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!

Pear and espresso sorry to hear that

Sorry to hear that Pear. In a complete contrast to your life, I have only 3 or 4 Mum friends, and I may only see each one once every other month. I used to do lots of Mum/Toddler stuff, but found all the comparisons (unintentionally) got me down. Mainly the whole child settles themselves no probs stuff, and naps for hours. My life is made up of long, drawn out bedtimes, car naps and the occasional sleep through!

Generally, I'm happier when I do lots of stuff just me and daughter instead. Lots of walks, tractor spotting, and our current fave is rutting deer. No one else's schedules to work around, and always something to look at and talk about (rather than having to dredge up chat whilst fiddling with dulo).

That comes across as smug, arrogant etc. Sorry, that's not what I meant. Tired this evening, so poorly authored response.

I'm going to continue to be positive Pear, perhaps implantation bleeding?. I had that first time I got preg, and thought it was a period. No AF for me yet, 36 days now, but looks like on it's way.

Sorry for the BFNs. I was expecting AF on Thursday. Tested on Friday and again this morning but both BFN and no sign of AF. Guess my cycle's aren't as settled as I hoped.

We had some horrible news last week - our beloved DDog has cancer and won't be with us for much longer. A few weeks if we're lucky. So I'm kind of glad of the lack of BFP at the moment as I have other things to think about.

Was hoping there would be some good news. Sorry pear and espresso

LetThere I'm really sorry about your dog. What hard news to hear. Will be thinking of you.

On Mum friends I only have a few. I was also a bit repelled by the constant "Is he sleeping through?" chat at a lot of the groups. I did meet a really nice bunch of ladies through the baby massage course who I had loads in common with. The five of us met up a lot on mat leave and at weekends / evenings when we went back to work. Now two of them are off on their second mat leaves and the other 2 work 4 day weeks so they often meet up on Fridays which I can't do because I work full time so I feel a bit left out. I also have a lot of friends who don't have kids and it can be hard to see them because I'm conscious that having coffee while a toddler runs amok isn't exactly their idea of a great time. It's tough.

Nothing doing here. CD28. Don't know when to test as last cycle was 35 days and one before 31. Will leave it 'til CD31 and if nothing test then I think.

I'm on cd31. I know I'm not pregnant cos we've basically not dtd so just getting impatient now waiting for AF to show up so I know when to actually try next month! Very frustrating, all my apps are saying I need to test but I can 100% guarantee its pointless so just a waiting game now. to all those who need it

Ah Pear I feel like that on the Mum friends front!

NCT didn't work out for us, just weren't my kind of people, though i spent the newborn months dragging myself along to their weekly meet up which was at a v bad time for me and DD, to try and make friends. I did get a nice circle going through a baby massage class, but then we moved. When DD was little and even though i'd been v ill (think a week in hospital when she was 4 months) I spent lots of time and energy dragging myself to classes around here to try and make new Mum friends. I don't have much to show for it.

I think you are right to pull back on that Pear. I'm now thinking these things come naturally and working at it can be too depressing / energy sapping! Where do you live? Not London by any chance?

My AF started yesterday. Not a surprise as I'd been spotting since last sunday (day 21). Also i tested on days 26 and 28, both negative. I've not been a tester but now I'm going for a cheapy test a bit earlier: As the length of my cycle and spotting pattern changes around i've been building my hopes up and then getting v down when AF comes along. This time, having got a negative on day 26 I've been calmer as I knew where i was.

Good things:

• although a full week of spotting before AF, much less quantity, and a stained discharge rather than bleeding. With black knickers didn't need to wear a liner (sorry TMI)
• my first 28 day cycle since DD was born. have had one other of 27 I think, but this does feel like progress for me!
• a have also put on more weight, a good thing for me, I got very underweight feeding DD aged 1-2, I hope this is the sign of spare capacity / abundance / my body recovering to full good health ready to support a health pregnancy.
• also just generally feeling more positive about things. I have been feeling negative and stressed about not being pg for a while, now i feel better, and also see some benefits to feeding less.

Plans for this cycle:

• DTD more on a every other day pattern over a longer period, when we can. I have no idea when or if i ov'ed last cycle. LH and temp patterns don't match.
• Also generally taking it easy, we move house in two weeks time which is likely right in the middle of the fertile time.
• I too would prefer an autumn baby, so won't go back to the gynae unless not pg by then. Am hoping to use the couple of cycles in between to really nurture my health and happiness.

