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

Sorry I know this is completely the wrong place and I Should be another section right now

Sorry to hear that Bees any idea what that means? When is the doctor calling you? Post whatever you like in here! Sending you hugs

Hi Mister - well we haven't gone back to bf (1 week now - yay!) but boobs still a little rock-like. Maybe I've just morphed into Pamela Anderson? Also trying to DTD more often.

Bees - I hope you get this sorted soon. Do continue using the thread for support of course. This is a very nice thread. Good luck to everyone.

Bees - second what Mister and Rose say. Post what you like on here. Has the Dr phoned? Hope you are getting good advice.

Well sick toddler means no work for me. Pooped from a rough night and AF is making me feel rubbish. I'll read up and post more later.

Mister - I'm pleased your GP didn't dismiss you. I've heard it happen to so many people. Sounds like you have a keeper GP there. And cbeebies? Sounds like we share the same baby sitter! tee hee!

Hope things are going OK for you Bees. Post whatever you feel comfortable with. You'll get several sympathetic people listening to you on here.

Rose, keep an eye on those rocks. You definitely do not want to get any infection. I wonder if there is something you could eat to help with reducing milk. Some kind of herbal drink or something?

Mister, you sound lucky to have a nice GP. These boards are full of people complaining about being ignored by their doctor. When are the tests? As for fertility treatment, I wonder what that will entail. Drugs? Oh and BTW, my DS is 22 months today, so not a lot younger than your LO. We'll see about toilet training.

Hi everyone, they've said I had ectopic tissue in my right tube. Options are surgery/injection/wait and see. The injection means a ban on breastfeeding. It's all a total nightmare. We won't be ttc for sometime after I've recovered from this.

Oh no Bees, so sorry, that sounds rubbish Are they hopeful that if you wait and see it might resolve itself? How long would you have to avoid breastfeeding with the injection? Hope DP and DD are taking good care of you and you can take it gently over the next few days. Fingers crossed that no surgery is required.

Zoo the fertility treatment comment was just a 'in case you need it' throwaway remark really, she did say hopefully I will be pregnant before any of that is needed! But yes I guess drugs of some kind. I have another blood test booked in for end of next week to check progesterone as I'm reasonably confident I ovulated a couple of days ago, then a follow up with the GP the week after. Foolishly hoping that it won't be needed and this is our month, we have made efforts even weebairn would be proud of this week I think!

mrsd hope your poorly one is feeling better and you're having a nice restful weekend.

Bees poor you! I hope you get this all sorted out soon. On the upside of my recent weaning experience, I am sure that if you did have to stop bf for a while (yet wanted to continue longer term) that you'd be able. It's a week and half now since I have bf and I'm pretty sure supply would be there to pick up where we left off.

Mister - fingers crossed for you! Also the approach we're taking. I have no idea when I ovulate so we are just going for a cover all bases approach. Secretly I will be very disappointed if it doesn't work this month.

Hi everyone, can I pull up a chair?

DS is 8mo, and my AF came back last week. He dropped lots of feeds since introduction of solids and only feeds first thing in the morning and at bedtime. I can sometimes sneak in a feed during the day just after his nap when he's still a bit dopey, but not always. He sometimes refuses his bedtime feed if the dinner was late, but I try to avoid that!

I know lots of people would think we're mad to start trying so early, but I would really like a small gap. My sister and I are 12 months apart, and we were the best friends when we were little and hated each other in teenage years and I want this special bond for my DS too! My DP is also 20 months apart from his siblings. In addition, I secretly hope to have DC2 before I turn 30 which is December next year...

Congrats on bfps who got them!

Bees so sorry about your news, must be very scary for you... I hope everything gets resolved very quickly, whichever way you choose

About stopping bfing - I've heard that strong mint tea can reduce your supply. I would imagine you would need to boil the fresh mint as opposed to buying the actual tea, but not sure. Also decongestants like Sudafed (sp?) are known for reducing milk supply.

Hi toes and thankgoodness! Welcome aboard!

Toes I would have loved a short age gap between babies. Definutely don't think you're mad TTC again. Hopefully it won't be long. Didn't know that about mint. I will keep that in mind...

