TTC while Breastfeeding (or recently weaned!!) regular cycles and baby dust this way!

[expatvet]

Hi guys... here we are, shiny new thread for all those TTC while breast-feeding or recently weaned (for pumpkin and I!!)

come on over!

Thanks Pumpkin. Very unlikely someone will be in exactly same position! Lots of baby dust for you all X

McK it's not exactly the same but I've started night weaning ds (23m)and I thought it would be horrendous but when I say it's all gone, he's been completely fine about it! That's just going to bed, haven't broached overnight feeds yet. I've started refusing more often during the day as well which again, he's suddenly completely fine with. I don't think I want to wean him just yet but I've suddenly realised it might be a lot easier than I previously thought. I think a lot of the time he asks out of habit or boredom or wants a cuddle.
Would cutting down feeds help? It might be easier than you think. But, I've got no idea if it would help your fertility or not

Can I ask if anyone has considered that their breastfeeding may be impeding in falling pregnant so have purposefully weaned for this reason?

I think if I don't conceive by the end of the year I'm going to go to my GP and get my hormones checked to see if my progesterone level is too low to support a pregnsncy which apparently breast feeding can cause.

I don't want to wean, and I will be really sad to do it but if it's the only way that I'm going to get pregnant again then I guess I have no choice

Writer I posted similar few days ago. My wee one is three so I know some would think there's no dilemma for me personally & I should wean. I'm bit older though & if it won't make any difference to my body 'working properly' to get pregnant again I don't want to deny him the opportunity to self wean. It's a difficult decision x

I'm lying in bed now feeding my toddler because he's not well and woke up upset and crying, calling out for "mommy milk" and I love that I can still give him such comfort. I don't even know how I would stop even if I chose to really.

My cycles are really regular, I ovulate on the same cycle day each month, my luteal phases remain the same etc so I don't understand why it isn't happening.

Prior to breast feeding I've been pregnant twice and caught on the first cycle of trying and now that I'm breastfeeding I've had one miscarriage followed by 6 months or BFNs.

Writer I'm sure it'll happen soon. When I eventually started ovulating last time round it took us 6 months, and that was with well timed dtd etc. etc.

Is anyone using agnus castus? I used it whilst ttc DD and I think it helped regulate my cycles and bring on ovulation, but it says on the bottle not to take whilst breastfeeding, so???

Hiiii!

Ttc #2 for two years. Ds is nearly three and still bfing quite a bit.

Had a miscarriage in Feb.

Need some fairy dust my way!!!

Oh and I'm 40 soon.

Wow pumpkin. Just seen your post. Huge congratulations!! Wondering if I need to go out and buy another test as no sign of AF yet, but also no clear pregnancy symptoms so I'd be very surprised!

writer. I did wean as still hadn't had a period and even the limited feeding I was doing was seemingly stopping it so I think it can make a Huge difference. However while DD is fine I am still sad about it . Hoping for a pregnancy soon to make it worth it.

Wishing you lots of luck bummy mummy

abraham have you tested again?

boatrace - my periods first returned when DS was 4 months old but for 8 months they were a bit hit and miss. When DS was 1 year old I had a Mirena inserted and I bled on and off continuously for about 6 months and then it completely stopped altogether.

I had my Mirena out in January and was pregnant within 3 weeks but I had an early miscarriage and I haven't fallen pregnant again since. My cycles are really regular though, pretty much exactly as they were before I had DS, so I know my hormones must be ok to some degree.

I only feed DS an average of 10 times a week so it's hardly excessive - sometimes he goes 48 hours without any feeds - but I just can't stop thinking that it's the breast feeding that is stopping me getting pregnant.

I'm considering going to the GP to get my progesterone levels checked.

May I join in please, with the disclaimer that i tend to suck at long threads because I forget that I'm on them, come back and have no clue what's going on, but I'll try.

I have a 7mo DS. We've decided to kind of start trying quite quickly (or just be really lax about birth control) as it took us 2.5 years and eventually IVF to conceive DS. I'm trying to wean him (into solids and formula, with varying degrees of success) right now. My periods haven't returned at all, but I am kind of enjoying that. I'm trying to be all chill about this as conceiving DS ended up being so stressful and I had to get obsessional, but by personality I'm not the most relaxed individual. I do sometimes suspect that I'm pregnant as I'm exhausted and moody, but then that could also come from not sleeping properly for a year

Congrats pumpkin.

I got af back at 3 months and have been ovulating since then.

I've been told by doctors I need to stop breastfeeding to get pregnant but my cycles are regular and I'm ovulating so not sure why. They're so vague about it so I don't think they know either.

They did tell me I probably miscarried because I was breastfeeding. Thanks for that.

Can the GP check prolactin levels? I thought that was the hormone BF creates that interferes with fertility?

I had full hormone levels checked 2 years ago but maybe should again. It costs about £900 though so need to make sure I'm asking for everything I need to at the same time.

Thanks for the heads up on the prolactin. I don't think they checked that last time.

I thought it was progesterone that affected fertility?

I was told that for a pregnancy to occur, and be maintained (I.e not miscarry) then there needs to be a high level of progesterone in the body but unfortunately breast feeding suppresses the level of progesterone.

That was my understanding anyway? I may have to Google it now.....

I have not heard that writer but have heard that BF can shorten your luteal phase maybe that is linked to low progesterone? I know some women with multiple mcs might take progesterone pessaries once a pregnancy is confirmed.

I don't believe there is proper evidence that breastfeeding is linked to miscarriage though.
www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbjulaug00p116.html

kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-preg/bfpregnancy_safety/

Your prolactin levels are probably fine if you're ovulating any way!

Ah well. I was all ready to test yesterday evening (day 33), but of course, before testing I immediately realised it was a no: AF is here. Oh well. Onwards and upwards. This is only my first cycle .

Sorry abraham best of luck for your next cycle.

Thanks lullaby. It was first time luck next time, so it's a bit much to expect us to be first time lucky this time again!

Can I join? Ttc for about a year, 25mo DS feeding bedtime and morning plus for nap when not at nursery. Cycles back and pretty regular 28/29 days for a year now (straight after coming off mini pill). 2 years unexplained IF before conceiving naturally. Just been told by doctor that I need to stop bf but he's really not ready and I'd prefer to carry on. Will get blood tests done and see what's happening though the doctor says that even if the results suggest I'm ovulating they'll probably still advise me to stop. Time isn't on my side as I'm 40 so feeling a bit torn about what to do.

Jess you're pretty much me then.

Sorry AF turned up Abraham fingers crossed for next month !
Hi to all the newbies wishing you all baby dust

Sadly no dodgy batch of ICs for me. AF turned up on cd 42.

I'm going on to clomid now. It's apparently fine with breastfeeding but can lessen supply. I'd rather not stop yet so need to weigh up pros and cons.

Although ds had nursed for about 5 hours today. At 3 years I'm getting a bit over it lol!