Accupunture.

• yes i have had it. I was having regular (fortnightly) sessions over the summer but parked due to the cost and also as i got v busy was stressful to fit it in. I think it is v good for stress levels etc. Worth looking for someone with fertility expertise, and if you don't feel it is powerful for you, change. I saw someone different when we conceived DD and it just didn't connect for me the way others can.
• also, i saw an amazing acupuncturist years ago, when i had bad irritable bowel syndrome. She gave me some really good advice in passing to stop using tampons. She felt their bleached / ultra absorbent qualities messed too much with vaginal balance. I've not used them since. taking this a step further, I've just ordered some reusable cloth sanitary pads. I've had problems with dryness / itching as the pre period spotting often means i am wearing a liner or pad every day for nearly two weeks.

Hi all, hope everyone is well. Had my appointment today... Think pretty much doing what your gp is doing pear? Blood tests at CD2(-6), CD21 and one extra, and then another scan but with dye in he

Oops, submitted too soon
As I was saying, scan to check no blockages. The consultant isn't convinced of the pcos as my previous blood test was normal hormone levels but obviously scan result says otherwise so wants to check everything again. Also requested we get DHs sperm analysed, so pretty thorough but next appointment will be in 2 months time. More waiting lol. I think we will see what's happening with this cycle as can't start the blood tests until then anyway, then might go private (if dh agrees ) as just think we'd get more help if there are fertility issues if we are paying rather than the nhs. Plus I was mega impressed by all dougals gynae does. I'm currently on CD12, my temps are quite stable and low (rather than erratic) so hoping that this cycle is more normal, we've stared dtd Eod as had a small amount of Ewcm, hoping to ov around cd20.

Lea - good to hear from you. I was thinking of you earlier and wondering how the appointment went. No, not quite the same, I had 3 months of blood tests (21 day) checking my progesterone levels 7 days after suspected ovulation. Before I go into that...you sound very calm! I'm most impressed that you're going to continue to dtd eod this month even though you're having more future tests. It's good that the appointment isn't stooping you...unfortunately I sort of feel like what's the point in my situation. 2 months is a long time Did you DH go with you? Is that long until your next appointment because it's on the NHS?

I got my results back today. Results are similar to last month. Low progesterone levels and no ovulation To me this looks like I have secondary infertility with PCOS. Maybe I always had PCOS and my DS was a lucky result? My GP appointment is in 2 weeks. I'm going to call up tomorrow and see if there any cancellations. It's hard to wait so long. Especially as I feel he has to refer me to a fertility clinic which will be more waiting. I wonder if there is any way GP's can prescribe Chlomid? Can't believe I am in this scenario

Sorry for your disappointing results pear, your 1st blood test showed ov right? I've been wondering the same thing - whether I've always had fertility issues but just got mega lucky with DS. Hopefully you will be able to get an earlier appointment as 2 weeks does seem like a long time to wait to discuss and act on results you have already been given. I think GPs operate very differently depending on where you live. My friend was saying her sister was prescribed metformin by her gp after a scan showed PCOS (she had no AF when her DS was 2, though she'd stopped bfeeding at 6 months). I was kind of hoping I'd just be prescribed something magic today.

I'm just trying to stay positive, I think it's probably easier for me as DS is only 16 months, 10+ more months and I'll be struggling too!!
Did you have a scan yet to check for PCOS?

No scan yet. I guess that will be the next step for me. I know I mustn't worry until they confirm PCOS but it's hard isn't it

And yes my first blood results showed that I had OV'd

So, turns out that I really can't wait. I have made an appointment to see a doctor at 4:10 today. Eek! It's not the kind doctor I saw last time but as he's only part time I would have to wait another 2 weeks and from all the reading up I've done I've started to realise that they're only going to refer me to a clinic anyway. Better to be referred today rather then in 2 weeks time hey?!

Good luck pear hope all goes well at your appointment. I'd have done the same and got the earlier appointment.

I think you're dead right to cut out the waiting peardrop. I'm impatient too. Have you any other symptoms of PCOS?

Nice to hear from you Dougal. The way you're approaching it sounds very holistic and sensible. Moving house is stressful so I think you're wise to try to take it easy in other areas. Did your acupuncturist have any opinion on moon cup etc - out of interest? I used to use one pre-preg - I guess now I'd have to buy the bigger one, but I did find it good.

