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

Thanks Pear really really really hope we all get one this month! I don't feel I will partly cos it's the first month after AF returned so even tho I have been obsessing about TTC for 13 months it kind of feels like cycle 1. And could we be that lucky?!

Mary I know, I know you are right! I should just wait until AF time on Saturday. 12 DPO will be Thursday. Shall we both pledge not to POAS until then? Prob still too early but you never know!

And Pear if by rotten luck it isn't your month we will be here for you to rant and wail and gnash your teeth to! It's really bloody hard!

One more thing. I have booked in a couple of girls nights out for the week after AF is due. One of them for cocktails and sushi. I want to have a silver lining if when the witch appears!

Frazzled if you and Mary get your BFP then I'll be alone sobbing in the corner You'll be the typical "got my BFP bye bye now" lol

Frazzled - it's a good idea that you've booked fun things next week because it is a killer when AF arrives. How will you get out of sushi? unexplained food poisoning makes you request a last minute change in restaurant because you just can't face sushi?!

I have a confession ladies.

In a moment of bloomin' stupid stupidity weakness I poas this afternoon. Bfn. Of course it was -I'm only 9dpo ffs (sorry about the language).

In my defence, my last cycle was only 26 days so expected AF is only 5 days away. Also, as I'm not temping, just doing the odd ic opk here and there, I wondered whether I was maybe further along in my cycle .

I was already feeling a bit sad and emotional (a sign that AF is imminent, surely). I guess I thought I would surprise myself. Hmmm. [muppet emoticon]

Why can't I practice what I preach hey frazzled?! I have now promised myself that I will NOT poas again until Friday. Honest. . .

Pear, we wouldn't leave you my sweet.

Tbh I'm feeling quite doubtful my chances. Maybe it's just 'time of the month' hormones, I don't know. My stats hardly look good on paper: 37, still bf, not dtd very often, constantly tired due to balancing looking after a toddler and pt work.

Sorry for the selfish wallowing-in-self-pity rant. I've already waited a year for dh to be on board with ttc #2 so this feels like so much more than cycle 2.

Any chance we could punish all these DH's for making us all wait a year? Soooo annoying and very unhelpful. I bet my DH will be gutted if we get a bfn and I'll desperately want to say something!! Mary I bet you're also surrounded by friends who have DH's who say they want the child first? Grrrr

Spot on pear. And they're all about 29 as well. Grrrrr! Have you had to nag/convince/wait for your dh too then?

Seriously though, if it doesn't happen for us, I will struggle not to feel a bit resentful towards dh. There will always be that little voice in my ear whispering "what if?"

Yep, I've been nagging DH for a year now whilst listening to friends say "my DH wanted this second child more than I did" joy!! Next time I'm just going trick him! I'm sure I said that last time!

pear

Evening ladies!

Mary!! how could you POAS I would never do that besides I did one yesterday at only 8DPO Let's be strong now until Thursday! I don't know what is more depressing: the blank, white if-you-squint-maybe-there-could-be-something-no-its-in-your-head-you-crazy-woman of a BFN or the is-that-AF-or-could-it-just-maybe-possibly-be-implantation-bleeding-oh-no-its-AF-I-seem-to-be-barren approach of just waiting for AF to turn up. Either way its sad and incredibly frustrating. A month is a long time.

That said - I watched a programme the other day about an Arctic ground squirrel that ovulates once a year and is fertile for only 12 hours. of course I bet the little blighters all get a BFP immediately but it made me think that perhaps monthly isn't so bad after all!

Pear I am completely confident that come next Thursday I will be shovelling sushi into my mouth with abandon. Pausing only to slosh more champagne and sauvignon blanc down my throat. If not I will worry about what to say then. Knowing me, I will probably just blurt out something.

I also feel resentful of people who managed to start sooner - though in our case it was mainly me refusing to stop / cut down breastfeeding DD that stood in our way. It still seems unfair!

Pear - sounds like a plan!

PS just watched My Five Wives on TLC (anyone else)? One of the wives has just got a BFP for her SIXTH child and her husband's 25th child!

frazzled I now have an image in my head of the arctic squirrel holding a pee stick and celebrating its bfp! You've made me chuckle tonight, which is no mean feat!

Mary

I know - we think WE have it bad!

Bloody hallelujah, I've finished! Only took me 3 nights and 4 naps to paint and varnish 4 chairs and a table! I can officially get pregnant now

Now feeling slightly paranoid that I've caused risk to any possible bean even though I used chalk paint which is water based and non fumed varnish and I wore a mask. My throat is now itchy though

3 days until expected AF arrives eek!!!!

I wouldn't worry too much Pear sounds like the paint is OK. And at least it's done now!! Hurrah.

Well I'm out this month! 10DPO and my temp took a massive nosedive this morning which means AF will be here today or tomorrow. Apart from the obvious no baby grief I am gutted that this is a bit short for my LP...

I am already down to one teeny tiny feed for DD. Don't want to have to stop completely... Oh crap

pear next month will be our month! You'll see!

Frazzled - is that normal then for temp to drop before AF? You sure that doesn't happen at implantation time? I don't know the answer but I'm trying to clutch straws for you Will you stop feeding of just wait? I can't believe I might be weaning bf my baby this weekend. That will be very sad

Noooo frazzled! :(
Oh you guys. We are such suckers with the whole bf-ing thing. Last night I midnight-fed DC because, well, no reason whatsoever. I just couldn't see the point of not. I'm so worried DC will suddenly turn around and go "not interested anymore" and that would break my heart.
Test away Mary! We're right behind you. :)
pear we need photos of the masterpiece!
I'm too lazy to try to page back on my phone. It take so long to load! Hope I haven't missed anything important?
Cd14 but according to ff dpo4.

Btw pear. Big step. Xf for you!

Hi Pear, yes that's what happens as AF approaches.

If you want the technical stuff, in a nutshell: The Corpus Luteum (a little cyst which forms in the ovary which released an egg) produces progesterone which ensures your body nourishes the endometrial lining of the womb ready for a baby and also keeps your body temp high. As you get close to AF it starts to die off which drops your temp and also signals to your body to start to shed the lining of the womb (i.e. have AF). If there is an implanted embryo it sends out a hormone signal (HCG which you measure in HPTs) which tells the corpus luteum to stay alive for several months into the pregnancy and progesterone production steps up a gear which is why you get morning sickness. A good indicator of pregnancy, whether or not you're getting BFPs is 18 consecutive high temperatures after ovulation.

I just dipped right back down almost to my cover line. It isn't looking good.

That said, if we want to clutch at straws there is a phenomenon where you can get a dip as the embryo implants but it isn't really scientifically proven and, from what I can gather, is pretty rare. It is far, far more likely to be AF.

Sorry for rather dull post.

I may be joining you on the weaning thing this weekend!

I'm going to really miss it.

And I have this horrible fear that I won't get pregnant and this will be my last ever breastfeed.

As I type, I am feeling just like I do right before AF comes. Gutted.

Thanks Aurora. Just trying to focus on the champagne and sushi. It is literally all that's getting me through.

At least I am not an Arctic ground squirrel.