TTC & breastfeeding chat

[Heyha]

Hi all
Just started TTC number two while still feeding 13 month old. Couldn't see a recent thread for others in same boat so wondered if anyone else wanted to chat along?
Had my first period pp only about 6 weeks ago then nothing since. Been using OPK just to start tracking again til my normal cycle returns, wasn't expecting anything interesting but had a real clear LH surge a few days ago and had been DTD so who knows, o guess I am in TWW now? Even a second period would be handy at this stage so I can get some more info about where my body is at!

I think I'm 3dpo today but if it works it'd be from a "moonshot" or whatever Bojo called it as only did a well timed deed once this month 😂. Definitely no TTC next month as I don't want both kids to have birthdays close together, I know we can't be too fussy when TTC but I am allowing myself that little thing 😂

Hi ladies! Im 10 weeks this weekend and it feels like time is going sooooo slowly. Not got my scan date yet so waiting for that to have something to count down to.

@Heyha

Still feeling like crap but trying to embrace symptoms as a sign things are going OK as last time they died off prior to my miscarriage.

My daughter is I think showing signs of being ready to wean which makes me sad. We go away tomorrow so keeping it up to get her to sleep when we are away, but once I'm in the 2nd trimester (🤞 I get there!) I think we might wean. She's two in December so I'm aiming to have stopped before before then.

@Heyha @glowingtwig exciting to be in the tww. How are you feeling about testing vs just waiting it out?

Well. Period started at 5dpo today for the third month in a row (with different cycle lengths!). I'm only cd23 so something must be triggering it 🤷‍♀️ I've emailed the GP surgery to see if it's worth a chat or if they'll just say to wean DD completely. Bugger.

Thinking of you @Workingmama1 not long now. Xx

@Heyha sorry to hear that. Are you temping at all? I’ve still not had AF 5 months after DS was born. He’s having 3 solid meals a day, 3 breast feeds and 3 bottles of formula. Not sure what else I can do as I don’t want to give up completely. It does seem to really affect the hormones. Xx

I did mean to start temping this month but never did...maybe now is the time to start! I took 11 months for my AF to come back but DD was still bfing a lot alongside three small meals, she's still not a massive eater even now. Do you breastfeed at night or during the day?

Spoke to GP today, didn't recognise the name so don't think it was one of the womens' health specialist docs which is a shame but at least it was a quick return.

Basically can't do or suggest anything about the ridiculous luteal phase I seem to have now and just keep trying, get back in touch in the new year if need be. On the plus side she didn't seem to think weaning DD would make any difference as my cycles are happening so that was a pleasant surprise.

Now debating whether I'm trying again this month at the risk of having birthdays very close together or having a month off just to see what happens. I suppose I could POAS to see if it's a chemical again

@Heyha I used Ovusense to temp first time around and it was great at confirming if I’d ovulated or not. It’s particularly good with strange cycles as you’ll see if your temp is going up and being sustained. My periods were two months apart and irregular before baby so tracking was key.

It could be low progesterone if your luteal phase is short so it’s really disappointing that the GP won’t help you and has sent you away. I had a weird cycle once where a period came 6 days after ovulation. The GP said it sounded like the egg hadn’t popped through properly. Hopefully it’s just your body getting back to normal. Xx

I breastfeed during the day so first thing, late morning and late afternoon. He did however wake up last night at 2am so I gave him a feed but don’t usually.

Getting through to the end of another week now @Workingmama1 hope you've got a scan date now? Or will do soon? I'd feel sad about weaning too :(

@Heyha that's really frustrating, especially as you maybe didn't get to speak to one of the specialist GPs... I sometimes find I get quite different advice depending who I get.

Well I caved and POAS - bfn and it was one of the cheapo early ones. I'm supposed to be 10 DPO ish so I guess we try again with more gusto next month and I'll start eating better again. Had a few bad days of pizza and chocolate for puddings and things. But felt like I needed it! x

Sorry to hear that @glowingtwig Also sometimes pizza and chocolate is needed. You never know though, worth another poas in a couple of days. Xx

I think we'll be going again as well @glowingtwig so will be tww buds yet again! I've got some B6 to try, I don't like self-medicating but looking at some of the astronomical doses people seem to have taken I don't think 25mg on top of my breakfast cereal and prenatal vitamin is going to do any harm 🤷‍♀️

Hope you're still ticking along @workingmama1

Thanks @Catconfusion definitely was required. And a pie for supper tonight! A day late now (although ov'd late so that's probably why). Maybe I should do another test...

