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

Yes, I guess I feel as if I am doing something at least rather than just waiting and DTD in case my body perks back up. Feel a bit irritated at thought of being in the same boat in a years time tho. I was actually keen on Irish twins, just to get it over and done with and get back to my own life, but now we're already looking at 19 months minimum between two. If lucky of course. Boo.

Pear I think realistically I could cut down to two. Morning feed and a feed when I get in from work in the afternoon. My milk has adjusted easily and DC doesn't seem to miss the night time feeds anymore and is happy with a bottle. So that is good at least. Can't see DC giving up the morning feed (anywhere between 4am and 6am) though.

Aww I love hearing your stories

Umm ignore my previous post...that was for something else

Thanks for all the welcomes guys
Still no AF here, I worked last weekend though and managed to get DD2 to drink milk out of a cup, so have been considering expressing every morning for her 5pm feed to reduce feeds down a bit more and see if that kick starts things. Dunno if I can be bothered though!

Sorry to hear your news Carrotpuff if you have passed the sac at least you're not waiting for the next 2 weeks wand it's pretty much over, but it's not something I would wish upon anyone

Congrats on the BFP newtoitall

Pear that convo is hilarious! My DD1 was watching me pee in a youghurt pot a while ago and I was worried she might say something to DH too! I have also denied compulsive poas in the past

Austral.... 19m is a good age gap I was also desperate for as small a gap as possible between DD1 and DD2 (like would have happily had them under 12m apart) but actually it was much easier with DD1 a bit older and I wasn't really wanting to have no 3 less than 18m after DD2 (not that I was doing anything to prevent it though ) but still want them close in age. I keep meaning to go back through the old old thread and see how many times I was feeding when DD1 was this age! DD2 is still a bit more of a boob monster than DD1 was at this age I reckon. I'm hoping to be down to 3 feeds by about 10m and would probably wean/cut back to just morning feed if no AF by 12m.

How do you ladies stop the random day time comfort and snack feeds! DS is teething and SO cranky and the only thing that helps is some comfort feeding but all I'm thinking is how it's going to ruin my chances of a BFP! And after not feeding at night for ages he is now back on 3 times a night and I don't know how to stop him! Was googling jay gordon night weaning at 3am this morning but I just don't know how I can lose the valuable quick fix tool that is the BF. How do you cope?

Hide ~ I don't know how much help I can be but with my DS I intrigued a beaker of milk at the 11am feed and then 3:30 feed (around 12 months). At night I was struggling to get him to sleep through and in the end we had to do 5 days of CIO training which tackled the night time feeds at the same time (this happened at 10 months). Now he is coming up to 20 mths and still had a beaker of milk at 3:30/4 when he wakes from him nap. I only feed at 7am and 7pm. If he randomly asks for milk I offer him a snack as what he's really saying to me is he's hungry.

Hide...also when my DS is teething I offer cold snacks like slices of mango, cucumber or peppers to munch on. That seems to help take his mind off it for a bit.

hide I think I was lucky in DC getting the no-boob rule at night so quickly. But obviously we are still doing the night time feeds so it is not like dc is sleeping through. However I found that when DP help with the night feeds DC takes the bottle much easier. Worth a try for a couple of nights?

Austra good idea re: getting DH to help out. I have tried offering water but the crying just escalates until I give in!

Pear I hadn't thought of offering cows milk in a beaker! It is so obvious now you have suggested it I feel stupid! I might even warm it slightly for him. Will try this tomorrow! Also good tip on the ice cold fruit. Thank you

Hide ~ I warm it for 40 seconds in the microwave. Luckily if we're out he still accepts it at room temperature

8dpo ~ did a Frer at 4am because it was driving me crazy. Bfn Really have a strong feeling that I'm out this month, again. I know it's really early days but you know when you just have that gut feeling. Sigh. We're off to a 2yr old party today and I have a strong feeling that there will be a BFP announcement so I'm preparing myself with fake smiles and hugs of happiness That makes me sound awful doesn't it lol

Ah pear you aren't out yet 8dpo is still early to be testing! Hope the party is bearable today. We are off to a kids party as well

Pear found out a friend of a friend is expecting her third and is the same age as us! Felt very jealous!

How dare she have a third when we haven't had a second yet

Evening ladies!

Sorry I have been AWOL! Just checking in briefly will read through later. Have been feeling a bit fed up the last few days - nothing happening, very negative OPKs, and have stopped myself having my usual treats of a glass of wine or chocolate (tho last night I had 1.5 glasses of white wine Nd felt hugely guilty just in case am pg somehow. Crazy.

Anyway, this morning got the news a friend is expecting her third. And her second is younger than my DD. I know I shouldn't feel bad about that. It isn't like her havingn another one means I can't but I just feel so frustrated and cross that it isnt happening. And then I beat myself up about having a glass of wine too. We have been TTC while bfeeding (with no cycles) for over a year now and I am a bit fed up of the whole thing!

Sorry for the rant!

Aww Frazzled You're in the right place to moan! I think a few of us are feeling that frustration right now. I totally get how you're feeling!!! 1 glass of wine is fine though, don't beat yourself up about that. It's easy to do though. Today I started worrying that I was too close to certain animals at the farm...questioning whether I should be doing certain things myself. On the drive home I thought if I carry on this way I'll stress myself out and that will be the cause of me not falling pregnant?! The problem is I don't know how to stop stressing. Did a reality check and decided I've only used up 2 cheapie pregnancy tests and one FrER. Could be a lot worse! I'm not going to test again until after AF is due on Wednesday. So, Thursday am.

Thanks Pear!

I totally understand that level of crazy! I keep oscillating from "sod it I will never be bloody pregnant anyway" to "oh my god I could hurt my unborn child". Tonight no wine but a crapload of chocolate covered pretzels from marks!

If by some fluke I actually did ovulate when I had those vaguely darker lines then I would need to POAS next Friday so I might do that but I really don't think I am pregnant!! No CM. Negative OPK. No symptoms other than incredibly moody which could just be hormones shifting.

Just need to be patient. Not my strong suit!

Fingers crossed you are tho. It's still really early for you to be testing. When I had DD I tested the day before AF was due and got a BFN then did it the next day - when AF was due - and lo and behold it was a BFP!

I'm having chocolate for pre-breakfast breakfast. I can recommend it for all us despondent folk out there in ttc bf-ing world.

Pass me the chocolate

I am having sharp pains in my lower right hand side and I can't decide if it's ovulation, trapped wind or my appendix!!

Hide You need to check cm ASAP!

Oh chocolate. Ye miracle worker. Warms you up when it is cold. And when you have not yet fucking ovulated.
Am actually feeling quite down. Did such a massive sudden cull in bfeeding from 24/7 to three feeds only, my boobs have shrunk massively, DC is having loads of formula and solids galore, and nothing is happening!? Last four days I've gone down to two feeds a day (morning and afternoon) and yesterday accidentally only a morning! Nothing, nada, zip, blank. Had one opk line showing last week but not stronger than control line, only the once, and three other really faint lines, but nothing indicative of anything. At all. Boo.

Austra ~ your post made me lol I'm going to whisper this as I'm a bit scared you might come and hunt me down...if you've only just adjusted your feeding plan you might need to wait a little longer to OV Right, now I'm going to run and hide