TTC and still Breastfeeding? You are not alone - come to our bf-friendly cafe for a chat and some cake!

[MisterSafetyCatchIsNotOn]

Over here all breastfeeding ttcers! Welcome to our thread - a place for us to come for support, information and to talk about the extra challenges of ttc while still breastfeeding (or expressing like myself).

I thought I should go ahead and start the new thread as the old one is about to fill up and I didn't want anyone to get lost (hope that's ok Waiting and that you haven't already done this and I just missed it!)

For anyone who is new to the thread or needs a reminder, here are a few links to some useful websites (thanks Waiting for putting these together)

kellymom.com/bf/normal/ttc-while-bf/

kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/

www.llli.org/nb/nbmayjune04p114.html

www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Fertility-charting-while-breastfeeding.html

Mrsdiddlydoo just wanted to say thinking of you today. I hope you're not in too much pain and the scan gives you some sort of resolution no matter what the outcome.

junebaby I'm so so sorry you're going through this. Please don't go to work, look after yourself.

Thinking of you today mrs

Hope the cramping is still easing off and you are able to put your feet up today.

So sorry you are both having a tough time.

Oops that second bit was to June!

to mrs and June, so sorry about what you are going through, second the putting your feet up.

ditto to madrigals and mister staying here for as long as you would like!

Nothing to report here.... Five days until AF due based on the most usual cycle but given last month was so long I really have no idea! I don't think I have any symptoms but never had any this early last time, except sore boobs but not sure if this would happen if still bf.

Am psychologically preparing dh for the weebairn method next time...not sure we will manage that but will try !

the weebairn method works Cat! Do it! Lots!

Thank you everyone for the lovely wishes. Scan showed I've miscarriaged, think most is out just lots of lining to come (sorry if TMI). Had to go alone which was strange. It's a sad place to be surrounded by so many sad people. Was told to poas in 2 weeks and only call back if its positive or clotting starts again. Fingers crossed my body can do the rest naturally. Cruel life sometimes. I'm sorry if my recent posts have been a bit rubbish, but I truly would have gone insane without you guys. Thank you. And I wish June you weren't going through a similar thing.

Right off to reheat some takeaway and take all your advice to put my feet up in front of the box. DS is napping. DH has been ordered to not come home unless he brings lots of

I know what you mean about the I might send DP the same message!

I was so sad reading your post earlier (made me cry)-we seem to have conceived together and lost together.

I find the epu at our hospital a strange place-where you either come out clutching a scan photograph or not, I also find the way they scan you in silence (which seems to go on forever) so uncomfortable! I suppose that wouldn't be so if there was a heartbeat.

I'm hopeful that all tissue will have passed by the time I attend the hospital on Thursday as bleeding has really calmed down today.

Just waiting for BFN now so we can start TTC again! Do you think you will start trying straight away?

Hope you are feeling well madrigals and not too much sickness or tiredness yet-thinking of you!

Hello to everyone else reading!

I'm so sorry mrs and sorry you had to face that news on your own too, I hope you at least had someone to talk to afterwards. Take it gently and plenty of and for you and a hug if you'd like one.

How are you feeling now June, has the cramping eased up?

This thread has been a bit bittersweet over the last week or so, I'm hoping for more positive news for everyone over the next month.

How are things with you Mad, are you feeling pregnant yet?

I have an action plan for this month. Positive thinking, healthy packed lunches for work (I eat too much crap and waste too much money on work days) and absolutely no caffeinated drinks. I tried to cut down on them a while ago but got lazy especially when DS sleeps badly (most of the time), think total abstinence is the only way! I don't expect it will really make a difference but at least I feel like I'm doing something. Although right now I'm enjoying a as I've had a very long busy day, not the best start

thanks everyone. Wine arrived and was much enjoyed.

June yes I plan to get back on the wagon so to speak and start ttc as soon as possible. We've managed it once this year. We'll manage it again.

Definitely need a few days of chocolate and wine but then we're going on a health kick to get this show back on whe road. Looking forward to the focus.

How's everyone else? Any 2wwers? Fingers crossed for some more cheery posts soon!

Mrs I can't imagine what that was like, and to be on your own. So sorry again. Great positivity though and everything crossed for you.

June hope you are ok and fingers all crossed for you too for starting ttc again.

AF arrived for me today which was a complete surprise as I am on cd30 so it's 10 days or so earlier than last month. I am actually quite happy about that as I feel that this cycle has been far more like my cycles were pre dd, all the periods I had previously since dd were extremely light, blink and you miss it, so at least I think my hormones are more like they used to be.

I am not sure we will ever manage to swi twice in one day. But I am going to bully dh into once a day for most of the next cycle, hoping it's a 30 day one not 40

Oh, mrsdiddlydoo I'm so so sorry. Please go easy on yourself, take what time off you need, be gentle, drink your wine.
Your positive attitude is amazing, I don't know how you do it, you seem like a really wonderful person.

June I hope you are doing ok and will be thinking of you at the scan tomorrow.

Madrigals how are you feeling?

