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

Oh my goodness! How is it possible that I have forgotten everything about ttc?

I have waited so long for AF to return. Now it has, I realise I can't even remember when I should be jumping DH.

Teacup you can't have forgotten everything about ttc?! Where should I start! Erm...

I keep meaning to jump DH alternate days, but somehow on the lead up to my possibly imaginary ovulation we get carried away and wear ourselves out so the rest of the month is pretty much non jumpy. At least if we paced ourselves DTD every other day we'd cover ourselves for later than expected ov'ing.

Feel a bit like I'm going mad here. Trying not to think about ttc, but it's just making it worse. Not helped by catching HFMD off DS and feeling sick as a dog, plus the end of maternity leave looming. Trying to stay positive.

I love this thread: makes me realise I'm not the only flailing around trying to work out what to do...

It seems that I am ovulating three times this cycle. Which is impressive for a woman with one ovary .

Having been certain I ovulated last Saturday (tiny bleed, ovulation pains, EWCM), my scan Tuesday showed I hadn't. Then I was certain I ovulated yesterday (seemed to dry up etc). Then I discover a huge load of EWCM today.

So who knows what the heck my body's doing... DH is pleased at the amount of sex he's getting though. I just hope that I O before next Monday when DH disappears to the other side of the world for business for four days: his sperm are good, but they're not that good...

Oooh and DC#2 has been forcibly cut down to two feeds a day :) :) He wasn't even that interested this morning. Hopefully this will kick things into gear...

Hi everyone! Sorry I've not updated the stats yet, I have had a busy week with work but will do it in a sec.

My cycle is obviously a bit confused as well, thought I was due to ovulate early last week but had huge amounts of EWCM from Monday to Thursday this week (it was ridiculous, I usually don't get much), and looking at my last few cycles would suggest I should have ovulated in the last few days. Fingers crossed I have ov'd as we've managed to get in lots of swi so I'm feeling reasonably good about this month, but trying not to get my hopes up.

MediumOrchid I don't really have any help around here as we only moved here just before ds was born and family are all hours away, it does worry me a bit but I'm sure we'd find ways of getting by and DH would only be away for part of the month.

Waiting yes DH will set the travel dates himself so at least we can try to avoid key dates, although not if my cycles continue so irregular! Actually when we were ttc ds DH's office was moved and he had to work a 6 hour drive away Monday - Friday, but I got pregnant the first month he was away! (that sounds slightly suspicious, he was home at the weekends!)

mrsdiddly sorry you're ill, hope you feel better soon. When does your maternity leave end? Will you be going back full time? I was really dreading the end of mat leave but once I started work it was actually fine and ds coped really well, I think the thought of it is often the worst bit.

Radiator maybe triplets for you then I completely get your point about every bfn feeling like a failure. I also have this underlying fear that I have a fertility problem (I'm sure this is common, for me it's due to hugely irregular periods) so every month it doesn't happen makes me doubt myself more, but it's really not a helpful way to think about it. I'm trying to make a conscious effort this year to trust my body to get there when it's ready and take a more positive approach to the whole process. Sounds like ov is definitely imminent for you though.

Right will go and update the stats!

Ok here you go;

Catellington, one DD age 10 months, on cycle 4, DD normally feeds 7.30am, 4.30pm, 6.30pm and a couple of times (I think) during the night. Age 33 so need to get a move on if I want to have 4.

Ekk0, DD1 3.11, DD2 21 mths. been TTC no. 3 since August, but no AF. AF returned at 14mths whilst still bf DD1. Have recently cut down to 3 bf per day - 7am, sometime between 1pm and 4pm and bedtime 7pm-ish.

KokoLoko, DS1 38 months, DS2 16 months, age 36, no AF still (back at 13 months with DS1). Would like 4 kids in total but right now I'd just like to get going on #3

NotInYourNature cycle 0 with 9 month old, Night weaned bf 5-6 times a day. 28 in constant 2ww

MisterSafety, cycle 3 after 18 month old ds, bf 3 x per day until 17 months when a nasty bug caused him to suddenly give up breastfeeding so expressing to get through the winter, currently in 2ww.

WaitingForPeterWimsey (used to be Blackberry) 1 DS aged 2, on cycle 5 of AF post DS. DS day-weaned but bf all 3-4 times per night. Aged 39 so need to get a move on!

radiatormesh 31, two DC (3.4 and 10m), TTC#3 in the new year. So far 4 'periods' (tiny spotting but bang on time)

TeacupTempset Cycle 1 after 24 1/2 m old dd (hope it's ok to add you teacup!)

mrsdiddlydoo 32, cycle 4 TTC after 10 month old ds. BF 3 times a day (7am, 3pm, 7pm - managed to night wean over xmas with help from DH!).

MediumOrchid, one dd, 15mo, TTC since December, currently on cycle 2. Dd still feeds several times during the day and night.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder, 15 month old DD, waiting for AF (let me know if you want anything else added for the next update!)

weebairn, ttc number 2 after 15 month old DD (let me know if you want anything else added for the next update)

Recent graduates with bfps!

