TTC and still breastfeeding? Thread # 5 - Positive Vibes!

[peardrop2]

Peardrop - age 33, TTC cycle #9, DS is 26 months (stopped bf soon to be 4 months ago). Af returned when DS 14months, currently on CD14 and have had 4 flashing smileys. Praying for a static smiley tomorrow! Dangling legs in air!

Soooo hungry with all this food talk!

Yes to salted caramel!! Going go buy some tomorrow. Yum yum oooo you might peak tomorrow. Exciting

DH has just surprised me by coming back from work unexpected. He's not exactly home yet but he will be home soon which means I can sleep better knowing he's around. Also...here's the plus side...he's leaving for work at 9:30am so guess who gets to have a shower with the door locked?!?!?! Yipppeeee! Salted Caramel and a private shower...tomorrow is looking better already

Mini - aww fx this is our month hey! Are you definite about sticking to 2? I've always wanted 3 but I can see the plus side of being content with 2. I would never admit that to DH though as I'm soooo getting my 3 when my body decides to play along I'm intrigued why everyone has gone colouring mad. Surely you just feel like you're doing what your toddler should be doing but better?

Pear - I don't think it's PCOS. I gather it can happen I breastfeeding women, as bf hormones suppress the cycle hormones, so they are not strong enough at the end of the cycle for a decent length or strength luetual phase. Progesterone levels are lower than they need to be I gather. Eg I have the clear blue flashing kit too, but in general I don't get any flashing smileys, just one stead one at the LH peak. The only cycle that was different was when I gave soya isoflavenones a whirl (got 8 flashing smiles then). I still had spotting before AF though.

I do have some improvements, a lengthening cycle (they were 23/24 days when I started charting in jan) now they are around 27 which is normal for me.

I know some of this is BF, we went away in March and did was ill and v unsettled by being somewhere different. She fed like a monster, it was like having a newborn again. That week was AF / start of a cycle week but that cycle was v short.

The only additional factor for me is that I has this when we conceived DD too, after 20 years of normal healthy cycles, and one accidental unplanned (if east to conceive) pregnancy. Then 3 months on crease the and I had short cycles and 8 days of horrible thick brown discharge before my AF.

The gynaecologist sorted that out for me (treating for low progesteron) last time. This time the spotting is a better consistency, but I still wonder whether iit is a hangover from that pill, and not just BF.

Seeing the gynaecologist on Tuesday. I'm considering telling her I've stoppe BF to get access to the good drugs asap!

3 months on the mini pill crease tote that should be. Hated it. If I had more time, I'd honestly look into taking action against the manufacturer. We are spun so much bullshit about messing with our hormones it makes me angry.

CrickeY! Mini pill CERAZETTE auto correct v annoying.

Dougal I can understand where you're coming from. My gp told me not to come off the pill until I was ready to conceive as it can happen very quickly. What BS! It took me 4/5 to conceive DS and I never even saw 1 AF in that time so I obviously caught the first egg. I felt really pissed off at the time that I hadn't been warned what effect the pill can have on your body. That's why I stopped bf in March because I realised I was probably going to go through the same thing this time except that bf has replaced the pill. Good idea to tell your doctor that you've stopped bf (except if the treatment would effect dc1 through the milk?!), maybe you could find out after and then make the decision whether to take it rather then let the GP decide!

You can always ask Wendy

Right, I really am going to bed now

And AF is here. Gutted.

I have asked Wendy about progesterone already she says it is ok. Though right now I'm wondering about cancelling the gynaecologist and just leaving it all for a while.

I really didn't enjoy having a summer baby last time, it hot ugh it would be great but it was sweltering with no respite in a small flat in central London. The original idea was get pregnant at the start of this year for an autumn /winter baby.

With our holidays etc I doubt the timing for treatment with the gynaecologist will work out this cycle.

And I'm so conflicted about feeding I want to carry on until DD is ready to stop. maybe I should just commit to that and DD for a while, take a break from the charting et c(takes a lot of effort I find) and kick it all off again once an August baby has been avoided.

Honestly I feel so sorry for myself, I am having a weep while DD watches Peppa Pig.

Dougal - sorry I meant you could ask Wendy about the drugs your fertility expert prescribes on Tuesday to find out if they were bf safe! I'm sorry AF has arrived but it sounds like the spotting is shortening? Or have I got that wrong I know how you feel RE summer baby. I would have liked an autumn baby too but it wasn't meant to be. The bright side about having another summer baby is it's easier to get out and about and we will have to do that with Dc1! Plus we may have a crap summer next year?! Let's face it...this summer has no way been as hot as 2013! Anyway you still have a few months left before you hit a August baby! Chin up

lol I can't believe I just wrote "chin up"! Ignore me...crack open the chocolate, ice cream and wine. It's the weekend I've brought my chocolate

So sorry to hear that Dougal

I've been there with the crying while DDs occupied doing something else or while I'm locked in a toilet cubicle at work I think it's a really good idea to focus on the amazing DD you already have and carry on feeding for as long as you and DD are both happy. I'm was such an advocate of charting but it might not be all it's cracked up to be. I'm crossing everything that the same thing happens for you that happened for us when the timing is right for you x

Okay, I'm going to reluctantly leave this thread now and move on. I just know that after 20 months of trying and countless bfn's that this ttc while breastfeeding malarkey sucks. Bye all, hope to see you elsewhere soon xxx

Dougal - Sorry, I have to completely disagree with Ava. Obviously at the end of the day it's your choice to take a break from TTC but I hope you don't regret it later on. I would have loved to continue bf past the 22 months point but I felt and knew it is more important to give my DS a sibling so I stopped to get my hormones back on track and give TTC my best shot. I'm not saying you should stop BF but I would encourage you to think twice about taking a break as people like Ava have already proved BF and BFps do happen! I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you and your family...just don't rush into it. My main concern is I'm not getting any younger! No matter how hard TTC is I know I can't afford to take a break now !

