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

Mixed fortunes on here since I last checked in. So sorry to read about your experience MrsC. I really do hope you're starting to feel better. Hope you're doing ok too Junebaby.

Congrats to gunpowder and fingers crossed for everyone else doing the TTC tango.

mrsconfusion, and for you. I'd say it's such an emotional time and you know in your heart it's not your fault that your DD is a bit unsettled. I hope things get back to normal soon and you're back to sleepy snuggly bedtimes. Best of luck being back at work. I know what it's like returning to a job after an emotional upheaval and it's really tough to put your best foot forward.

thankgoodness, I should have stayed away from the stick!!! Now I feel disheartened and worry that as the months go on I'll get a tiny bit more obsessed each month! Have been looking for cheapie OPKs for next month but haven't taken that plunge yet!

That's a very positive approach Helena! Good luck to you! I'd love to have my body back without bf and pg but having another DC is my priority at the moment!

AF is much heavier this time. Even heavier than it used to be pre-DS. It's day 6 and still lots of red blood and heavy flow I wonder if it's that "first" mega post-birth period so many people talk about?

I should have posted here rather than in main thread so sorry for cross posting!. DH and I want to try to conceive to give DC a sibling close in age. DC now 6months but I haven't started my periods again yet. Still EBF as DC hasn't really wanted to try out solids yet. Does anyone have any ideas about signs of ovulation after giving birth, that might indicate I'm ovulating before that first period? Finding time for sex is difficult at the moment so maximising chances would be good in the run up to that first period rather than waiting for it to appear, or having loads of sex for no good reason (Yes That sounds terrible, but it DOES take up so much time when you really only want to GO TO SLEEP when DC does!)

Well francis, I kind of knew I was back ovulating when I felt more in the mood to DTD than I had since before DS was born!

Also, I did have cramping and EWCM. During my 2d pp cycle, which was 48 days, I felt awful. Nausea, headaches, dizziness. In retrospect I think it was probably my body transitioning to full fertility.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling so tired you couldn't possibly think about DTD. In fact, last month was the first time I didn't feel like that and quite enjoyed DTD.

It seems to have worked as well because I POAS (twice!) this morning and they were both BFP! I still can't quite believe it's real. Hoping everything goes ok now.

toes, my first 2 AFs were very light and short but the last one was like what you're describing. So maybe it means you're heading into a super fertile month. Go forth and DTD!!!

Happy weekend everyone

Eagle yay yay yay!!!!! Had a feeling you were going to get a BFP! You obviously did have a super LH surge! So thrilled for you.

Thank you zoobaby

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and seducing their DHs

Hope you are doing ok MrsConfusion.

Thanks for the suggestions, eagle and much congratulations! Your positive POAS sounds marvelous! I used to have very light stitching on the day when I ovulated before DC, but since DC there are so many million other pains and stitches and oddities that I will probably never know with such accuracy again! Which is why I need all the old-wives tales or medical advice I can find!!! It sounds weird only 6 months in, but I already feel as if I am losing valuable time! Oh, and I will have to take it on faith that there will be a day when I am seriously horny and energetic enough to initiate DTD for my own pure pleasure again!

Thanks for your good wishes gunpowder and francis! It's weird that I've said it here becuase no one will know in RL (except DH!) for ages.

I think it was all the Judy Blume talk gunpowder that flooded me with teenage hormones and causes me to hop on DH

Oh wow congrats Eagle! May baby, how lovely

Yes, you are right, I should really up my game on pouncing on DP... but I feel so bloody exhausted! Since I've gone back to work DS decided that 4.30 is brilliant time to start the day. And he's still teething. Was up a million times last night... need to find some energy from somewhere!

Great news Eagle. Hope you realise that your ILs will soon know what you and DH got up to in their house .

eagle and zoo !

Haha, zoo! They'll be far too polite to comment

DS is called after the place where MIL grew up (and where DH & I got engaged) and I found out recently that my ILs thought he was conceived there!!! Little do they know it was under their own roof ...

I'm feeling a bit anxious as I have a lot of cramping today. I think I felt the same with DS but weirdly I can't remember. I must try not to overthink things - which is hard for me at the best of times. It's nice to have this thread to "talk" to.

Super news eagle, so pleased for you! Giggling thinking about the rest of you plotting on seducing DHs and working out how to summon up the energy. Bit different to those rampant first months/years of coupledom, hey??

DD is really clingy at the moment and asking for loads more mummy milk than usual. I guess she's upset by all the disruption, and also wonder if milk tastes different now the pg hormones have gone? Feel rotten having to say no but I just can't keep up with her, and also don't want to suddenly tell my body to focus on milk instead of getting back to ov. Argh, don't want to upset her but seriously, she can't sit on my lap without climbing into my top (and this is a girl who usually is just evenings, with the occasional morning). Feel like evil mummy when I say no tho, even when I explain that she can choose between milk now or milk at bedtime as my boobies don't have time to make more by then.

