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

Blumming Call the Midwife's making me cry!

Thanks G0ldie. Survived week one. Bit strange. Bit like I've never been away but my brain doesn't work anymore. It will come back I know. DS is getting on really well at nursery. Seems chicken pox is doing the rounds so suspect that might be heading our way.

2WW is going v e r y slowly Painty but work and family get together's have been helping to keep me away from symptom spotting. Saying that I'm convinced I'm not preggers. No symptoms. Doing the flitting between being convinced that maybe I should wean DS because its the only thing that will work and knowing sticking with it will work out in the end.

Erm stats - mrsdiddlydoo 1 DS fast approaching 1st birthday, cycle 5 post DS. Cycle finally settling down to about 27/28 days. BF DS twice a day - first thing and bedtime.

Right back to crying at TV...

Oh and I'm 33.. no 32... nearly 33! ha!

Hello can I come and join you for a cuppa?

Haven't read all the posts here yet, thought I'd say hello first.

I'm breastfeeding my 16 month old about 2x a day. Stopped cerazette early November, and got a period in January. Waiting for another period anytime now. Can't remember how long my cycles used to be before DS as I was on the pill for donkey's years then got pregnant quite quickly, but I understand after cerazette it can take a while to get things back to normal.

16 month old DS still likes his breastfeed morning and night but isn't bothered during the day. At the weekend, because I was at work I went almost 24h without feeding him and I didn't really feel engorged or full. I think he's winding it down a bit himself, which makes me a bit sad, but on the plus maybe it will help towards getting periods back to "normal". And bf no longer seems to have the same magic sleep-giving properties.

Getting round to DTD is another thing we need to work on. I work shifts and when I'm home we have a bad habit of faffing about on the internet/tv etc until we're too tired. Neitehr of us have ever been all that sex-mad. Luckily DS isn't a bad sleeper compared to some (except he wakes up at 06.00 and is brought into our bed for milk and cuddles and then pokes us in the eyes and sings at us until we have to get up).

Hi everyone-2ww isgoing slowly and have already poas at least 6 times! I am on 9dpo so know it is still a little bit early for BFP. Will try and wait until Tuesday to test again.

Stats: DD 2.7 we are on cycle 4 TTC, mc cycle 1. Af returned at 25 months. I'm 37 (eek seems old when I write it down!). Still bf a lot-day and night.

Hi everyone!

Well, I tested on Saturday and again this morning - both bfns. Oh well, I suppose managing it on the first proper month trying would have been quite lucky! No sign of af though, and I'm on day 39 now - and there was me thinking that my cycles had nicely dropped back into a regular pattern!

Welcome cowbiscuits! Sounds like the amount you're breastfeeding shouldn't be a problem for getting pregnant.

Paintyfingers - glad the thrush is clearing up - sounds like not much fun! Hope af comes soon, assuming that you're right that you're not pg.

mrsdiddlydoo - glad your first week of work went well. It is strange at first but I am enjoying it now and dd enjoys her time at her childminders - I think it's a good balance for her, with me working 3 days a week.

Hi everyone!

Sorry, have got a bit behind on the thread so apologies if I miss responding to anyone.

June how are you feeling, any symptoms? Good luck for pows tomorrow!
Hi Parsnip, good luck with the health plan! Are you in your 2ww now?
Teacup irregular cycles seems to be a very common theme on this thread, I guess it's all the breastfeeding hormones. Do you think you've ov now?

Hi mrs, CTM had that effect on me too this week, they should warn you beforehand if it's a particularly sad episode! That one the other week when the woman had her baby taken away had me in absolute floods. What cd are you on now? Congrats on getting through your first week back. You never know, sometimes there are no symptoms early on, but I do know what you mean about just not feeling it.
Helloo Painty! Sounds like a frustrating month for you, I hope AF shows up soon and you can move on to the next (hopefully much shorter) cycle, thrush free and ready to swi!
Sorry about the bfn's Medium, they are always disappointing even when you are expecting them! Is it possible you ovulated a lot later than you thought?

Welcome cowbiscuits, grab a brew and pull up a chair, today we have jam and coconut cake curtesy of my DH (he suddenly felt like baking this weekend, I'm not complaining although it doesn't really help with the healthy eating!) Finding the time and energy to DTD can be a struggle for me too, like you I end up faffing around all evening doing nothing useful / watching things I'm not even interested in and then am too tired - this month I have decided to make myself go up to bed at 10 every night and swi at least every other night, mostly sticking to it but DH is a very late night person so sometimes I fall asleep before he comes to bed!

I am on cd 17 and don't think I've ovulated yet, based on my recent (irregular) cycles I should ov early next week, just when DH is away. Had some EWCM today and yesterday and am finally remembering to temp so at least I should know if I ov this cycle! The healthy eating regime is not going great, although I am currently munching on cheese crackers and hummus instead of chocolate so that's a start! Any other good snack/munchy ideas? I'm lucky in that I need to gain weight not lose it so quantity / calories are not an issue. I have also started taking some pre-natal vitamins (just because DH randomly got me some) which I suppose can't hurt and at least means I'm getting my folic acid in case I do fall pg.