Lelly- 10 weeks pg (is that right?)
Wild - 24 weeks pg
Eggs - 23 weeks pg if I've got that right

Lol! I seem to recall that sex is involved but had to check with google about pretty much everything else!

DH has been away for a few days but back tomorrow. Coincides with predicted ovulation so busy few days ahead for us!

I think (based on EWCM) I probably ovulated on Wednesday or Thursday this week, so quite a while to go in the 2ww. It's going very slowly this month (probably because I ov'd 1.5 weeks later than expected)! If this isn't our month I am determined to remember to temp next time to avoid all this ovulation uncertainty (fingers crossed it won't be needed as I'm so bad at remembering and DH thinks I'm a bit crazy!)

When are you due to ov Waiting? How is everyone in your house, no more illness I hope? I feel positive for us all this month, the new year must bring us some bfps!

How are the 2 feeds a day going radiator? Is your DS coping ok?

Mister don't temp!! It makes you crazy... I had to stop with #2 since I was basing my mood for the day on what my temp was doing... (Plus, back in 2009, I thought I'd o'ed already so we ditched the condoms, only to have the chart change my O date a week later to the exact day we'd SWI twice unprotected. DD was born 37 weeks after :) We'd planned on trying a few months later so it wasn't the end of the world, but still...).

Anyway. DS is actually doing ok. He still tries his luck and asks, but when he does get his feed he's not really that interested: not really on for that long. Not sure if it's a phase or what, but it's definitely been easier than I expected.

I got an almost + OPK yesterday and today and still some EWCM so we're still SWI. That'd be around cd17/18 for me, which is when I o'd inbetween #1 and #2. So even if no BFP this cycle, it'd be great if my cycle was back to 'normal'. Fingers crossed.

Hello

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Hello sorry phone posted too quick! Could I join please?I feel I have a while to wait. Still feeding (quite a lot!) 11 month old ds and have just stopped cerazette so dont think I will get pregnant quickly. I have not had a period yet. Going back to work next week and dreading!

Any tips would be wonderful!

Hi goldie!!

My DS is almost 11m too :) He only feeds twice a day now though because I'm mean which seems to be doing the trick. Maybe.

You might be lucky and get your cycles back with the amount of feeding you currently do. Or you might need to reduce it. It's really variable woman-to-woman.

Read the KellyMom link (at the head of this thread): it's fantastic. I'm currently in the 'ovulation with luteal incompetence' phase...

Thanks for your reply I will have a look at that info! When I was ttc ds I had not been using the pill and had a very straight forward 28 day cycle but feel completely out of touch with my own cycle now!
Arh 11 months is lovely (well all stages are) my ds is into everything at the moment nothing is safe including the dog!

Painty - thank you lovely to know about the recent graduates it give me a bit of hope things could happen not too far in the distant future! Yes that does pretty much describe how we feed so fingers crossed I am about average!

Yes the end of mat leave is just horrible. I go back three days a week. I've been very lucky to have the year and to go back part time but still dreading. He only feeds two/three times during the day, (more at night!!)
Thank you for the warm welcome and hopefully some more graduates soon!

Hi everyone!

Welcome Goldie! I'm fast approaching the end of my maternity leave too. Only 3 weeks left. Not looking forward to it, but I'm sure I'll change my mind on pay day. Good luck next week!

Mister - I'm going back part time - 3 days a week. It will be good having some grown up chat, but there are quite a few expectant mums in the office including one of my closest. Going to have to get a grip on my emotional side so I don't blub at everyone!

I've got to take DS to nursery for a pre 'settling in visits' introduction tomorrow afternoon. I think he's ready for it, but I'm not sure I am. (Note to self - must win the lottery this week so I can be a SAHM). Thought I was ok about it but starting to feel really nervous. That said it's good to have something else to think about other than babies and when/if AF's going to show up. If last cycle's anything to go by should be here end of the week. Don't feel like anything's going on.

Been contemplating dropping DS's afternoon feed which is mainly a cuddly post nap feed which would bring us down to 2, but he's become such a lovely thing to feed lately just can't bring myself to do it. He was such a terror around 9 months that we nearly packed it all in. Soooooo glad we didn't .

Ahhh... just checked on LO and how do they sleep like that? He's lying across the cot bent in half somehow still managing to hold his feet in the air and be snoring for england!

Hello everyone and welcome g0ldie!

Thinking of all those nearing the end of mat leave, I remember how tough it can be. mrsdiddly I found it really difficult dropping DS off at nursery the first few times (was in tears most of the way to work on my first day) but it got easier quickly as I knew he was fine and 3 days leaves you plenty of time to spend together (I do the same)!

Ah I love messy painting afternoons Painty, sounds like fun. Fingers crossed for a shorter cycle for you this month.

5dpo for me (I think) and going slooooow!

Mrsdiddly I am doing my settling in sessions at nursery at the moment. My ds has been fine. I was a bit of a mess the first day. Today was the third, easier, ds happily crawled off, still hard but the main thing is he is fine. I saw friends during so they cheered me up - I recemmend this def helped!

I know mrs! My older daughter seems to fall asleep mid-movement: like those Narnia programmes where people suddenly became statues!