Hi all, hoping to get some insight / experience from fellow breastfeeding mamas.
My DD is 16 months old and we will shortly start TTCing again. I have PCOS and conceived DD during my first Clomid cycle (although I was actually ovulating, even had a couple of really good/normal cycles, my fertility doctor prescribed a lower dose as he said it would probably still be beneficial). My luteal phase was 11 days before I conceived so always on the shorter side of normal.
I'm still breastfeeding although haven't nursed her at night since she was about 3-4 months old - she just really likes her sleep and has been sleeping through the night for a long time. She nurses about 3-4x a day, we were already at 1-2x but since last week she has been more interested again.
My periods returned about 10 months PP and I started using Ovusense to track temperatures / ovulation. I'm now in my 5th cycle PP and started using Ovusense in my second cycle but it was right before ovulation so I know I ovulated but can't pinpoint 100% when (my temperatures were clear enough to see a shift).
So I do ovulate but my LP have been short. I only have the last two cycles where I can say with certainty when the temperature shift/ovulation happened:
PP Cycle 4: Ovulation on CD29 - 8 day LP
PP Cycle 3: Ovulation on CD41 - 7 day LP
The following are more sketchy:
PP Cycle 2: Not sure exactly, possibly CD49 - 6 day LP or CD45 - 11 day LP
I originally thought it was CD45 with an 11 day LP because I have 11 day LPs but now I think it's more likely that it was CD49 with a 6 day LP based on my other PP cycles.
PP Cycle 1: I have a handful of temperatures I took manually here which in hindsight might suggest CD45 with a 6 day LP
Some positive signs:
My last cycle was the shortest. I'm no stranger to long cycles (thanks PCOS) but of course breastfeeding could also be the culprit. Ovulation on CD29 is pretty good for my standards.
Also my LP seems to be getting longer. Last cycle I found my CM quite clear coming up to ovulation as well.
I also had some random spotting mid-cycle during my first two cycles (one I even mistook for a period but then I had the heaviest period of my life two weeks later) but not for the last two cycles
So we are planning to start TTC in November which will most likely be next cycle unless this one is a long one again (currently CD14).
I've come across some reports from women who have managed to conceive even with a short LP whilst breastfeeding.
I don't want to wean my daughter for TTC before she is two, so not until next summer but hoping to just be able to continue to breastfeed until she self weans.
I also don't like the idea of stopping breastfeeding on the off chance that this is what is causing the issues and not my PCOS (since Clomid can be taken whilst breastfeeding).
I'm hopeful as things do seem to be heading in the right direction (cycles getting shorter, LP getting longer). But I am 36 years old now so don't have ages either. I am hoping I can conceive naturally this time.
I am considering taking vitamin B6 and see if that helps lengthen my LP.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I guess I am just hoping for anyone with a similar experience to share theirs or some tips what I could do to improve our odds of conceiving without stopping breastfeeding.
Thanks in advance. 