TTC and still Breastfeeding? You are not alone - come to our BF-friendly cafe for a chat and some cake!

[eagle2010]

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.

Seeing as I filled up the old thread I thought I should start the new one!

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). I hope I've worked the links properly.

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

I'm still TTC but just had AF and on CD5 so getting ready to start all over again. I have noticed that my periods have been much lighter and painfree since coming back! Softens the blow I guess...

Oh phew Hide! TG I'm not alone. When do you normally Ov? AF arrived today for me

Oh no Peardrop but at least it means we can have a drink at Christmas. That's what I told myself!

Not actually sure when I ovulate. I gave up with the sticks as couldn't get a positive. Suspect it could be quite late on around cd20 and have a 28 day cycle so have suspicions that BFeeding is affecting my luteal phase thingy. But also could well be wrong on when I ov! How about you?

I'm still TTC! Well, only just starting really. Am just starting with trying to chart my cycles but it's been really irregular so far, with very long cycles, so am trying to monitor cf. Hard to remember to do it every time you go to the bathroom though, especially with a toddler around!
I am on CD 17 and think I might have felt ovulation pain today, but no accompanying ewcf so not sure. It all seems so complicated atm!

Hide ~ I would rather be pregnant than have a drink next week but I know what you mean I am hosting Christmas so a glass of wine will be needed! I will make sure I indulge in smelly cheese though!! I think I ovulate around CD18. I didn't peak this month on my cbfm so I must have skipped ov this month...have a feeling it has something to do with ds being sick and requesting an unusual day feed.

New ~ I know what you mean...it's way too complicating! It's taken me this last cycle to get my head around it all again. My last two cycles have been 31/32 days so at least they have gone a bit shorter. I'm tracking with a cbfm but this month I'm also going to buy cheap ov sticks so I can compare drive myself mad

New I find it all very complicated as well! How much does your lo feed? My DS is 13 months and feeds far more than I thought a 1 year could/would...

Peardrop would you recommend the cbfm? It's quite expensive... But not sure the cheap internet ov sticks are just a waste of time incase they don't work... Have heard mixed reviews. Maybe more expensive is better in this case! Gosh you will be busy hosting Christmas. I have just got into stinky cheese this year so am going to indulge to make up for not being pregnant. Also next due date should be well into September so good for the school year!

Hi, hide and peardrop. My DS is 18 months and feeds first thing every morning and usually in the evening as well. I wouldn't mind stopping bf now, but he still loves it!
I've had AF three times since he was born, over 5 months, so my cycles are massively long at the moment, and I don't know whether I've actually ovulated at all yet. I found stopping night feeds kickstarted AF, but maybe I need to stop altogether in order to get them back into some kind of regular cycle.
Have got some cheapie ov sticks, but no luck so far. I agree about the September due date being better for the school year though, although id be over the moon to be pregnant whenever the due date!

Hide - I have the old original cbfm. It's hard to say whether I would recommend it or not because when I brought it to conceive DS, AF didn't return after coming off the pill so it was useless to me. Back then I was also using smiley sticks and they helped me conceive DS. However, now that I have had AF for 4 cycles I have been using the cbfm and have found it to be accurate. It showed me that I didn't ovulate last month which obviously gives me a clearer answer to why I'm not pregnant (I like that as I need some clarity with all the TTC madness). It also gives me a larger window to DTD (than the smiley sticks) which helps with the stress of it all but the downside is it takes a couple of cycles to understand your body so it's a while before you can trust it's ability. How long have you been TTC dc2? I think what I'm trying to say is I might be more swayed to recommend the smiley sticks over the cbfm. Hope I'm making sense!

New - My DS is at a similar age, 19 months. I feed at 7am and 7pm. I also wouldn't mind stopping now but he loves it too much too ?? My last 4 cycles since his birth have been 39, 37, 31 and 32 days, it looks like I'm settling around the 32/31 days mark meaning I should in theory ovulate on CD18...in theory ??

I've thought of another good point for a January BFP!! We would have our scan just before Easter so we could share the news to family and friends at Easter ?? and will have the best excuse to eat all the Eggs!

Hi apologies for crashing the thread but I thought I may get some advice here from someone who's in my position?
DS is 15months and still feeds once a day ( bedtime feed) I am still waiting for af to return, is that normal? After DD af returned around 10months when I was feeding at least 2 times a day. I'm wanting to start ttc shortly so quite keen to understand my cycle again. At present I don't have any obvious signs of ovulation etc so really clueless. Any suggestions on what I should do?
Thanks again

Hi Sun AF returned after 14months for me and I'm still bf at 7am and 7pm everyday. I bet AF will turn up for you anyday! The books say 14 months is average so I don't think you have anything to worry about yet. However, if you're desperate to have another baby would you consider dropping that last feed or maybe even reducing the time you're feeding for to see if that would make a difference? In regards to tracking your cycles I would buy the clearblue smiley Stick ovulation tests to find out if you're ovulating. They're so easy to use and will help you find out if you're ovulating whilst you wait for AF to return!

Hi Sun AF returned after 14months for me and I'm still bf at 7am and 7pm everyday. I bet AF will turn up for you anyday! The books say 14 months is average so I don't think you have anything to worry about yet. However, if you're desperate to have another baby would you consider dropping that last feed or maybe even reducing the time you're feeding for to see if that would make a difference? In regards to tracking your cycles I would buy the clearblue smiley Stick ovulation tests to find out if you're ovulating. They're so easy to use and will help you find out if you're ovulating whilst you wait for AF to return!

