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!

Sorry to hear that pear. You have stopped breastfeeding recently so maybe your body is taking its time to reset its fertility.

My baby has been I'll and gas been refusing food and guzzling milk all day.

Thanks ladies. My family did take my mind off things and my mum gave me 2 glasses of wine without knowing how much I needed them I may have blew away 4 tests this morning but I did it because I care so much about succeeding. Next month I'll hold out until 12dpo. I did well this month holding out until 11dpo. My DH is really sad I know in a few days we will be back on the horse but it still hurts that this wasn't my month. It's times like these that my heart goes out to those who haven't been able to have any children and those who try for 1 year plus. I live in hope that July will be my month. That's all you can do, right?!

Aw Pear, that sucks. Like I'm always saying on here, we already have a lot to be thankful for, don't we. Next month marks one year for me since I first posted on this forum. Every month is bringing us closer to our bfp though x

I've only had 2 brown spots today (sorry TMI) so I've been googling all about implantation. Clutching on straws or what I know AF will arrive in full glory tomorrow but I can't let the dream go...yet

So sorry this wasn't your month Pear

I'm sure your dh isn't blaming you but I can't imagine having that kind of pressure. My dh finds the prospect of another mouth to feed rather daunting even though we have a decent income and a spare bedroom. I think it's because dc1 was unplanned when we were young and unprepared. He does want more children though, he just likes to leave the decision to me. Obviously he plays his part and is expecting me to be pg at some point but is in no rush and there is literally no pressure or disappointment from him. He will be delighted when it happens though, he is so smitten with ds2 it's ridiculous!

So I've managed to keep the uti symptoms at bay although I woke up with a killer headache instead No af today though at cd29 which is my average cycle length. My days app has moved af due to cd41 after apparently ovulating on cd26/27 so who knows. I guess I'm officially in my first 2ww! Question: is day 2 of fixed smiley the ov day?

Sorry to hear your lo is poorly Zinn.

Ooh Pear, that's what my implantation bleeds were like at 10dpo two times!

Ha ha Ispy don't encourage me! No DH doesn't blame me...he's just sad that it hasn't happened for us yet with all the effort we've put into it etc and he knows it's eating me up.

And I spy I call day 2 OV day.

Yeah that's what I thought, thank you. Actually I remember when ttc #3 dh got quite anxious after a while convinced he was broken!

Ispy - can I ask how long did it take you to conceive dc2 & 3? Do you think it was bf that delayed things for you?

I conceived dc2 when dc1 was 22mo, 2 months after stopping bf, so only one cycle inbetween. I did however have an implant in, not wanting to rely on bf as contraception (ha, if only I'd realised how effective it is!) which was removed at the same time. Everything seemed to return to normal immediately but I didn't appreciate at the time how lucky that was.

I then had a 7 year gap before #3 so obviously wasn't bf when ttc (bf dd for 18m) It took 5 cycles which felt like forever! I was 7 years older though ???? So this is the first experience for me of ttc while bf. Ds2 is 20mo now so I've not bf this long before either!

How's the bleeding today?

Labour of love (almost!) complete x

Wow Ava that's beautiful!

Thanks Lea x

Ispy - thanks for sharing. I guess I forget that even though I've been desperately trying for 8 cycles the first 5 maybe don't count as my body is still obviously getting over bf?! I just really wish I had known that as I wouldn't have bothered starting until I had stopped bf and then I wouldn't be so desperate crazy now!! I would now be on cycle 4 and not 9 of TTCgrrrrrr!

AF properly arrived at lunchtime and I've been having cramps all day. Hopefully the worst is over with. About to hide in the cinema with a bag of

Ava I can't see your creation on my phone

Bag of sweets

Hope you had a nice evening Pear. If you watched Magic Mike I'm super jealous!

Thank you Ispy no, I watched Ispy as that was the only thing on but it was still funny and I enjoyed my sweets a lot

So, I really understand how you googling girls feel I've been googling "how long does it take to fall pregnant after completely stopping bf?" There's no answer...I wish someone could just say 3, 4, 5, 6 months

You might find that I'm quiet this next week. It's only because I've got nothing to update. Good luck to everyone OV or testing this week!

Well, I'm optimistic that we'll have our 2016 babies now no matter what - I can definitely work to that timescale

I'm thinking it could take another 7 cycles for us, whether I'm still feeding DD or not. I'm going by natural child spacing's max average of 3.5 years (really hope it doesn't take longer than that though ) but I'm still not stressing about it

And it's still lovely not temping every day this cycle

Hmmm after lots of reading up about irregular cycles and hormone balance tonight I am wondering whether I should go and see a acupuncture/herbal fertility advisor? Or should I wait another month...! Maybe I could at least find one in my area!

Ava - glad to hear you're enjoying the relaxed approach!

Ava the playhouse is absolutely stunning! Will you come to my house and decorate it for me please? PLEASE?

pear - so sorry this wasn't your month. It can't hurt to look for an acupuncturist, I guess. Or at least research the subject? It's not something I know anything about I'm afraid.

ispy how is the UTI / headache? for you.

OK...done lots of research. Local acupuncture fertility person to help balance out hormones costs £60 (session 1) and £45 for remaining sessions. I think I'll wait until cycle 12 before going down that road!

I could take Vitex Agnus Cactus. Anyone taken these and did they have any effect for you? I've read a post that it can mess with your cycle at first and then take a couple of cycles to balance out...well I don't know if I want that because I could be close to balancing out just because I've relied on time so far? Like July could be my month but if I start messing with the herbal remedy it could decrease my chances in July if it starts altering things (like makes the first month of taking the capsules really short) . Hmmmm I don't know what to do. What would you do ladies? Carry on trying naturally until I reach the 12 cycle or start taking Agnus cactus now?

Hallo bf-ing buddies! Yes I've namechanged but guess you wil know who I am anyway. :) I wanted to pop in to see how you all are. Have there been any BFPs from the long-timers on here? Any miracle stories? Any near-misses. pear I see you may have had implantation bleeding? Any updates on AF or not?
After yet another rubbish LP cycle (seven months of this shit now) I finally got referred to a fertility clinic. They checked my tubes (clear), checked ovaries (follicled), checked progesterone levels (utterly shite) and checked prolactin levels (normal). That last bit is interesting and relevant to this thread because apparently sometimes even after weaning completely your prolactin can 'get stuck'. So it drops enough for you to stop really producing milk but hangs around in limbo at too high levels to facilitate conception. FWIW those of you have now weaned completely could ask the GP just to do a blood test for prolactin. If your levels are too high they can lower it with meds which might make it work.
I got some femara this cycle to stimulate ovaries so I know I'm growing eggs and they plan to give me an HCG shot soon so that I can ovulate. Then I'm getting another course of progesterone too. The DTD is up to us. Am really hoping that we will hit the jackpot this month. Just that it should happen.
Of course, the previous course of progesterone didn't do anything at all so there is always the chance that after all the effort put into my ovaries the womb is still going to self-destruct at 7dpo. Hah!
I will post again to let you know how it goes. Hopefully the info about prolactin levels can help someone!

That's interesting Auf. When you say shit LP, was it too short?