@Heyha yes 2ww buddies! This sounds interesting the B6, what does that do? I'm just on vitamin d and folic acid at the moment... the prenatal vitamins make me gag.

According to lots of late night Mumsnet research while feeding DD, B6 is meant to help with progesterone/luteal phase issues. I'm taking Boots conception and they are ok, they have that slightly cardboard taste that tablets sometimes have and they're quite big but they haven't made me gag-yet. I can hardly look at a box of Pregnacare though

Pregnacare are vile things I think @Heyha , they always get stuck going down. Ah ok, I hope the B6 does the trick and like you say, it's not like you're messing with it too much but might make a bit of a difference what you are taking.

Well another bfn here and also lots of stabbing ovary pain so I'll do an ov test before bed to try and gauge what's going on... I'm guessing it's all resetting after the mc. So annoying.

Well AF got me but hopefully I'll be back on track next cycle. @Heyha tww buddies ❤️

@glowingtwig sorry AF arrived.

@heyha hopefully the b6 will help, can't believe the doctor was so dismissive of your concerns, I thought they would have tried to investigate or suggest something!

I had a bad scare at the weekend, woke up at 4am on Saturday to a feeling of wetness and red blood soaking through to the sheets. It was terrifying. Managed to get a scan at the EPU this morning and thankfully everything is looking OK with no obvious reason for a bleed. I've literally not eaten all weekend as I've been sick with worry, so very glad to see a wriggly baby. Measuring at 11+1 which matches the dates from my last scan. Official dating scan is on Friday.

Oh no @Workingmama1 I’d have been terrified. So relieved you’re ok and baby is wriggling around oblivious. Roll on Friday so you can get some more reassurance all ok.

Still no AF here. Have dropped to two feeds a day: wake up feed in the morning and late afternoon. Did consider stopping altogether but still worry a bit with Covid etc. At least he’d get some antibodies if I got it with the combo feeding. Just want AF back now though. Tummy is bloated and feeling like maybe it’s coming. I’m now 24 weeks post partum. Xx

@Workingmama1 the worst experience in the world, I'm so sorry you had such an awful shock but so glad all is looking ok and your little baby is fine and wriggly. So good you don't have much time to go before your next scan, that sick, agitated feeling is so awful.

Thanks @Catconfusion ❤️ also, in other news I tested positive for covid at the weekend- I only got tested because dd had a cough (her test came back negative). So really grateful that I'm still feeding her and feels like medicine each time- hoping there's lots of antibodies going in there. Flipping school and their crap no-effort cleaning!

Oh no @glowingtwig I’m so sorry to hear this. So bizarre hers was negative, yours positive. We’ve actually been isolating as our 5 month old developed a cough. Didn’t get tests ourselves but his was negative. Makes me wonder now if we did have it. How are you feeling? Such a shame you don’t have confidence in the cleaning at school. Xx

How rubbish @glowingtwig! Have you got to quarantine for a other week still?

The whole covid situation is making me wonder if I should keep feeding for longer. I was planning to maybe try weaning in a month, she's 2 in December and that was the end point I was working towards.

@Catconfusion my periods didn't return until 13 months! But I was still feeding or expressing four times a day until dd was 1 (and more like 6-7 times at 6 months). I think 6-12 months for AF to come back is quite normal if you are breastfeeding, but if you're only feeding twice a day hopefully they will be back sooner rather than later!

Had my 12 week scan today and all is looking good! Measured bang on 12 weeks. Think I might actually be starting to believe there might be a baby at the end of it! After my mmc and then a chemical earlier this year I've been really guarded about being too positive or getting too attached. Still need to wait for screening results (or lack of as they only get in touch if you are high risk) but the NT was 1.1mm so hoping it will come back low risk.

