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!

Hi thatsnot.

I guess you can test soon April? Good luck!

So I tried the clear blue ov sticks starting on day 9. Day 9 was low fertility, day 10 was flashing smiley (high fertility) and this morning day 11 said peak which seems way too early given my cycle has been 31 days?

Decided we better not argue with the sticks and since DH is out tonight managed to get a quick one in this morning by distracting DS with an ipad - mother of the year eh! I'm still skeptical though that I'm ov'ing so will try to DTD over the next couple of days.

If you ovulated early in your cycle would that give more chance of getting to the egg? Or does it not work as conveniently as that?

Welcome Thats, hope that your period returns quickly.

ToElle, was your cycle 31 days before pregnancy? The only reason I can think of that you would ovulate earlier is if it was still lengthened because of feeding and still settling back to normal, but maybe you are right and there will be another surge of LH, sorry no expert!

Now 7dpo and no AF though I have felt faint twinges today that suggest she may be on her way. Would be really glad if I could get to 8/9dpo this cycle but looking back my LP may have been more like 5 days last cycle so at last at least it almost a week so far. Oh and now have tender side boobs so maybe was just too early in the cycle before or maybe because AF is about to show..?

Excited for you Lea and Pear, sounds like this cycle is going well for you both!

April - hmmm don't speak too quickly. I should have seen a flashing smiley this morning but no. However, I have slightly messed up my sticks by getting confused with what holder to use...(I seem to have collected too many holders over the months) so I can't really tell if the results are accurate. Managed to dtd last night anyway so it's not like I'm not covered if I do ovulate over the weekend. I'll keep going EOD now. I hold little hope though as nothing is different from last month so far...in fact last month I was getting flashing smileys by now so that's a bit worrying but like I said I have to take the results with a pinch of salt. All I know is that I definitely haven't OV'd yet and I'll probably be booking another blood test on Monday ????

Elle, that's incredible that you haven't had to wait very long to get your peak. I am envious! Let's just hope it means that you're super fertile this month!! The average women is meant to OV on cd14 so your timings sound normal.

Oh and April...FX that she stays away!! Would be great to have a bank holiday bfp on here ??

I guess a long luteal period is better for implantation ( I think) but I'm surprised because my cycle was 31 days before pregnancy and I previously ov'd on day 15 so this seems early. I'm a bit suspicious of those sticks. Sounds like you're finding them hit and miss too peardrop.

Fingers crossed April.

Fx April.

When did you all start using ovulation tests? As soon as your periods returned? (Sorry if I'm asking too many questions )

That's - 10 months a go ????

So, I've been shopping for a bank holiday picnic today. It's OK to eat Brie and Pate when before you OV right?! I thought I would have one last feast (just in case). I'm still off alcohol though just in case it delays OV!! Boo

Pear, I'm not familiar with the digital fertility tests (just had to look up what a flashing smiley meant) but if you spotted ewcm sounds like you are gearing up to ovulate despite what the test says? Did you say your last blood tests confirmed ovulation too? It sounds like you still have a good chance though I understand the cautiousness...

Thats, I think I started taking some ov tests before my first period when I could feel my hormones cycling but was not quite ovulating and felt like I permanently had the worst pmt!

April, yes I agree, think I am gearing up to OV. It will be interesting to see what the sticks say tomorrow. Yes my bloods last month confirmed ovulation. I believe the problem has been with prolactin levels which has been caused by breastfeeding for 22 months. The doctor won't test me for that though ????

Hmmmm I'm not feeling so chilled out anymore. Rather concerned that none of my sticks are picking up a surge on CD21 . A little concerned that I may not even OV this month

Sorry no surge yet Pear, have yoiu been using ICs too? Do they have a 2nd line at all?

Im pretty sure I haven't Ov'd yet either... no positive OPKs, though my temp is up this morning, hoping its still up tomorrow...

When will you test April? Ive got my fingers crossed for you, this thread has been very lucky so far lots of BFPs, hope we'll all be getting ours soon too!

Did you solve the mystery of whether you have Ov'd Elle?

Lea and Pear, do you think it is possible you missed the surge? I know I didn't get a positive ovulation test when ttc with DS (was using super drug tests at the time I can't remember what they were like though).

Pear I didn't realise prolactin could remain raised after you have stopped breastfeeding. Annoying that they won't test for it. May ask I, do you still produce milk or think it is just affecting your cycle now?