Thankgoodness Have you had any signs that AF might be on her way back? It won't be long.

Bees That sounds awful. Have you decided which route to take? Assuming you even have one... My bestie had an ectopic earlier on this year which wasn't picked up and ended up with emergency surgery. I'm glad they have found what was causing the HCG for you. Hope you have lots of rl support.

Well I'm finally over being gutted that my last cycle wasn't 'the one' and feeling grateful for a 'very normal for me' cycle. Emotional still never the less. Got my OPKs already to go. Secretly looking forward to seeing if I ov when I think I do. DS is being a complete and utter pest. He's turned into a 'no man' saying no to everything even when he means yes. Bit wearing but absolutely hilarious. It drives my DH mad, where as I hear it all day and just ignore it. He's also not eating much, but can't blame him in this heat. I reckon I'm about CD 4 or 5 so counting down to ov time and trying to start this week being healthy. So far I've eaten a banana! That's good right?

June with you on the emotions about we should be all excited and making birth plans. Keep thinking I need to book the week around what would have been my EDD off work because I'm going to be a mess then. Hope you are keeping ok. What's your cycle been like this time?

Wishing everyone BFPs. It's summer! Time for not feeling stressed and getting jiggy! I want news of BFPs soon.

Hello everyone

Oops
My update is, wait and see wasn't an option because it was growing and my hcg increasing and getting more painful. The consultant was keen to go to surgery but I'm massively phobic so had the injection. no bfing for 4 days and she seems okay/distractible so far. I'm not sure if this is it for us or not and I do resent that I've felt forced to stop rather than us choose it, even though I think I was ready to wean anyway. I'm exhausted. And no ttc for 3 months after the drug. We find of if it's worked on Saturday. Please pray for us if that's your thing

I've decided to make an appt with my GP to talk all this through and talk about my fertility as I'm scared about risking another ectopic if there's no/little chance of a variable pregnancy.

It's all a total shock, I think I'm still in denial to be honest. I'm so ready for this all to be over
X

Viable not variable silly phone
BEst wishes to all those trying to conceive lovely subsequent babies xxxx

So sorry Bees, take care of yourself I think I'd be terrified of surgery too, and I'm not that scared of them (not that I had any!)

Anyway, I've found link on Kellymom about reducing your milk supply and weaning:

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/herbs-oversupply/

My DS took so well to the solids that he naturally dropped his milk feeds. I have spoken to hv in bfing support group and she said it's not such a bad thing since I'm going back to work in a month. And what she said makes sense but I still feel sad about it! I have a feeling that if I didn't offer he wouldn't be bothered. Really wanted to bf for at least a year, but now not sure we're going to make it

Thanks for that link, not sure I fancy that much sage but I'm drinking lots of peppermint tea!!

Not sure if any of you have liked KellyMom.com on fb, but they have posted their link about bf whilst pregnant on their fb page and lots of people have commented about their bf experience during pregnancy. Nice positive thing to see first thing. We are not crazies doing something strange!

Bees - Good luck for Saturday. Thinking of you

Hi all,

I thought I'd have a read through this thread as I'm hoping to start TTC in a month or so and still bf my 9 month old DD.

However, thought I'd comment and not just lurk as Bees situation is similar to a lady on my MN postnatal group. I can't remember her MN name but she started a thread a week or so ago on the feeding board. There might be some useful advice there on that thread or you could PM her.

I'm sure I'll be back soon enough ... Possibly very soon if my return to work meeting goes badly next week

Good luck everyone. Hope there are some BFPs while I'm away.

Things that make you go "hmmmmm". We're in TTC mode right now and I suddenly have a question. I wonder if anyone has read about this.

Does the length of time between BF and DTD making a difference? As in, DTD one hour after BF or 12 hours after. Does the body produce a counter productive hormone while it's replenishing the supply? Or would it make no difference since fertilisation can happen 24 hours later anyway? Been pondering this today.

Morning!

Zoo... I have no idea. I've always assumed it doesn't make too much difference. Interested to know if anyone else has read up on this though. Just about to enter the TTC zone...