Fainted at work on Friday, not ideal, ended up phoning doctor who called me in and thinks I've got an infection so now got iron tablets and antibiotics. Grrrrrrrrrr. seriously. that's enough now. Want my body back please. Doc has signed me off work again but i really need to go in so need to get better today. Mind over matter must work, right??

Hope you all have nice plans for the sunny weekend, and that anyone still on 2ww can keep distracted.

Eagle super news! Congratulations . Love that Judy Blume helped!

AF is due this week. Thought I was out last Thursday when I started spotting, but hasn't shown up yet. Think she's a coming though. Haven't BF for the last 2 days. Head's messed up, and despite what I think about breastfeeding, we're trying to knock it on the head. DS only has a quick slurp in bed first thing in the morning and has been knocking back more fridge milk. I'm not sure why now, and right now I'm not sure if I will relent in the morning, but I won't be offering.

Fainting's not good MrsC. Hope you've been taking it easy today. Are you feeling any better? You mustn't go into work if your unwell. You'll be no good to anyone if you run yourself into the ground.

Thanks mrsd! Fingers crossed that AF doesn't show up.

I'm feeling weird about BFing the last few days, I can't explain why because my head knows that it's perfectly ok to BF when pg. DS isn't the boob monster he once was but I'd still feel hugely guilty weaning him before he's 1

Thank you mrsc! I hope you're resting up and taking some time off work. Fainting is a sign you need to take time for yourself. It sounds very hard with your DD - maybe she's going through a developmental leap or something like that? Hope things get easier soon.

quiet on here this week. Hope that means everyone is busy TTC!!

Eagle there is a super book on breastfeeding when pregnant, and tandem feeding. If I hadn't sold mine on ebay I'd have offered to send it. Called adventures in tandem feeding. I think you just have to go whatever you feel is right. You can offer cow's milk from 1. Sure a couple of weeks early wouldn't hurt. It is fine to BF and be pregnant.

Well I poas this morning because AF is due and there was a faint, faint line. A faint, faint (little) BFP. I'm trying to convince myself it was wrong and AF will arrive in the next few days because I'm not sure I can cope if that happened. It was a cheapy so might try again at the weekend with a nice expensive reassuring digital one. But then again, DH is a cheapskate so will argue not to. So watch this space...

Sorry to put anyone off who's eating (warning TMI alert) but I only tested because I have had THE smelliest wind for the last couple of days. Is that really a symptom? Well. Enough said. Also my muesli didn't taste right last week. Assuming it's a sticky and we make it further than the previous 10 weeks, for those that are interested this month I have drunk lots of alcohol (rediscovered gin in fact), focused the Weebairn method on the week around OV (yes whilst on holiday in room next to parents - ick) and I have kept busier than a busy thing trying not to be obsessed with babies. I have felt more normal and like me than I have in a long time. It has taken a massive amount of effort though.

Will keep you posted if AF stays away long enough for me to convince DH to buy me a posh test.

MrsD get thee to a chemist! Fingers crossed. If you get that bfp then I think everyone on here should immediately book holidays with their parents or ILs.

mrsd, I agree with zoo, buy the shiniest digital test you can

Thanks so much for your offer of the book. My local LLL meeting is on Saturday and I might pop along and see if they have a copy to rent.

So it seems the key to getting a BFP is a) DTD a lot and b) make sure you're DTDing in close proximity to either your parents or your ILs

Just a quick check in so I don't loose you all again, have been away a few weeks and lost the thread! On my way to work now but will catch up this evening.

Mrsd couldn't help but spot your news, woohoo! Fingers crossed.

Thanks ladies. Still no AF. Still going to wait until the weekend to test again. Head is spinning. Not literally, but my mind is all messed up.

The dtd near parents/IL thing seems worth trying!

How is everyone? Anyone in the 2WW?

Hope you are doing ok MrsC?

Congrats MrsD, let's hope it's a sticky one!
LOL at shagging within close proximity to parents

Well it looks like my body just doesn't want to get pg again. I have the most horrid cold. DP keeps pouncing on me since Tuesday but I just can't do it.

It's CD12 and I think I ov'ed on CD13 last month No EWCM yet but I really don't think it's going to be our months...

Weird bug last months, a stinky cold this month, what's next?

Congrarulations mrsd! Fingers crossed for you-I know how you must be feeling. We have been giving TTC a break over the past couple of months as I haven't been in the right frame of mind but coming up to fertile period and feel ready to Dtd as much as possible.

Just a quickie-
Think of you ladies often- I feel like this thread gave me luck all the way back in January.
Delighted for you mrsdiddlydoo -fingers crossed for retesting but a line is a line!
2 weeks till due date here. Very tired. Would love an early baby but I think October is more likely!
Will come back and let you know when little one has arrived.
Good luck to all!!!