I don't know when I'd test, at the moment just relieved every hour that AF stays away as it gives me hope that my cycles are improving. It's terrible it's so hard not to think maybe it could be this cycle even though I don't think I have a good chance. Last night I had weird cramps that weren't like AF, hard to describe but they triggered flashbacks to being in labour (though 1000X milder). Also have a weird tight feeling in my lower abdomen. It is all probably just normal symptoms when progesterone is a little higher and I have forgotten what it is like... haven't managed to take a waking bbt for weeks but did some resting temps and they were still high so fx AF stays away another day..

Yes, possible I've missed Ov on opks, Ive worked funny hours so not testing with opk at consistent time, If my temp stays elevated tomorrow, I think ff will show Ov as yesterday which was CD20, that would have been standard for me pre DS, I really am keeping my fingers crossed.

Your symptoms sound promising April, I'd find it hard to not be thinking they were pregnancy related... perhaps they are? How many DPO are you? Do you have any tests ready?

Lea, great that you will have the temp rise to confirm ovulation and sounds like you covered all bases regardless of ov day!

I'm still only 8dpo (9 tomorrow) so to early to test I think. The pain I felt was 7dpo so could have been implantation Have fallen back into madly googling symptoms but I guess there is a part of me that likes getting my hopes up. I have a few ic hpt, but don't know if they are reliable enough to even bother with. Does anyone have any experience using them?

April, my ic hpts showed the faintest of faintest barely there not even pink second line on 12dpo and even then it was only after the whole 8 minutes. I counted it as a -ive result. 13dpo it was a definite but very faint line after 8 minutes and the clearblue digi was bfp. However the ic opks were +ive on 12dpo and 13dpo so probably a better indicator. Ava also had a strong opk before her bfp. Good Luck!

Thanks ispy, think I've got a bit longer to wait then!

Is anyone else in the tww??

DS, who is basically still fed on demand, has been feeding seemingly every hour for the last couple of days so I am surprised that hasn't triggered a drop in progesterone and AF (if that's how it works)... to be honest thinking of pregnancy potentially drying up my milk supply and DS weaning makes me quite sad and okay with it not working out this cycle.

How old is your DS April? I find the idea of weaning really horrible, my compromise has been attempting to drop night feeds as I read that night feeds are the ones that affect your fertility. Easy to say that when he's not really waking at night atm though!

Thats, he is 20 months and doesn't usually feed so much but think he is teething (again!). He has always fed a lot through the night, only recently sometimes going longer than 2 hours. I always thought I would try night weaning at 18 months but I just don't have the energy to try anything else when it is so easy to feed him back to sleep . It is great that your DS has night weaned on his own, bodes well for your period returning quickly . I'm just hope that the idea of weaning is worse than the reality (at least from DS's perspective!).

The best thing about bfeeding is being able to get them back to sleep by getting a boob out, don't blame you at all! I had a proud moment today, I asked if he wanted milkies (I don't know quite how we came to call it that) and he got into feeding position. Love how much they understand at this age. Sorry a bit off topic there

Do whatever works for you both. I've had to enlist the help of DH who is now thankfully good at settling DS most of the time but ultimately the reason I've continued to bfeed is to provide that comfort as and when it's needed. had a glass of wine so possibly rambling

Thats, it is lovely when they start to communicate more. My DS started saying 'thank you' after nursing a few months ago, sometimes even in his sleep . He calls milk 'baba', not sure where that came from either!

Impeccable manners! Really hope this is your month

Hi all, this looks like a lovely thread, wd love to join. I'm 42 and have dd who is 4 and Ds 14 months. Want to ttc no3 and did get AF back 3 months ago. But cycles way off regular.. First one was 8 weeks, and second one is over 4 weeks.. AF not yet here. I previously had v clear 29/30 day cycle

Really don't want to cut back on bf but maybe I'll have to as time not in my side ;-)

Do you smart ladies know of anything you can do to regularise your cycle aside from cutting back on bf?

Hope my story gives you spring chickens hope. Felt like I waited forever for Ds at 40/41 but then he came along!

Morning Clara! Can you take Agnus Cactus whilst breastfeeding? I think it's worth looking into!

Well I'm totally baffled now It is CD22 for me (I OVd this day in July) and I have no sign of ovulating anytime soon from the sticks. In fact today the ic barely shows a second line!! It's not possible that I've missed the surge this month because I've been testing so much! I think I'm not going to ovulate Perhaps stopping Agnus Cactus because I ran out of pills was a really dumb idea How do I know when to have a blood test now? I guess maybe I book it for the following Monday and just assume that I was meant to OV this weekend like last time?! What a waste of sticks this month