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

argh, not ok sticks - ov sticks

Morning everyone!

waves - hello egg. Welcome back! Fingers crossed you will have just as much luck as last time. And you never know, you might be one of the lucky ones who gets the holy grail - the first egg!!

Austral doesn't sound like you are out yet... POAS! I would!!

New LOL - yes well so far we have been TTC hoping to catch that first egg since Christmas 2013!! So I expect 3 months will be a conservative estimate for us too.

I have just started OV sticks but I think you are supposed to use them at approximately the same time each day and preferably in the afternoon. You are supposed to restrict your liquid intake for about 2 hours before and not wee for a while before you do it either in order to make sure that it is a strong reading. I have been doing mine around 2pm-ish.

Well last night was a tough one. DD was up at 5am for the day and I felt absolutely horrific when I finally allowed myself to be dragged out of bed and stopped trying to force her to lie down with me. I felt so irrationally angry with DD. Which is ridiculous as she actually slept through the night (which is unusual - I totally hear you on the celebratory front Austral). I think perhaps I have been feeling HORMONAL!!!! Really, really hope something is happening. I have heard that poor sleep quality can delay ovulation so of course have been worrying about that too!

Feeling a bit brighter now but have had to treat myself to a coffee even though I am supposed to have given up coffee for the TTC my-body-is-an-ovulating-temple thing.

Sigh.It's feeling hard today.

Really wish that I already had 2 babies. Can't face months of TTC and then if it actually happens worry about mc and then worry about pregnancy and birth.

Sorry for the miserableness. I am sure I will perk up later.

Sorry for double post but just did an OPK test and it was even stronger than yesterday. I have never had a positive OPK before and I know it is supposed to be the same as the control line but am getting excited. I started a new thread (www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2277784-Is-this-a-positive-OPK) as I would love some advice.

A positive (or nearly positive) test means DTD ASAP right? Or if it is nearly then should we wait until tomorrow when it might be stronger and "save" the swimmers!? Pear I know you use the sticks - what do you reckon?

Frazzled - OK what's your cm saying? I need to see a photo! What cd are you?

Also I can't click on your link because it's not a link and my phone is not allowing me to copy and paste

Regarding the OPK sticks. You're meant to do them at the same time, every afternoon and not drink 2-3hours prior. Proving impossible for me! This is why I have the cbfm as a back up.

Ooh pear and frazzled will you both be on the 2ww together?! Exciting stuff.
I am just about to order some cheapy ov sticks. Any recommendations?

Hide ~ oooo yes maybe Fraz will be my 2ww sanity! Did you not buy the smiley sticks? You know I wouldn't recommend the OPKs on their own unless you want to loose your marbles as they're so strict and hard to read by so many. I've got the one step OPks from Amazon.

Pear I got the CB sticks last month where you get two dark lines but they were pricey so going to move on to some cheapies.

I've never had a 23 day cycle before so hoping it was an anomaly and things will be back to normal this cycle.

I have resorted to offering a biscuit as distraction for any daytime feeds I am now deeming as unnecessary! It appears that biscuits are just as appealing as boobs.

It appears that biscuits are just as appealing as boobs.

Can you sell this slogan to Mr Kipling?!

Frazzled ~ what have you decided to do? I know exactly how you feel. TTC is not easy at all in these circumstances. DH and I have just had a conversation that would just sound sooo bad to an outsider! We're waiting for DS to fall asleep so we can attempt one last time. I've been feeling so crampy around my right ovary all day, I am in no mood I can tell you It shouldn't be like this but it's going to take every bit of enthusiasm tonight! And it's alright for him... He can walk downstairs and eat dinner whilst I'll have to stay put for a while so things don't fall out

Lol Pear that could have been us!!! I am feeling a bit cramps around my right but think t might be unrelated.