Thanks v much, glad to know 14months is average. Everyone I spoke to thought af should have come back by now. Will order some clear blue sticks.

New you will have to let me know if the cheapie ov sticks work! I have been tempted but then some people say they are a little more tricky to use and Knowing me I would probably get confused!

Peardrop have only been trying since AF returned so this is 4th cycle so no time at all really but am heading to town today and I think I am going to invest in some CB smiley sticks. I think they sound simple enough for even me to manage to not mess up! My DS feeds quite sporadically so one day it can be only 3 times and the next day it can be 8 times and there is the odd night when he ends up latched on for hours so not sure where this leaves my chances of a BFP. Back to work next month though so that should lessen the day feeds at least!

Hide - good luck with the sticks. Keep us updated

I've also been tempted to buy cheapie OV sticks as well as my cbfm. Feel excessive though

Only 12 days until I potentially OV How's everyone else doing? Hope you had a lovely lovely Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas! I was supposed to start using my CB sticks today but have been so busy with family and celebrating I haven't had a chance. Christmas is a good distraction. Am a bit as seem to have cystitis which I've never had before and NHS website says to avoid sex! Hoping all the liquids im drinking will help (even if they are alcoholic)

Hide ~ how frustrating for you! Start drinking cranberry juice And LOTS of water to flush it away. Hope you find the cb sticks easy to use!

Can I have a moan please?! Another NCT girl has announced her pregnancy for DC arriving in the summer. She sent an email on Boxing Day! Isn't that a little weird? What if someone else in the group is willing struggling to conceive and then they hear that? I know there is one girl who has ovary problems within the group. So, that's 1 girl with a child, 5 pregnant and 5 not pregnant (including myself). Feel like it should surely be my turn soon!! I don't like this girl though so I am happy I won't be due the same month Plus some of the pregnant ones will be due nearly exactly the same time their Dc2 turns 2. I would not like my children to share a birthday at all.

Hello!

Can I join you please?
Feeling more than a little frustrated.

Like you Pear it feels like everyone is having it has had their next baby - some people have had 2 since I had DD. And I am still waiting for AF to show up after DD was born!! ( DD IS 2!)

Have tried reducing feeds and night weaning but it is hard as she is such a boob monster. Starting to feel like it's never going to happen and feeling really sad...

Anyway, in the New Year I have decided to redouble my efforts and be positive and really really hope a BFP will be along soon. Oh have been TTC (or waiting to TTC) for a year!

Hello newyear! Hope AF shows up for you soon.

Pear that is such an odd thing to do! I would never send a group email announcing my pregnancy! And on Boxing Day as well... Do your Nct group usually email each other? Personally I would rather tell people face to face. It does seem a little insensitive... Only 1 Person is pregnant already from my Nct group and they stopped feeding at 6months deliberately in order to get pregnant.

I am drinking cranberry juice after a nice crisp walk in the snow.

Hello NewYear...welcome!! We need new members as we seem to be lacking peeps now that most of the people that started this thread have moved on with their BFPs! Oh that's so tough for you. I can understand your frustration, especially as you're torn between feeding and wanting another Dc. I am the only one I know that still feeds. My DS is 19 months now...I know everyone (including my mother) thinks I should have stopped feeding ages ago I won't though

NewYear...forgot to ask, will you be using anything like smiley sticks come January? I don't get money for endorsing the btw!

Hide ~ My NCT bunch...shall we say...are Interesting lol A few of them have announced their pregnancies via email before and some do it face to face. I think the fact she did it yesterday was just weird. Especially as we meet once a week so she could have waited! I hope the cranberry juice has kicked in!

Thanks both!

To answer your question Pear I have some cheapie ovulation sticks which I might start using as I am planning to seriously cut down on the feeding and so hopefully that will get things going!! Today I realised that it's making me too miserable. And I am starting to resent DD for stopping me having another DC. But it's really hard and v emotional. How long do you guys plan to feed for?

I have found it really hard seeing all the pregnancy announcements and can't help but feel really jealous which I hate! I want to be happy for people, not resentful. This is making me a not very nice person! . At least with an email you don't have o be face to face, although I admit it is weird to do it on Boxing Day. I guess that people who are announcing are usually not thinking about how it might make someone else feel...

Hope you are both having a nice evening and that you are feeling better Hide

NewYear ~ I have spent the evening staring at my Ov dates because DH is working again I'm not TTC loopy at all Must go to bed soon! I think I will stop feeding when DS turns 2. It really is a comfort thing with him as well as hunger. I have recently started to encourage him to be a little more independent which should help the transition. He is enjoying walking down the stairs holding our hands and I brought him a step so he can wash his hands in the basin. Hopefully just giving him this encouragement to blossom will help him to let go. I shall miss it terribly as I love our snuggles but I can't imagine being pregnant and still feeding. However, I also said I couldn't imagine feeding past 6 months old and dare I even admit that I wasn't even sure I would get to 6 months

Good morning. Think I am nearly cured. Am supposed to be in my fertile window according to my app but the CB sticks haven't said I am ovulating yet so starting to worry that I'm just not ovulating! Or I guess it could be later on in my cycle.

Pear I also said I would only feed until 6 months and here I am 14 months later! I think 2 years sounds like a good cut off point. I am hoping I either get pregnant and he stops or he stops naturally before. I think my DS definitely feeds for comfort as well but he doesn't have a dummy or a comfort blanket or anything else so think the boobs are his thing! How long til you ovulate now?

Newyear let me know if your cheapie sticks are good! I splashed out on some clearblue ones but they are too expensive for every month but hoping this month just to discover when/if I ovulate to give me a rough idea.