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

Hear! should stop posting from my phone!

Thanks everyone for your support everyone has been great in RL but at the moment I just want to wallow in my own mind, dh keeps asking if I need a hug but I can't face that, he seems ok but I'm worries he's not

Does anyone know will I have to wait before ttc again and how Iong for? Xx

No, don't wait. As I say I conceived DC1 immediately after mc and was very healthy pregnancy.

Hi Bees - I was told to wait one cycle before TTC again. Most on the TTC after MC thread say that the NHS just says that to make dating a pregnancy easier. I wouldn't rush anything but go for it when you feel ready.

Happy weekend everyone! Been so busy at work today. Good job really because I can't stop thinking about my sensitive nipples! I wish I could see what was going on inside me. No scrap that. Bit weird!

How is everyone? I'm in a 'convinced we missed my ov feeling sorry for myself' mood when life is perfectly fine, and planning next months efforts.

Ho-hum. Been charting my temperature this month and it's dipped today. Did a test without any great hope and it came back negative. Not feeling particularly crampy so AF must be taking the slow train to town. Grr. It seems my cycles are getting longer now that we're making a conscious effort to conceive.

AF arrived too, thank goodness I don't have to wait any longer for that. Time to get my new supply of OPK.

Hi BFing TTcers. I have decided to stop BF -- I've tried a couple of times before but stopped as it never seemed like the right moment for DD. But I tried again the other night (DD on one feed a day for ages) and DD didn't seem to mind, so she's had cow's milk for the past two nights. I think I'll still stay on the thread, if it's ok, as it seems friendly and we're still ttc.

I also have a question -- how long does it take for the milk to go? We're on day 2 and I have massive rock-solid boobs. I'm hoping it won't take weeks til they start going down?

Hi rosepetalsoup, I'm thinking the same re weaning, my hearts not in it anymore have no idea how to stop though!! What's your chosen method?

Also how old is your little one?

LO is 21 months now. I've been down to 1 feed at bedtime for ages now, and my LO it used to having cow's milk in the day too (from a lidless cup).

I've wanted to stop before but whenever I've tried to not give milk at bedtime she has cried in an anguished way and I've judged it too soon and kept on bf-ing. But the other night I just gave her more of the cow's and said she'd had big girls' milk and put her in the cot. She wasn't too stressed, although it took ages to settle, and her cries weren't for 'milk', so I didn't bf her. Eventually she went down and slept through as usual and the same every night since. She has never gone down instantly (unless bf to sleep) and is a little bit more restless going to sleep but not too bad. Just lots of extra cuddles and reassurance.

I must admit I am quite pleased. Boobs not started shrinking yet. But as soon as a few days had gone by I felt more muscly and energetic! Also much less wiped out by baby bedtime, so a nicer last bit of the evening for me.

I only did it very gently. I recommend it.

*is used

Aww bless her, mine is 21m also but her 1 feed is first thing in the morning and she's quite insistent about it!!

Hellooo!

Rose, sound like the right time for you! No idea about rock solid boobs I'm afraid. Often wonder what will happen when our BF journey ends.

Well DH and I have been as sick as dogs this weekend. I've convinced myself that's it for this month and am trying to resist googling TTC and being unwell! AF should be here by the end of the week.

Good luck rose and bees. Do your LOs have comforter toys for unexpected illness or wakings? Do you have any strategies in your arsenal? I pretty much rely on the magic BF. Another reason why I'm a scaredy-cat when it comes to finishing BF.

DS has suddenly reverted to "needing" BF before his daytime nap too

No, no comforters (well she has toys but hasn't latched on to them like that). She doesn't go to nursery or anything so one of us is always there. If she woke or was ill I would go to her or cuddle her every time. She has cried a bit at bedtime (as usual) these last few days but has not been asking for b-milk.

Seems to be going ok, all things considered.

Hi ladies! I popped on here for the first time a couple of weeks ago but haven't managed to get back! Anyway just to re cap, im Jo, recently turned 40 and still breast feeding my almost 2 year old. He feeds a lot during the night and i put that down to my lack of AF.
So about 2 weeks ago i noticed LOTS of cm. Despite not having had a period for over 2 and a half years i decided to do an ovulation test. Major dark line! Cue me then worrying that i was maybe ovulating but not producing an egg hence my lack of cycle! But a week later... well hello aunt flo :-D
Today is cd6.
Im on it.
I know what i must do ;-)

Doh make that middle of the week. Shorter than normal cycle for me. Bloody AF. Grrrr....

Bees I hope you are doing ok this week and taking it easy

Hi everyone, hi mrsd

I'm okay, bleeding started on Saturday so didn't have to wait too long and I'm going for a BT tomorrow to check my hcg level, it's was 800 last week, just did a test hpt and still positive which I'm disappointed about but seems normal reading around.

I have no idea how to wean my lo. She seems v unimpressed about being a big girl and is asking a lot for cuddles which I'm happy to provide as often as possible. I'm sad because I really wanted to tandem feed but I know it's not for me, I have a short LP anyway and took 7m to conceive dd so I think for me it just won't be possible. But I do feel that I've come to a time when I'd like to wean and I've never felt like that before. I'm a strong believer in going with your emotions, call me crazy

Anyway enjoying and anxious to see what tomorrow's result is.

Take care everyone else
Xxx

Hi bees-glad you are feeling ok, take it easy.