Nothing here. I have a rotten cold, as does DS, so I can't even symptom spot because all I feel is completely wiped. My gut feeling is bfn this month.

Hi everyone, I've read this thread and been lurking! Hope it's okay to join in.

I'm BF'ing my 20 month old DS and my periods just returned a couple of months ago. I've started temping this cycle to get a better idea as to if I'm ovulating. My chart puts me possibly at 8DPO but my temps are very jagged, co sleeping is not helping this!

We tried for four years before conceiving our DS on our third round of IUI. We are unexplained so theoretically could get lucky but I'm 36 so will probably only try for six months before going back to the fertility clinic, this time self funded.

Pear I hope your GP appointment went well. GPs in our trust can and do prescribe clomid. I'd be interested to know how you got on and what your GP had to say... I have no experience of getting referred when you already have a child. I'm assuming it works in the same way.

Evening, so I saw another doctor. He confirmed my blood results. Nothing new. I told him that I felt I could have PCOS and he agreed that it is possible. He offered booking a scan at the GP but as he said they can't prescribe clomid I didn't see the point and just asked to be referred to the fertility clinic. So he's referring me and now I just need to wait for a letter (could take up to 2 months). DH is away with work but I text him to let him know that I took a little spontaneous trip to the doctors I don't think DH will want to pay to go private until we receive the appointment letter. I think I'm happy to wait 2 months...not any longer. So it's progress. Now it's all about keeping away from the biscuit jar! I'm a size 10-12 so just a little more than before I had DS. I read that if you've got PCOS then cutting down on sugar and eating well can help reduce cysts! I'm also thinking about taking Soy Isoflavones next month. Apparently the natural clomid!

Hi Canisay...welcome

ToElle - the symptoms I have that points towards PCOS: very bad acne around OV time, different length cycles every month and not ovulating regularly.

After reading more about PCOS I've learnt that women with PCOS are more likely to have gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Well that is interesting because that is what I had with DS. It was mild but it was there and I had to regularly test myself. It also says that you can develop diabetes. I'm going to go back to the doctor in November and ask for a Blood test to check the androgen hormone and glucose (sugar) levels in my blood.

The other symptom I have is oily skin which also points to PCOS. I had to switch to a oil free moisturiser and thought it was because I had stopped BF

Ah Pear. Sorry you are having such a hard time. But good you are getting things moving with the fertility clinic.

Would you consider some alternative therapies to support you while you wait?

I hear that acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine can really help with stuff like PCOS.

And the nutritionist i saw was evangelical about reducing / cutting out sugar. I was blaze about it because i'm naturally skinny, when i was BFing, i could shift unlimited cakes, biscuits and chocolate and was still underweight (i know i know) and felt tired and hungry all the time.

Also she helped me to understand how yo-yoing blood sugar from eating refined sugars messes with hormone levels.

When i saw her my standard day was:

• pan aux chocolate for breakfast at work
• twix in the afternoon at work
• chocolate digestives (somwhere between two and six) in the evening

I've ditched all that and now have smoothies (with kale, avocado, another veg, banana, another fruit, coconut milk, coconut oil, hemp, milled seeds, maca, fresh ginger) every day.

My taste buds are re-educated i am now eating pink grapefruits with no sugar and find them sweet. I can't really stomach processed sugar any more.

I feel much better, more energy, less hungry and i have put on a good half a stone in weight.

Maybe be worth looking into some of this as a place to channel your energies while you wait for your appt, and to make sure you are in the best health possible when you get there?

Dougal - your advice is very sensible and exactly my thoughts. I'm thinking I need to exercise and eat well and just really focus on that! Actually, a few months a go I started to change my eating habits (I stopped eating cake at all the play dates) and lost 4lbs. I'm now wondering whether that was why I ovulated 3 cycles a go!!! I remember telling the doctor that I had recently started to eat better so maybe the two things coincided? I then went downhill again and increased evening snacks at home. What's important is that I remember my body can do this...I just need to help it along. Easier said then done when you're craving sweets. Goddamm Halloween and all the amazing sweet offers to lead me to temptation

glad you got things started re fertility at the GPs pear. Im opposite really as I have cysts on my ovaries but none of the other symptoms and my hormones were normal... presumably your hormone levels were also normal from your blood tests? The Gynaecologist I saw said he doesn't deal with infertility per se but would refer me if found any other fertility issue (so that would be more waiting), presumably he would treat the PCOS though, though he wasn't convinced I had it.

HiCanISAY, welcome :)