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 to post and run but Af arrived on Wednesday-cycle length 27 days. LP 11 days-which I think is probably a bit short...

Dd teething so feeding lots-these are the last two to come through so may things will settle down.

Thought TTC no 2 would be easier than this!

Will try and catch up with thread later on!

Hello!

Please can I join you? I am feeling very broody and very keen to get on with having DC2 (though to be honest the idea of giving birth again slightly terrifies me).

Anyway, DD is 14m and still bfeeding quite a lot - especially when she is a bit under the weather which seems to be all the time at the moment. I still haven't had AF since I had her so no idea what is going on fertility-wise!

I know you can catch the first egg but I am wondering if I need to wait until AF is back before we start TTC in earnest... Don't really want to wait if I can help it.

Soooo any tips (apart from weaning) on boosting fertility while breast feeding?!

I thought I would just add my support to all you mummies ttc.

I am through that journey now,but I do remember the frustration at wanting to concieve while breastfeeding.
My AF returned at 8 months - we started ttc straight away-and I conceived when my Ds was 18 months old.
I had charts, taking my temperature etc, GP wasn't much help- all he wanted me to do was stop breastfeeding.

A very wise friend - who is a natural family planning and breastfeeding counsellor gave me a really helpful insight. She said that when by taoodlers needs had lessened a little and when the demands on my body were too then everything would fit into place and I would conceive when the time was right for all of us, including my second baby.

THese words really hit hime with me. I gave up the charts- which were beginning to impact on our lovemaking anyway and I just decided to trust my body and leave things to nature.

As it happens I conceived two months after that little chat, I continued to breastfeed all though my second pregnancy and tandem fed for two years after that.

The timing was right for us and i am glad I didn't conceive earlier it would have been too much to cope with.
Nature did have a plan for us, and worked out perfectly.

Good luck everyone. X

Thank you atthestrokeoftwelve! Just the words I needed to hear. That's usually what is in my head, but it can get a bit messed up in there! Must admit I have been thinking a lot over the last few days that DS just isn't ready to share me and that's why it's not happened yet. And quite honestly I can't blame him and I really shouldn't get so wound up over the time that's passing.

Hello flour! I second painty's advice about reading the info on the links to start with. Once AF returns your cycle might take a few months to settle down which can make it tricky knowing when to 'put in most effort' ttc. Have you had any signs that AF might be on her on way? It is possible to catch the first egg, but I think quite often the first couple or so cycles can be annovulatory (no egg) as your body gets back into the swing of things. It is definitely different for everyone!!

How is everyone?

hi everyone
sorry for the long silence. been trying to take a laid back approach to ttc meanwhile frantically googling any teeny symptom i can detect

anyway, this morning i got a BFP! i had thought that i can ovulated quite late this month - around 7 Feb, so 20+ days, and then on 10 Feb I had one episode of brown discharge, which confused me as I thought it was only 2-3dpo and so too early for implantation bleeding. However, then I looked back at my chart and my first positive OPK was on 4 Feb, so if I ovulated next day it would have been 5-6dpo. that got my hopes up, even though i tried not to let it. since then I have been feeling queasy on and off, but only when i think about it too much if that makes sense! to ease myself in to POAS today I did a OPK thursday, sunday and today and the line was getting stronger. so i braved it and got a BFP. so, guess i am only 3 weeks pregnant. can't quite believe it and also know it is such a long road between now having a baby, so many hurdles to overcome etc. eek!

welcome coveredin. my AF came back at 14months with DD1 - which i think is average for 'ecological' breastfeeding and then 22 mths with DD2, who is much keener feeder. DD2 was feeding so much, I decided to cut down to 3 feeds a day - already nightweaned, and I think that made a difference, but then i think i've read that it probably only brought it forward a month or so anyway, and maybe if i had done nothing it would have returned anyway around 2 years.

DD2 is still demanding milk a lot, even though she sort of knows 3 times a day is usual. today i was thinking, maybe i should just go back to feeding on demand now i have a BFP, but i guess if pregnancy doesn't work out, I'll be a bit stuck.

painty, hope the thrush has cleared up.

mrsdiddlydoo around 6 mths ago i felt the same, i desperately wanted my AF to return so i could ttc but then realised maybe DD2 just wasn't ready for another sibling, i'm still not sure she is, but i guess i've got 9 months to prepare her.

anyway, better stop rambling...

Congratulations rita! About time we had another, you must be so excited!

Hi flour, my AF came back when ds was about 14 months too, he was still fed on demand except the 2 days I was at work. I think spacing out either the day or night time feeds can help kick start things (mine arrived 1.5 months after I started back at work, before that ds would often feed every 3 hours or so in the day and once or more at night).

Sorry there's still no sign of AF Painty. I hate those months, my cycles used to be really irregular so I know how it feels, strangely they have been quite consistent (although long) since AF has come back post ds. Hope your ds is providing lots of distraction to keep you sane.

Thanks for the positive thinking twelve! Definitely need regular reminders of that.

Well, DH is away and right on time I have loads of EWCM today, will ovulate soon I think. We swi last night and he is back late on Thursday. Can somebody remind me are you still fertile on the day of ovulation or is it too late already? I know the couple of days before is peak, so I figure if I ov tomorrow we still have a reasonable chance and by Friday DH is back, just have to hope it doesn't happen on Thursday!

ooh x-post. Good news Painty, fingers crossed for this cycle.

ooo congratulations rita! That's made my morning. X

Congratulations Rita-so pleased for you!

Mrs-we seem to be at the same point with Af starting on the same day and cycles of 27 days!

Painty-hopefully your cycles will settle down to a more regular pattern. I do seem to have been fairly lucky that even though Af took a long time to return they have been fairly regular. Also thank you for the advice about the luteal phase length being ok at 11 days, there is so much info out there it is hard to know what to believe. Glad you have started Af though, at least you can focus on TTC this cycle.

Fingers crossed for everyone this month.

Will update when I ovulate!

Mister-I think I read two days before ovulation is prime time for swi but you can still conceive up to 24 hours after ovulation...

Thanks June and Painty. My bbt went up on Wednesday morning, haven't been able to get a reliable reading since due to ds waking a lot in the night but EWCM has gone too so I guess that was it. So we swi once 24-48 hours before (Monday night) and then when DH got back last night, which was probably too late doesn't look like this will be our month.

Oh Painty it is so frustrating not knowing how long each cycle is going to be, I sympathise. At least you have been able to identify ovulation each time though and you know the reason it hasn't happened yet is mainly due to timing! Fingers crossed for a healthy and relaxed month with lots of time for swi!

June sorry I've lost track of where you are and am on my phone, think you're due to ov soon in which case good luck and get swiing!

How is everyone else?

Rita (think it was you that asked) I think I would def go back to feeding on demand in your position, but then I still feel sad about ds refusing to bf and would love to switch back from expressing, so I'm probably swayed by that. How is it going so far, feeling ok?

all ok here. Well except the sore head from perhaps one to many glasses of vino last night. June - ooo cycles twins! Good luck with this months endeavours. Just mustering up energy to get going this month. Painty - glad af finally arrived. We've all had bad colds this month. Keep telling dh he needs to get over it cos i need him fit and ready for action.

anyone got anything exciting on this weekend? The sun is shining here. I feel a bit lazy and just want to hang out with my boy cos it feels like ages since I saw him properly.

Hi, can I join? Still bfing DS who is 18 months and AF returned last month so we are thinking about trying for DC2 in April to put minimum of 2.5 yrs between 2 DC.