TTC and still breastfeeding? Thread #4: Pull up a chair for some support from others on the journey!

[Augusthomotherium]

Yes, we know all about how emotional and hard it can be! All the pros and cons, all about missing Aunty Flo's and wtf cycles with no ovulation, all about children being cute and pointy. No matter if you are five months or twenty months down the breastfeeding timeline, if you're ttc again, this is the thread to join! Welcome!

Ah wax tomorrow will be your day Sticks getting darker? Mine is darker today. Wonder if I will get 4 flashing smileys or just the 3 this month.

9?!? Argh!! Well by my ave cycle length, assuming a 14 day LP, I reckon I should ov on Sunday. So maybe another two days of flashing smileys...tbh it wont be so bad on the weekend at least, as we wont be so knackered from work and evening chores.

Fingers crossed you get your fixed smiley tomorrow pear!

(Aside: 'fixed smiley' now makes me smirk because everytime I say to DH 'oh, still no fixed smiley' he says 'I'll give YOU a fixed smiley'. Wahahahahaa)

And they dont seem to be getting darker...always look vaguely the same?!

And sorry about the nightmare mumof1, that's horrible - would freak me out all day.

I had a slightly traumatic DD-milk-binging induced nightmare this week, where I really vividly dreamt I was being held hostage by a cult and they had me hooked up to a machine that was draining all the fluid from my body. Except it was really just DD draining it all. Ughhhh

"I'll give you a fixed smiley" made me lol! Haha. Good luck to all of you with the flashing smileys - hope you get your fixed ones soon!

wax breastfeeding a milk-obsessed toddler is quite a lot like being fixed up to a fluid draining machine at times!

pear you definitely deserve a night off. Will give swimmers a chance to build up their reserves .

I don't think I'm producing much milk anymore. I fed ds during the night and he was getting really cross and it just felt like he wasn't getting much/anything. I wonder whether my supply is slowing down? Really not sure how these things work .

Hello everybody - thanks for the warm welcome!

Very little to report here, except that coming off the pill his REALLY sorted out my libido . DH is very happy (though thinks it's only because I want a baby. Not true).

being a bit thick here - I've not used ovulation tests or anything - what are flashing and fixed smileys? Do they just indicate when you're ovulating?

No temp drop for me today (totally not expected anyway after -ve opk yesterday) so really hoping I get a dark line today when I finally get to poas when I get home from work, followed by a temp drop tomorrow (making everything 1cd later than last month), otherwise I have no idea what's going on???

Gave myself another bd break last night unheard of for us when I'm in my fertile window, we usually dtd eod without fail... I really needed to just sleep, and I'm so glad I did, I'm shattered in work today so no idea how much more tired I'd be if I'd squeezed in dtd too. DH is off work with us tomorrow, so hopefully we can dtd tonight with the lovely thought of a lie in tomorrow to get me through it

Oh Wax, our DH's sound v.similar too - that's sooo my DH's humour Our conversations are often Carry-on film-esque

Sorry to hear you had an awful dream, Mumo, hope you're okay now x

I stopped using digi opks, Cupcakes, as I get so confused by and frustrated with them , I think flashing means you're approaching ov and a fixed smiley means you are or nearing ov?? I just use internet cheapie opks now as I (usually) know where I am with them x

Trin how often are you feeding now? I'm on once a day so really don't think I'm producing much either!

Ava I hope you get a nice rest & lie in tomorrow and hope all the bd-ing pays off

Cupcakes, Ava is right. These ones are the dual hormone ones so more accurate than normal opks & they should give you more days to dtd (although I've not had this every month).

I'm getting pain rather like period pain so I wonder if af is on her merry way

Please could I have some advice? On Sat we're off to a friend's party. Normally I'd have a couple of glasses of wine but I'm not sure about drinking... Do I drink & assume I'm not pg or do I make some excuse as to why I'm not drinking? If so can anyone think of a good excuse? These are good friends & they are bound to be really suspicious if I don't drink! Don't want them to think I am pg because for all I know it might take me another 6 months or longer to conceive! Sorry this is so long & a bit rambly! Any advice very welcome

Hmmm well there's a school of thought that says you're fine to have a drink in the first few weeks anyway as the embryo isnt taking anything from you at all at that stage so it wouldn't be affected. But if it would stress you out, then you could lie and say you're on antibiotics or you're really hungover?