Hi mrsdiddly-sorry to hear AF showed up for you (early as well!) seems like both of our cycles are a bit all over the place. I moved between feeling a little more positive as I approach ovulation and then desperately sad when I think I should be getting ready to give birth this month.

Dd has almost weaned..she is much less interested in milk than she has been before.

Hello bfeeding TTC-ers,

Is it OK if I join you? Started to drive myself a bit crazy with desperately wanting a lovely new DC but really don't want to wean DD (who is 19 months old) to get pregnant.

Big stumbling block: Still no sign of AF.

So, just wondering, are any of you TTC with no AF? We have been sort-of half-heartedly TTC since January but without any real expectation of anything happening... and its pretty hard with no cycle to monitor anyway.

Just done a quick read through the thread.

Good luck on the weaning rose and bees. I can totally understand why you feel you need to stop. Rose could you try doing a little bit of gentle hand expressing just to take the edge off the boob hardness? If you just do a tiny bit it might help without stimulating your boobs to produce more milk.

Hello mummyjo - congratulations on AF - hopefully I will be joining you soon (or getting pregnant with the first egg which is my secret and totally unrealistic hope...).

Glad you didn't wait long bees. Do you mind if I ask about these tests you're doing? Tell me to pull my head in if you'd rather not discuss. No pressure. I know HCG is pregnancy hormone, and I guess you need to test for when the HCG goes back to normal so you can TTC again? Is that right? What does 800 mean (high, low)?

Hope the AF settles quickly Jo. As you'll see, there is a very mixed bag on here when it comes to length and reliability of each cycle. Hopefully it'll be once less thing to think about. Sorry I can't offer any insight for Thank. You've had a lovely extended time of no AF, it'd be marvellous if you didn't actually want it show up. Always the way, isn't it?

A few people on here with DC ages 12mo+ talking of weaning. I've found that my DS wants BF even more in this weather. He's already having lots of water from his cup too, so he must be a thirsty boy. He's resisting getting into bed and feeling hot. Can't say I blame him, and I guess BF just helps him drift off. The fact that I'm worried about putting him in bed without a grobag (little climber will get out) means I have to just go with the BF flow for now.

I have had a particular question persistently asked of me this week. It's toilet training, as in, have I started? What's that all about? Is it DS' age, or because it's hot weather so people assume now is the time to do it? DS' cousin is 11 months older and he's only just doing it now, so I always thought DS was too young. Am I wrong? Plus they always say to make sure that the LO goes to the toilet immediately before bed. How can you do that after BFing, when the LO is most likely in the land of nod?

I'm not sure he's totally ready for it yet. I'm certainly not ready to start this very minute. Will have to read up a bit more to prepare myself, but I'm hopeful there will always be August for nice weather. I'll need to stock up on things like, ummm, everything! Except the potty as we got it a few weeks ago to just look at and decorate the bathroom. I'm worried about making too many changes because his sleep has really settled in the past 2-3 months and I'M LOVING IT. Or is that just selfish?

Hi zoo,

Hcg is pregnancy hormone, they said they test it weekly until it's less than 15 to make sure it's all come away and there's no retained tissue. I'm not sure about 800 I think that's about what it would have been at 5 weeks ish and so needs to go down. Fingers crossed! I don't cope well in hospitals at all and an operation especially down there would freak me out big time.

Re potty training, at 21m we did it last month and all has gone well. I'm not sure how it would work if you feed to sleep or feed at night though so I'm no help there. We found it very easy and all baby led, naked and access to potty. I think they let you know en they're ready

Bees so sorry to hear you miscarried I hope the HCG drops back to normal quickly. Are you still thinking about weaning? The only thing I can suggest if you definitely want to go ahead with it is to temporarily change the routine in the morning, for example if dd usually comes in with you for a feed, make sure you get up first and go have a shower or something then let your DH get her up so the temptation is completely removed! If you can manage it for a week or so then that might break the habit.

How is weaning going for you Rose? I stopped bfing nearly 3 months ago and I still have some milk now though didn't ever really suffer from rock-hard boobs thankfully as it was a very gradual process.

Mrsd and zoo boo for AF showing up! On the other hand mummyjo woohoo for AF showing up and good luck for your first cycle ttc!

Hi Thankgoodness, I vaguely started trying before AF came back too, just as stopped using protection, there's no harm in it! AF has been back nearly 11 months now though and no luck so far. However I do know someone who got pregnant on the first egg, she had no idea and didn't find out she was pregnant until she was 5 months along (was still breastfeeding too)!

Zoo I have had lots of potty training talk too, we have a potty which we keep out just in case but DS isn't very interested in it. How old is your DS again? Mine is just 2 and I don't think he's anywhere near ready yet although it would be nice to make use of the good weather to get it done.

I saw the GP last week who said my irregular cycles may be PCOS and I need to have some blood tests, she also mentioned fertility treatment which terrified me slightly, although I'm happy that she didn't just dismiss me and is taking some action straight away! I'm due to have my first blood test tomorrow morning, then should have another 1 week before AF is due (which is a bit tricky to tell with my irregular cycles). However, my new fertility monitor came back with peak this morning. I'm afraid I was a very bad parent and sat DS downstairs in front of cbeebies so DH and I could get down to business before he had to leave for work In my defence DH is back late tonight so we probably won't get another chance. I know these monitors aren't 100% accurate but if I do ovulate today or tomorrow this will be by far my shortest cycle since DS, might mess up the blood test results though!

Oh guys I'm scared now, they said my hcg has gone up a bit and the dr needs to call me still I'm so sad