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

weebairn - Cinema? What's that then? I'm very jealous, but sounds like you deserve it! Perfect time for your DD to start sleeping through. Fingers crossed it lasts!

As for bodies confusing us, mine seems to be doing its 'showing signs of trying to ovulate' routine, but is it real or is it teasing me? Started temping this month, but feel like I'm coming down with a cold so probably won't last long. Trying not to count days, hours, minutes, seconds before I start work again next week. In fact trying hard not obsess over everything. Or anything. If its not EWCM, its finding time to SWI, or work, or nursery, or new curtains... or sofas. Right. Hot chocolate anyone? Think we're out of cake, but we have chocolate biscuits

Hi Painty! Glad to hear the thrush is getting better. I haven't a bloody clue if I've ov! Very irritating. I've had patches of EWCM. Some pains here and there, but nothing familiar to my ov'ing pre DS so I haven't a clue. Hope I have because we've been SWI plenty so if there was ever a chance this week would be it. today is CD 15 so I should be starting 2WW if I have ov. Think poor DH is fed up of being pounced.

DS was 11 months the other day. Can't believe how much he's changing right now. He's settling into nursery well.

How is everyone? Busy weekend's planned? We're seeing some friends today. Need to return some curtains (very unexciting) but ordered a sofa last night. woop woop. I'm running out of things to keep me occupied.

Hi Painty, healthy eating is a bit hit and miss so far but I have managed to cut out the coffees which is a good start. I will definitely take and carrot and date cake, sounds amazing! You have inspired me, I might make some courgette and cheese muffins with ds this afternoon!
Sounds like you and DH had a pretty tough year last year, I hope 2014 brings much better things for you. Hmm, I hate those long cycles where you have no idea what's going on, mine are often like that and it drives me crazy! Maybe your body is just waiting for the thrush to clear up so you have time to get in lots of swi before you ov

Mrsdiddly fingers crossed ov did happen this week then! And happy 11 months to ds! it still amazes me how fast they grow and change, I can't believe mine is nearly 19 months, walking, talking and creating mayhem wherever he goes

Any news radiator?

I am on cd 9 so just waiting for things to get started. Trying to go with weebairn's lots of shagging approach this month, but unfortunately DH is away over my most likely ovulation dates (based on last few cycles), only for a couple of days though and ov could happen any time really so we still have a chance.

I am TTC number 4, and am bf my baby who has just turned 11 months. My af has not returned yet, but as I have recently cut down on bf dramatically I have been testing with CB ovulation digis and over a 3 week period I have had 3 sets of smiley faces but no temp surge and no AF. Can anyone suggest whats up with me?

Hello, can I join you? We are in month 2 of ttc no.2. Dd is 19 months and bf before bed and once or twice during the night. Sleep is precious, so trying to time DTD mostly for a week before and a couple of days after ov! Fingers crossed...

Hi again-well I am in 2ww. I think I ovulated on day 16 but didn't manage to SWI that day-had managed to every two days until day 14 so hoping that will be enough. Keep reading two data before ovulation is a good time..?

Have had lots of thick/yellowy CM since which I have never noticed before but know it's too early for symptoms.

When my AF returned I dung have any noticible symptoms and didn't cut down on BF at all (it did take until 25 months though!!). DD is still BF as much as ever and she is 32 months.

Healthy eating not going particularly well here !

Data? Days!

AF a week ago so should ovulate in 7-9 days. Cycle I think is back to normal but was never very regular anyway, though is shorter now than pre-baby.

I'm now going to eat better, do more regular exercise (running makes me feel better but this weekend I've not bothered) and cut down on the caffeine... Wish me luck!

Good grief.... Day 33 ...negative test two days ago. Just went to do a digital test and it hasn't bloody worked! Rah!

My nipples were sore last week so maybe just very late ovulation? I am usually very regular but I guess as I only got AF back this month it may take a while for my cycles to stabilise perhaps?

Frustrating!

Haven't caught up on the thread yet as have been away but will do :)

Hope all is well

Big wave and welcome to Wanna and Parsnip!

Wanna - it sounds like your body is gearing up to getting going again. Even though my Af returned last Oct, things are still getting back to normal. Every cycle seems to be a step closer to something similar to pre DS cycles, but I still don't have a clue what's going on. Our DS has just turned 11m as well.

Good luck with the healthy living Parsnip. I'm rubbish at being healthy. Good intentions and all but need my postman pat timed caffeine hit and a glass of vino now and again. Lots of running about after everyone around me seems to help keep me in check.

Painty - what a fab idea. Birthday presents for the year. Might have to do some of that. After being really really really really sure ov this week I now have stabbing pain that could be ov pain. So confused!!

How annoying Teacup! I was always incredibly regular before DS. First couple of cycles post DS were much longer than I've ever had before.

Fingers crossed Junebaby. Hopefully lots of BFPs coming this way!

Trying to do a 'Weebairn' is wearing me and DH out. Not sure how many cycles we can keep this up for! haha

Paintyfingers - I havnt been using ov sticks this time, although I did with my first and they did work. I was working with my usually cycle of 28 days and dtd when appropriate! I felt like I ovulated at the right time but now on day 34 of my cycle no period and negative pregnancy test!

My nipple soreness last week I had hope was early pregnancy symptom but now thinking more likely that I ovulated late...

Maybe I should try the ov sticks again.

Have had so much cramping and twinging over the last few weeks I don't know what's going on in there!

Hi everyone, sorry I've been off the thread for a while - I'm really rubbish at threads like these!

Congratulations weebairn! How exciting!

Radiator - have you tested since your spotting? I had very similar to this when we conceived dd and it was implantation bleeding.

Paintyfingers - long cycles must be really frustrating - hope you can work out what's going on soon.

Well af is due today (day 34). I keep switching between really hopeful, and really sure I'm not pregnant. I think we timed it right this month, on day 23 I had stretchy cm which I've never seen before, we dtd that night, and there's been no cm after that. I'm not going to test until Saturday though. I'm only 11 dpo so I should wait until 14 at least. Though I suppose if I did ov on day 23 and didn't get pregnant, I wouldn't expect to see af until Saturday anyway!

Because we conceived dd by accident (we'd been intending to start trying in a few months, but she was a very welcome surprise!) I'm new to ttc. It's quite a slow process really, isn't it - and this is only the first month!

Hey peeps

Sounds like your timing with dtd is hopeful MediumOrchid. We conceived DS first cycle we tried so like you still feel pretty new to this TTC business. I'm here for the longhaul though. However long it takes.

I'm not sure if I ov or not but definitely feel like that time of the month has passed. No idea where I'm at other than I think if its not our month, Af will be here on 14th. The Weebairn strategy definitely wore us out and I'm not sure either of us have energy for any more for a few days!

Back at work today. DS loves nursery. I love work less! But survived. Having a sneaky glass of wine now to celebrate and commiserate. Can't imagine how I'll get from here to Saturday. Was very sad seeing so little of my little man today. And was very excited picking him up. He was sooo tired though.

Hope everyone's ok. Do any of you take vitamins or other supplements? We generally have a varied diet and except folic acid, I don't take anything regularly. Considering it though. Do you think it helps?

ooo best bit of work day, DH bought me a piece of chocolate cake to take with me to help me get through my day. mmmmmmm cake!!!!

Hope your first week has gone well mrs.
So no af since stopping cerazette but big increase in cm back ache cramping. I hate the uncertainty of all of this I could have these symptoms for months before af! Sorry rant over.
Poor you painty re thrush back again must be uncomfortable!
Fingers crossed for you medium!