Wow, long post sorry! I will do a stats update now while DS is napping.

Updated stats! Sorry, I haven't had time to go back through the full thread so have only added new names who have posted in the last couple of weeks, if I've missed anyone who is wants to go on just let me know and I'll do another post!

MisterSafety, cycle 4 after 19 month old ds, still expressing but down to once per day, due to ov any day.

Paintyfingers (multiple name-changer!) 1 DS aged 2, still on cycle 5 of AF post DS. DS day-weaned but bf all 3-4 times per night. Hoping to get pg before DS turns 3!

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 2 (?) after 25 m old dd.

mrsdiddlydoo 1 DS fast approaching 1st birthday, cycle 5 post DS. Cycle finally settling down to about 27/28 days. BF DS twice a day - first thing and bedtime. 32... nearly 33!

junebaby DD 2.7 we are on cycle 4 TTC, mc cycle 1. Af returned at 25 months. I'm 37 (eek seems old when I write it down!). Still bf a lot-day and night.

Mediumorchid One dd, cycle 1.

g0ldie Waiting for AF to return!

cowbiscuits Still feeding 16 month old DS, waiting for AF to return.

ritathecheetah, bf dd2, AF returned in Jan so cycle 1!

Catellington, one DD age 11 months, 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.

KokoLoko, DS1 39 months, DS2 17 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 11 month old, Night weaned bf 5-6 times a day. 28 in constant 2ww

Recent graduates with bfps!

Lelly- 3 months pg (is that right?)
Weebairn - BFP in Jan 2014!

If I have missed anyone or there are any updates please let me know!

Well I feel AF brewing. CD 25. DS has conjunctivitis so couldn't go to nursery today. Very luckily outlaws helped out today, but if he's no better I'll be off work tomorrow. Feel like I'm coming down with a lurgy cold, not that I've got rid of the last. Moaning over. It's not over till the fat lady sings well it's over. And then we can start SWI all over again. Not sure I can cope with another getting plenty month though. Oh go on then!

Hi Painty - I was having such a naff day yesterday (and haven't found time to bake lately) that instead of taking DS home after running errands, I drove out of my way to the supermarket to buy my old favourite big giant chocolate /cream /cherry muffin thing. One word. YUMMY. CD 40 does sound frustrating. Any promising symptoms?

Thanks for the updated stats Mister. I'm not sure their really that healthy but I like snacking on banana chips. And other (probably sweetened) dried fruit type things like papaya. And cold (and hot) roast veg. And crisps and dip. And olives. And wine. I bought loads of healthy type snacks in our last shop but can't quite bring myself to eat them - sunflower seeds, unsalted nuts. Might try making a big fruity nutty flapjack or something. I'm rubbish at eating sometimes and defo could do with the extra lbs. Have you had anymore EWCM?

Medium - def agree that 3 days at work is nice balance. Any sign of AF or a BFP?

Hello cowbiscuits! Hope you like cake? DH and I have never had a big sex life. Think we've already done it more times this year than... well... I'm starting to wonder! DH is very good at staying up late 'killing things' playing computer games. We have a 10pm rule when we're 'in the ttc zone'.

Big waves at everyone else. All the talk of food has made me need to go find some. Think I still have the other muffin in the fridge if DH didn't eat it.

mrsdiddlydoo staying up late and playing Violent computer games is exactly what my DH does. Battlefield 2 I think its called. They're supposed to be grown men!

mrs and cowbiscuits you have my sympathies - I am another one whose DH gets hooked on computer games late into the night, it really interferes with ttc sometimes!

Eurgh 40 days, how frustrating Painty, hope AF shows up soon. And mrs sorry you feel AF on the way but it's not over yet, as you said. Early pg symptoms can be so similar to AF symptoms I always go crazy trying to work out which it is.

Not much happening here, temps say no ovulation yet and just little bits of EWCM so I think it's still a way off.

Could be Painty, DH is away for the beginning of next week and EWCM just increased a bit yesterday and today so his trip might still coincide with ovulation. He's only away for 2 days though so we still have a chance!

Any developments for you today Painty? Do feel like AF is anywhere near? What about you mrs?

Does anyone know what's happened to radiator, last time she was here there were lots of hopeful symptoms and I was hoping for good news. Hope you're doing ok if you're reading!

How's everyone else?

I'm out. Af arrived yesterday. Trying to stay positive. At least my cycle's settled down finally to 27 days. Think I'm ov later in month than before ds so lp is a bit short. Keen to get going again. Lots to look forward to this month. 1st birthday in a couple of weeks. He was due last year on valentines, and made the best v day card for Dh and me yesterday at nursery. Work's ok. Hardest bit is closest colleague is 29 weeks. Very happy for her. Right enough wibbling. Have a good weekend everyone. Fingers crossed for some happy bfp news!

oh and painty (and everyone). Fyi cider vinegar is meant to be really good for preventing thrush. You take some everyday if you're prone to it. Amazing what you learn at work! Grownup conversations!