Saying that, I got rumbled the exact same day I got my BFP with DD (4 days before AF due - so v early!). I met a friend, and as soon as I ordered a ginger beer she turned to me and said 'oh, so you're pregnant!' as if it must be the case if I wasnt drinking on a tuesday lunchtime! I stammered something about antibiotics and she gave me this face and said 'yeah, like that would stop you'. So that was that. But maybe your reputation for drinking isn't quite so hardcore!

Mumo, could you have a glass of coke or orange juice and just tell people you're drinking e.g. vodka and coke/orange?

1-2 weeks after we conceived DD, first cycle of ttc, we were going to my cousin's wedding. That morning I took a pg test which was -ve so I assumed I wasn't pg and drank 2 small glasses of Buck's Fizz and then a small white wine for toasting still feel guilty about it now, even though everyone assures me that DD wouldn't have taken anything from me at that point. I have happily been completely tee total since that wedding, so I know I won't have the dilemma/guilt next time tg. If you're anything like me, it'll play on your mind, so I wouldn't risk it hope you have a great time at the party whatever you decide to do x

Hi all, sorry to post so sporadically at the moment, Ive been super busy as was DS birthday party last weekend, his birthday today and my first day back at work tomorrow

Im Still getting positive opks, bfn hpts and FF keeps giving and taking away the O day as my temps are so up and down.... I think its because I often sleep with my mouth open... its currently saying 9dpo but my temp was barely above the cover line... Im not sure I actually did Ov though, I think my stupid ovaries are continually trying but failing to release an egg as had positive opks for over 2 weeks. The pinky cm I had 5 days ago amassed to nothing, was hoping it was the start of AF. Im also wondering if I could have gotten PCOS since giving birth? google tells me that can give very misleading opk results. Anyway, thats enough of my misery (that is so how I feel right now but thats 50% because of going back to work 50% TTC woes)

mumo Id get a drink that comes in one of those little bottles, Tonic water, bitter lemon or Tomato juice.... that way it never fills up the glass so looks like you are drinking a spirit with it.

Hope all waiting for solid smileys get soon :)

Mumof I'm also only feeding once a day now. Good to know it's the same for you. Poor ds not getting any milk though .

Wrt to drinking, it is up to you whether you feel ok to do it. I take the view that until I see a bfp any alcohol I have won't be affecting the baby, so I merrily drink away during the tww. If it's something that you think you will feel guilty about if you later find out you're pregnant then drinking a soft drink and pretending it's got booze in it works, then say you're only having the one because you have to get up very early the next morning due to [insert excuse here].

Still no +opk here - and I've tested twice, just to be sure not sure what's going on with me this month?? Think I'm broken....

We did manage to dtd tonight though, yay, so that's out of the way didn't seem to have as many 'escapees' tonight, so I'm fx that means they are all strong swimmers and no dead 'uns!

Hope you had a great time celebrating DCs birthday, Lea. Sorry, can't recall your stats, us this DC #1 for you? I remember the awful feeling of foreboding as my return to work date neared... It wasn't too bad in the end and I've been back a whole year now but it's flown by, feels just like yesterday. Hope your day goes well, it's hard for the first couple of weeks, but picturing your DCs little face so pleased to see you at the end of the day will get you through and makes it all worth it x

is this DC#1

Thanks all for the replies & wise words It's a small BBQ party so I think it will be more a case of them coming round with wine & filling up glasses. Will see how I feel on Saturday... I think I would feel guilty if I drank though, which is so silly as I'm probably not even pg!

Saturday is 11dpo - is that too early to test & get a proper answer?

Yes Ava, it's DC#1, got a horrible feeling of dread in my stomach when thinking about work. Stupid really as deep down I know it'll be fine and this time next week it'll feel normal again. Fx you get you +ve opk tomorrow!

mumo Definitely more tricky to cover up not drinking at a bbq... Can you be Des Driver then you only need to accept one drink , pour it away when no one's looking then you have your valid excuse for no more drinks.

And if it were me I'd test on Sat so I could have a little drink without feeling guilty but in reality it's probably too early. With my DS I had BFNs up to 12dpo, only very faint at 13dpo.

Could you ask for a white wine spritzer (with very little wine) or 2 and make it/them last the length of the party?

Some tests claim to be able to test at 11dpo but I have no experience of getting a +ve that early

Lea it's walking distance so we won't be driving. Love the idea of having spritzers & making it last! Perfect - thanks Ok I'm not going to test on sat because chances are it will be a bfn & just depress me!

Sorry for hogging the thread... As you were

Happy to help, Mumo

Tmi alert - Think I spoke too soon re not losing any swimmers hopefully the best ones are staying put though