Do ladies use OPKs during the day or first thing? The cheapies I have say during the day, but the clear blue digi test says first pee of the day? Might try a cheapie after lunch...

Is everyone ok? Anyone waiting to POAS/ BFP?

Thanks rosepetal, any idea where you are in your cycle now? I am 7dpo, pretty certain I ovulated last Thursday on cd21 as I had a temp spike as well as the positive opk, a great improvement for me! I am supposed to have a blood test today to confirm ovulation, but the nurse called in sick so I have to go down in the middle of ds' usual nap time and wait to see if they can fit me in (in a very hot waiting room with no provision for toddlers), not looking forward to that! It will be good to know though.

Hello Toes, congrats on AF return! I would have loved a small age gap too, there is only 16 months between me and my older sister and small gaps between my other siblings too, family holidays and trips were always brilliant although no idea how my DM coped with us all

How are you doing today Bees? Sending prayers your way, all the best for Saturday. Are your 4 days no bf up yet? As others have said I'm sure your supply could withstand that kind of gap at this stage if you do want to continue and stop in your own time. I can totally see how you might feel it's a good time to stop though, you must be exhausted with everything going on

Zoo I can't see that it would make any difference, as you say there is often quite a gap between dtd and conception anyway (up to 5 days is possible isn't it? Although 24-48 more common) and I think the bf hormones can impact release of egg / cervical mucus production / cervix position etc but if those things are already happening then I don't see how they would prevent sperm meeting egg, don't know though, it would be interesting to see if there have been any studies.

Hi mrsd, I have been using opks first thing in the morning as I have a monitor and that's what it said, however I do remember from last time the cheapies suggested day time. I think it's just because there is a much shorter window for positives with the cheapies so you might miss it if you only test early am, but not sure. So cheapie after lunch would be fine I think! I will probably be poas next week on Thursday, I have a follow up with the GP on my blood tests that day so makes sense to check beforehand!

Sorry for such a long post! Hope everyone's surviving the hot, muggy weather. DS has not been sleeping too well so I'm lacking motivation to do anything today!

The more I think about it, I think it's the CM that's affected as that's what makes the journey up to the egg possible and less fraught with danger. Maybe the egg too. So BFing probably affects the whole system the whole time.

Hope you're doing ok Bees

Just got my first ever peak smiley on an OPK. Low to peak. eek! Days earlier than I expected. Shame we've been too knackered all weekend, and have definitely drunk too much this weekend, but there will be pouncing later!

How is everyone?

Hope you are ok Bees and survived your weekend ok.

Zoo are you in the TWW now?

Mister Did you manage to get your bloods done on Thursday?

Big wave to everyone else. There seems to have been an explosion of new babies amongst friends and friends of friends in the last week. So blumming broody.

Hello all, wondering if I can join you! Haven't had time to read all of the thread but my sympathies to you bees. Sounds like a really tough time, hope things get better soon.

So I have an almost 10mo DS and DH has just given the nod for TTC#2! I'm so broody it's unreal. Loads of friends are PG at the mo as well.

DS feeds 3 times a day and twice at night but we do have 5/6 hour gaps between feeds. He only feeds from the right and I pump 2oz from the left for his morning porridge.

AF sort of returned when DS was 7.5mo. Then had a 48 day cycle and a proper period last time. So I'm in cycle 3 now and had LOADS of EWCM yesterday (CD24). We DTD at the weekend so I suppose I'm waiting to see if anything will happen!

Is a 48 day cycle too long to conceive? I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating cause I have cramping and a dip in my pumping output.

Have to dash as DS is awake but hello everyone and hurrah for cake :)

Hi ladies,
I'm trying to get back to normal now but I'm completely emotional and physically floored. The medication seems to be working thankfully. We've stopped breast feeding, due to the medication but also because I feel like I need my body back for a bit bad to heal, my dd hasn't asked once but I'm definitely grieving the end of this chapter for us

I can't see us Ttc within the next 6 months.
Good luck to all the lovely ladies on this thread. Thank you for the support and listening xxxx

Best wishes for the future bees. Take lots of care of yourself. And you know where to find us xx