, my period came. It wasn't as heavy as it was pre baby but it lasted 5 days. I was disappointed but also happy that my period is back.

Does anyone know if this means my luteal phase is only 4 days??

Thank you BlackBerry for the welcome and I'm sorry about the illness going on.

I'd secretly hoped it was implantation bleeding as I had that with my DS but not as much as this time plus 4 days is too short for implantation bleed to show. Oh well....onwards and upwards....

Hope your DD is ok Squidgers.

Hi guys. Sorry for radio silence but I have decided to fully wean bubsy, pretty much from today, so unfortunately this is no place for me anymore.

I managed to stretch my LP to 12 days last month, ovulation on day 16. So that is a near normal month for most people which shows it's entirely possible to breast feed and conceive. For me however it just wasn't worth anymore heart ache. Sebby wasn't interested in my milk anymore, he would latch for seconds and then fight and twist his head every time I reintroduced him. He is one in less than two weeks so I'm taking a deep breath and calling it a day.

Wishing you all the best of luck TTC. Throwing a ton if baby dust behind me, thanks for all the support over the last few months xxxxxxx

Goodluck Sebs - sounds like you are both ready so hope you are congratulating yourself on a job well done.

Thanks girls xxxxx

Blackberry I don't get signs of engorgement anymore. Do you think I still might have some problems stopping bfing. I hadn't really though about it as I never leak anymore or get signs there is even much milk in there!!