The first 3/4 days of AF are always the worst Be kind to yourself and take time to think it over x

Oh and bye bye Ava...wishing you a very healthy pregnancy Glad to read you now feel confident to move on. I guess you must finally be feeling more pregnant

And that's the dilemma right there! It does t help that we have so much going on (on have since DD was born, it feels like).

We are desperate for a holiday but don't go for another three weeks. We're preparing to renovate our place and I underestimate how much work that would take to even before the builders get going.

I suppose on the plus side, the building will now happen in the autumn and at least we'll be able to get that out of the way without racing my due date.

But the idea of keeping this up through king out while we renovate... I just don't know if I've got it in me

Morning! Feeling much better today. Mainly because yesterday I stopped thinking that every activity I do has to be one that I can enjoy without a baby in tow! I discovered that over thinking that for months on end can really put pressure on yourself and it certainly got me down in the end! It's great advice at the start of your TTC journey but after a while...Anyway, yesterday I just enjoyed being outside and didn't do too much stuff just because my son wanted to. I managed to get him to garden with me for a bit which was nice DPO 5 now!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend?

Afternoon lovelies!

Just started a week off from work, so relieved! Lazy Saturday to start which is so nice!

Pear I'm definitely over thinking every single thing atm. I have had some cramps today so I'm now wondering if it means anything. Probably not! Still makes you wonder though!
We haven't made any decisions about how many, we actually had a chat about it the other evening again and hubs thinks 3. I just think if it is a struggle to ttc again would we go through that again? It's hard to know. Plus I want to be able to do some holidays etc while they're growing up. That said I could happily have 3!

Dougal sorry af arrived sweets. I always find the first few days utterly rubbish so be kind to yourself.
It sounds like you have loads going on which will help distract you. We often thought about having a break when we were ttc ds as after a year it just felt awful sometimes but now I'm glad we did and we persevered with the tests etc. It's tricky where bf is involved but in sure you'd be able to get bf friendly treatment should you need it. I've often wondered if I should just be concentrating on ds as maybe we won't be lucky again but I think you know if you want more and it's a space you'd like to fill iyswim.

7dpo today, feeling like I just want to know now! Ff says testing day is August 5th but I have a high intensity exercise class on Monday so I'm wondering whether I should test Monday? Although that'd be 9dpo so probably too early!

(*I probably won't need to test as I bey spotting will start for af as I've probably just jinxed myself! )

Mini - I think 10dpo is probably the earliest you can test without risking a bfn will you do the class? I'm still hoping to hold out until 12dpo. 13 would be great!

Yeh I know it's not reliable before. If I get to 10dpo with no spotting I'll have my hopes up! I think I'm out anyway as I'm getting the same 7dpo pms symptoms as last cycle, boo!

I having such strange dreams this week! Trying desperately hard not to think of them as a "symptom"

Pear me toooooo!

I'm annoying myself today. Tmi but my nipples are really sore when mini is feeding and I can't help wondering. I also know I had this last cycle though. I swear I'm starting to drive myself a little bit crazy

Thanks all. I cried all over DH on Friday evening and now feel much better. We had a lovely family day out yesterday too.

DD and I went to the park this morning and I saw loads of double buggies. Good things about a slightly larger gap no 37: no need for a double buggy!

My period is a bit weird though, on Friday I could feel my cervix opening, which is v rare, it's happened one other time, last November, so both since I've had a child. Also without wanting to be TMI, a some different consistencies. I think I probably did conceive this cycle and it just didn't stick for whatever reason.

So, looking at the positives, a longer cycle, earlier, stronger ovulation, possible conception. Just need a good healthy embryo, good implantation and a nice strong luetual phase to support the early days now.

I will keep the gynaecologist appointment, I think. May as well hear what she has to say.

Plus, I think I might have found somewhere affordable for us to stay during our renovation. The idea of a private rental, the cost etc was freaking me out. We would have had to minimise the time and either lived I a building site for weeks, or moved about a lot.

Finger crossed those on 2ww have success

Glad you're feeling better Dougal.
Funnily enough hubs and I were debating yesterday at what point you wouldn't bother with a double buggy! I use our pushchair nearly every day as mini refuses to go in the sling anymore and we have quite a walk into the wee town where we love, he can only walk about half way.
Glad you've got some positives from this cycle and definitely keep that appointment! I hope the she can do something to help

I have been ss all day and failed as I decided to do an opk at 6. Not a clue what I was thinking I just had an urge to poas!

Evening! I think the double buggy debate probably has a lot to do with the child. Friends with a 3 year gap mostly go for a buggy board.

How lovely was the weather today!! It's been so chilly recently, especially in the evenings, so it's been lovely to have a bit of sun!

I've had some twinges that are getting my hopes up which is really annoying! Tomorrow is my bloody test. I am dreading it

Aww mini It's such a long wait isn't it!