I think I still have a negative test but it is def stronger so hoping it will continue to strengthen and I guess maybe OV on Sunday? Fingers crossed! We will DTD as much as possible (including tonight) and wish really really hard!

Frazzled fx for you! Could show up tomorrow! It's tricky isn't it because you don't want to get your hopes up but then you do because you need something to cling onto I have only managed to Dtd 3x in this cycle thanks to my sticks not giving me any pre warning Tomorrow my cbfm should change back to high fertility but I'm not sure we will be able to fit another session in as DH is working. Sunday will be DPO1. It's going to drrrraaaagg

Hide ~ yay for the biscuit distraction working! Biscuits for breakfast and bedtime probably wouldn't work for me would it

I know nothing about opks, but good luck frazzled!

Just for you OPK ladies. I did another OPK test this morning and the two lines are not dark anymore. My CBFM now says High Fertility (as it should). Not sure why I tested with the OPK...I wasn't really awake. Anyway, it's gone now.

The egg has flown the nest! fingers crossed!!

I am going to do another OPK this afternoon and see what's going on!

I find the Organix oat bars work very well as a distraction from feeding. That and some cows milk!

Hi there. We've been trying to conceive for the last couple of months. I'm still breastfeeding my son who is 10months old. My period returned at the end of October. It took us 2 years to conceive with him and I had to take clomid. No problems were found when we had tests but got a BFP with first cycle of clomid! I'm just wondering if anyone had a similar experience? I was also wondering if breastfeeding would be effecting my chances and whether I should consider stopping if I'm still not pregnant in the next couple of months?

Trying not to get stressed about the negative pregnancy tests but it's not easy!!

Thanks in advance

Hi Clarabelle ?? I don't have direct experience with this but I do have a friend who took Clomid and then fell pregnant straight away. Did the medical staff not give you any indication of why you were not falling pregnant without Clomid? Have you seen anyone for advice about it? Could you not take Clomid again or is it not that simple? If it was me then I would be using the smiley clear blue sticks to see whether I'm ovulating or not. How many times do you feed? Could you cut down? Sorry lots of questions!

POAS in case. No luck. :(
Fingers crossed however that it was a kickstart. Am thinking of trying OPKs in about two weeks, just in case it was and I can catch the first cycle. DC didn't sleep through either last night. Grr.

Hi peardrop. Thanks for your reply. They tests we had at the time showed no problems had bloods etc and hycosy and they concluded that was unexplained and suggested a trial of clomid. Then when I got pregnant there was no follow up. Haven' seen anyone for advice was thinking about maybe going to see the GP just to have a chat. I actually have some clomid tablets left but wasnt sure if I can still breastfeed and take them. My son feeds about 2-3 times a day and still once some times twice at night. He's fully weaned and weight is fine. Was sleeping through but started to wake to feed about a month ago and I've just gone with it.

Ovulation tests is a good idea, even one month to see if everythings ok.

Hope everyone gets good new soon x

Clara ~ Obviously I am NO expert but IMO I feel that the odd feed here and there really messes up with the cycle. For me it appears that I only ovulate when I'm strict about only feeding my DS twice a day at the same times. If I start giving him an extra feed because he is sick etc then it appears that my cycle changes. Everyone is different though so I can't speak for everyone else!

Ah pear that is very good to know. I didn't think that once you've restarted your periods and presumably ovulation, that upping feeding again could mess it up again!

That's helpful to know peardrop thank you. It's so hard there seems like so many things to think about ! How long have you been breastfeeding for ?

There is a hormone in breastfeeding (can't remember which one) so I guess if you're releasing more of that hormone it will mess with ovulation. Makes sense really but like I say I know everyone's body reacts differently which also makes sense as probably some bodies release more of the hormone then others depending on their situation (how many extra feeds and length of time).

Clara I've been feeding for nearly 20 months. AF returned at 14 months when I dropped down to 2 strict feeds a day, 7am and 7pm. My cycles started long but have now shortened down to 31 days.