Hey @Workingmama1 massive congratulations. I’d have thought with such a small NT you’ll be fine. I think I read when I was 12 weeks with DS that most serious abnormalities will show on the scan alone. Obviously the bloods will confirm and some do still find an issuer but I’m sure your chances are great. Will you have another scan before the anomaly one?

I had a mmc and then straight after an early loss at 5 weeks last year. It’s so devastating. I’m so sorry you went through that. Such great news you’re having your rainbow baby.

I’m now only feeding in the morning so I’m hoping for AF soon. I’m 41 so want to ttc as soon as we can. My cycles are also long and I’ve been told to have 2 AFs before trying as I had a c section. Just to make sure all is ok. My periods were every two months roughly before DS so am worried it’ll be a drawn out process.

How are you doing @glowingtwig xx

Hi ladies!

Ohhh @Workingmama1 look at that beautiful scan picture! Great news that all the dates are as expected and a small NT... it's so hard after previous losses but so much more likely now to be ok. I had NIPT with my DD and like @Catconfusion says, the lady who scanned me then said that you can usually see any serious issues at the 12w scan.

@Catconfusion I'm down to only one decent feed now first thing, then she has little sips through the day but more for comfort really now I think. In the evening she's only looking for her bottle. Really hope your periods will come back soon so you can start ttc... how old is your little one now?

I'm just coming up to the FW now and am going to try having sex on exactly the same cycle days as the last time. I swing between thinking it'll all be ok because I got pregnant so quickly and worrying that the eggs are low quality. It's really hard!

Oh meant to add... another week of isolation here! And it is going so slowly!

Hey @glowingtwig it sounds like you’re feeding a similar amount to me. I’m finding it a bit tough emotionally at the moment. Ds gets desperate sometimes for a feed, even though he’s having formula and three meals a day. As you say, I know it’s comfort as he’s teething but it’s really hard saying no. Sometimes as you say he has a little suckle. I just want to get my body back now. Do you feel hormonal at the moment? I’ve been feeling a bit unmotivated and irritable for a while now and I can’t help but think feeding just a bit is throwing my hormones further out of balance. Ds is 6 months next week.

It’s so tough worrying about egg quality. You probably said but how old are you? I’m 41 but I fell pregnant very easily with the two I lost and my son. I can imagine it’s a good sign you fell easily too. If the eggs were that bad we wouldn’t fall pregnant so easily. Are you taking any supplements for egg quality? Good idea to try on the same cycle days. It helps so much to be able to plan it. It’s so stressful if not. My ovulation is really unpredictable. My son was conceived on day 33 so I’m going my AF will come back more regular.

I hope you’re on the mend and can get back to normal soon! Xx

I think so @Catconfusion my dd is nearly 1 so is becoming more interested in other things now, though she still loves a big morning feed and like I say, a little bit here and there in the day. I'm not ready to give up that first feed yet... though I might feel different if I do fall pregnant again.

I'm 40 in a few months and I think it's everything out there that we read about declining quality and scary statistics that makes me anxious. Though my DH says we are pretty healthy, eat well and lots of fruit and veg and those stats are based on a lot less healthy people... oh I don't know. I had it in my head I simply HAD to be pregnant again by 40 and I was, I suppose. Just know I'll find it tough if it's another 6 months - that's how long it took to fall with dd after an early Mc that was conceived on the second month of trying. Even though I know 6 months isn't even that long.

I don't take any supplements apart from vit D and folic acid... do you? What's supposed to be good for egg quality?

Anyway... static smiley here on cd 11 which is very very early for me, I'm usually day 14/15 for ovulation... but since we are isolating and dd has been napping really well, we've DTD loads the last few days

How's everyone doing? x

I think my breastfeeding journey may be about to end 😪. Only feed once a day to sleep at night, last night after five minutes she came off the boob and sucked her thumb until she went to sleep. When I went to see if there was milk there nothing came out so think my supply might be drying up. I'm 13 weeks tomorrow so wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. Not sure if it's pregnancy related or as I had another bleed on Tuesday (scan this time showed a hematoma was the likely cause) the stress of that plus morning sickness means I've not been eating and drinking well the last few days... I feel quite sad about it, was aiming for a few more weeks before we stopped.

@glowingtwig are you getting on woth dtd with a static smiley? Nearly at the end of your self isolation now!