Sending thoughts and to June and MrsD, such tough time for you both. Treat yourselves as gently as you can and make sure you get lots of TLC from dh

You ladies are inspiring me to get off the caffeine (work's rather horrid at the moment so I've been resorting to coffee and chocolate, oops) and get DH onto the weebairn method. We've been aiming for every other day after AF finishes (always 7 days) - partly due to practical issues as he works away some nights and when home tends to be working until midnight, and I just can't stay up that late! I thought I read somewhere that you can have too much SWI, decreasing sperm quality/quantity but that doesn't seem likely from your advice so I might see if we can up the frequency this month...

Inappropriate question of the night - do any of you put a pillow under your bum after SWI to try to help gravity? Gives me back ache and I can't seem to get it into a sensible place but if it might help, I'll stick with it....!

Sleep well lovely ladies.

June - Hope today goes as well as it can. Thinking of you .

Mads - Think I need to start laying off the wine now! DH and I have definitely been dealing with the situation in different ways and it has been a tense household at times this week. Looking forward to the BH weekend. Think we have a baby sitter on Saturday. Will be good to get out. 3 weeks will feel like an age for your scan, but it will be so worth the peace of mind. How are you finding BF so far?

MrsC - I've had so much caffeine this week its unbelievable. Will be laying off it again next week. I'm sure I feel better when I don't have any! DH were doing alternative days and then as much as poss around ov. It can get exhausting! I shove my bum in the air when I remember but tbh I'm usually so knackered I forget.

Cat - Its so nice when your cycle starts getting back to something vaguely normal. I'm looking forward to that again... and we rarely manage it twice in a day! Even if we mean to.

Weebairn - you're so kind! Thank you! I'm not sure DH would agree with you atm. I've not been taking it too easy, but the house is cleaner than its been in a while!

Of all the things that set me off yesterday it was an email from my boss asking for a sick note after 4 days. He had his wires crossed but it made me so upset. Emotions clearly running higher than usual. Hate to imagine what I'd actually be like in the office. Plan to be back at work tomorrow. I've too much more cleaning to do today!

Hope everyone else is ok?!

I think DD might be stopping breastfeeding. She doesn't feed for long then unlatches and spreads her arms at me, which is how she says "all done" when she's finished eating. She also points at my boob a lot and frowns. I think it tastes different. I don't think there's much of it.

We normally have a long, snuggly morning feed when she wakes up. I've been on night shifts this week so not home till after 10am so we've not had that. I've offered at other times but she's disinterested.

I am all muddled and sad.

Ooh Madrigals the first couple of weeks are endless aren't they!! Holding your hand and hoping it doesn't drag too badly. I found DD a good distraction (until I got so sick I didn't care about DD or pregnancy, just wanted to sleep and sleep!)
I had my first scan at nearly 13 weeks and by that point I was a bit batty worrying about things.
First trimester is HARD. Get what rest and help you can xxx

mrsconfusion I don't think pillow under bum matters so much it would be worth doing if it's hurting you! Staying flat in bed for a bit afterwards (any excuse) might be good though!

Take care mrsdiddlydoo and I meant what I said, you've been so lovely and supportive, and positive. If I was having a miscarriage I don't think I could say anything nice on a message board, I'd just be like waaaaah poor me… Please take good care. Are you sure you're ok to go back to work?

Oh weebairn, not surprised you're sad and confused if DD is maybe starting to say no thankyou to mummy milk. Such a big step. She might be mixed up by changed taste and volume (not that you can actually tell from outside, at least I can never judge supply level) and because of the shift patterns - it might not be the final stop. You've done amazingly well feeding her so well and so long, be proud! x

June thinking of you

MrsD, not surprised you got upset at boss's email. Don't rush back to work, keep focussing on yourself and DH and resting. Hope you're not feeling too bad.

Sorry seem to keep saying 'not surprised' tonight!

starting to wonder if I'm bonkers going into work to day but I need something to do so I'm sure it will be ok. Just wish Ds hadn't chosen today for a 5am start. He's going to be asleep before we get to nursery at this rate.

Weebairn Ds does a similar all gone sign after our morning bed snuggle feed which has been getting shorter and shorter. I do wonder sometimes how long we'll manage to keep bf. I think i get more from it than him now. My supply was Def on its way down over the last month or so. It can come back up i believe so we'll keep going for now

hope everyone has a nice long weekend!

Madrigals thanks, she is 19 months now, still just my baba, waaaaaaaa
Hope you escape the sickness last time!! They say every pregnancy is different though mine appear to be exactly the same except this time I have to look after a toddler

mrsdiddly I understand about wanting a distraction, but do come home if it's all too much...

Sorry, I meant hope you escape the sickness this time. Brain still frazzled from night shifts...

Mrsd hope you're ok at work today

How are you June?

Weebairn sorry you're feeling sad about dd, I was surprised just how upset I was when ds stopped, although I think it was partly hormone related. Hugs to you, as Mad says there's a good chance she will pick it up again when the baby arrives.

Mad I'm willing the next few weeks to go quick for you! Hope you don't get too much sickness this time.

Hi mrsc good luck with the caffeine, I failed already and had a coke yesterday. We were moving boxes all day on little sleep and I didn't get in from work til 10pm the night before, so I think it was necessary! Back to the plan now though.

Sorry if I've missed anyone, on phone.

We have now moved and have no internet yet, so I might not be around much for a few days but will check in when I can