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!

Oh gosh girls I'm sorry I've missed so much, I've not been getting the notifications for this thread for some reason! Hope everyone is doing ok, lovely to see a scan pic but less lovely to read that covid has touched some of us.
I'm now in TWW so started my vitamin b as have had a strong OPK (strongest since my chemical) on CD20 so I'm crossing everything it's not another stupid short luteal phase. DTD unexpectedly well-timed (thought had ov'd on CD18 but must have been a slow build up) and have an inexplicable good feeling about this cycle but we shall see....

Morning ladies, ah Sunday and my lie in day. Dd just had a really big morning feed and is now having breakfast with DH - think I might go back to sleep soon.

@Heyha everything crossed for a nice, long luteal phase and that as the timing was perfect a nice positive test at the end of this tww!

I'm in tww now too, DTD every other day after AF then every day for the last 4 days 🙈 maybe I should've given DH this lie in?!
I do seem to be a bit out of sync this month with such an early ov and also I had so much ewcm so early but then not as much on the lead up or ov day? Any ideas? I also usually get quite strong ov pain - like a really deep throbbing- but this month only a little niggle. Hmmm not sure it's all going to fall in to place this month despite the daily dtds!!

Yes @Workingmama1 finally out of isolation to this rubbish weather! I'm so sorry to read you had another bleed, your nerves must be in tatters. But at least they think they know why. Also, that's so sad about your supply- especially when you wanted to savour those last few weeks. ❤️ You've fed for so long and that's amazing... (I keep telling myself this as dd only seems to have a big morning feed these days and at bedtime isn't that bothered last few days.)

How are you doing @Catconfusion ? Are the hormones settling a bit? Hope you're feeling a bit better. X

@Workingmama1 sorry to hear your breastfeeding journey is ending. It sounds like you’ve done amazingly well and pregnant too. I couldn’t have done it. Your little one is very lucky to have had such a dedicated mum. Mine is ending currently too. I didn’t expect to feel upset but I do. I just keep doing the whole one last feed thing when I know he doesn’t massively need it.

Hope you’re doing well now. You must have had quite a scare with the bleeding. Good they know why and I hope it’s settled. My friend had similar issues and it turned out fine. Xx

Hey @glowingtwig sorry for the delay. It’s so difficult with such alarming statistics but fertility is such an individual thing. I have a friend who is going through menopause after multiple ivf failures and another who fell pregnant first time trying and had her son at 44. The thing I’m struggling most with is knowing how hard my two miscarriages got me. Having my son to think about now, I’m hoping if it does happen again I’m ok and can move forwards quickly. I’m driving my husband crazy because he’s so positive and convinced it’ll all be fine. I guess it’s not their bodies and they don’t feel the loss like we do. Getting older definitely adds an extra layer of worry.

I’m just now trying to look up prenatal vitamins so I can take something in preparation so I’ll let you know what I go for. Folic acid and Vitamin D seem the big ones. I’ve heard Co Q10 is good for eggs but don’t know much about it.

I really hope you fall again quickly! Xx

@Heyha fingers crossed for you. Great you have a good feeling and have caught the O. Really hope this is it for you. Xx

As for me, I’m doing ok. Still no AF and due to ds teething have being adding in the odd extra feed. He was 6 months yesterday and is pretty much ok on one feed a day now and even that he’s not too bothered with. Mainly it’s his teeth flaring up that leads to a feed. I’m hoping this is enough for AF. Just found out my sister in law is pregnant and annoyingly it will mean our next baby will be grandchild 13. I mean we need all the luck we can get so hoping one of DHs other siblings has news so we’re 14. Xx

First night without even a comfort suck 😭 felt so weird putting her to bed without it but it went surprisingly well. She asked for it at first but we read stories and sang and she went down without much of a fuss.... I'm just hoping she's not thirsty in the night as she refused the cup of cows milk before bed. I think the time is right (and I seem to have no milk!) but it still feels like the end of an era. We made it to 22 months so proud of that.

So far no more bleeding which is good, I'm hoping that stopping feeding means less pressure for my body so it can focus on growing a baby. 13+5 today so in the 2nd trimester but the bleeds have still got me on edge!

Aww well done @Workingmama1 it’s so hard. She’ll get used to it. Great news about the bleeding stopping. It’s so stressful! Do you any more scans before the 20 week one? Xx

Hey ladies, not sure if anyone can help but just wondering if anyone here tracks ovulation and knows what cd they ovulate? Been trying again for over a year (lo is 2 1/2 and still feeds 2 or 3 times a day) and had a mmc in Feb but nothing since. Wondering if I'm ovulating later than I think-cycles are 29 days ish (28-30) and I have temped and used the clear blue ovulation sticks which seem to suggest ovulation around cd14 but as I don't sleep undisturbed all night not sure how reliable the temping has been and the ovulation sticks (smiley face ones) I know just indicate the hormone surge and don't confirm you will definitely ovulate. Trying to take a chilled approach this month but wondering if it would be worth keeping going for a week after ovulation (poor oh 😂😂) incase I am not ovulating until later in my cycle. I always seem to spot from cd 25/26 and this month I came on properly cd30. Would love any insight xx

Hey @Clairey844 I'm no expert at all (DD was a one shot success on second month of trying but DC2 is proving elusive at the mo! I'm a big fan of wondfo cheapie opk used with the premom app, using that tells me I tend to I've around CD19/20 even when I have 26-28 day cycles so this has made me look into my short luteal phase. I'm on 7dpo so far, first time since July I've lasted more than 5dpo before my period arrived so I'm hoping I've cracked it!
I think the app was free (I use it to take pics of OPKs and it calculates the.colour ration between the test and control lines) and the wondfos are dirt cheap on eBay so I don't feel bad if I use two or three a day around my peak. I deffo recommend that to try to get an insight into your cycle anyway. I bought a thermometer intending to temp but I haven't been arsed enough to get organised...yet!

Argh AF just turned up 8dpo. Although at least that means we won't have two baby birthdays in the same month so maybe no bad things. AND 7 day luteal phase my best yet so will keep on with the vitamin B6 just in case! Onwards!

@Clairey844 so sorry for your loss. I had a mmc at 12 weeks last year before I had my ds. It’s devastating!

I used Ovusense as I have long cycles. It’s really good at confirming when you ovulated and can be used with disrupted sleep. Check out their website. Xx

@Heyha sorry to hear this but good there are silver linings. Great news about the longer luteal phase xx

@clairey844 I used the femometer ovulation sticks ans the app which is free. However, the month I got pregnant I never actually found my peak so not sure how well they really worked for me! I also had a mmc in April and it did send my cycles a bit off, but now 14 weeks pregnant.

No more bleeding which is good, think I'm starting to get a handle on my anxiety too. We are going to book a scan for around 2 weeks (I'll be 16 weeks then), I want to know of the hematoma has gone away or not as that's what's been stressing me out.

Also officially at the end of breastfeeding. Night 5 tonight with no boob, she didn't even ask for it and went down after story and singing with no complaints!

Thank you for all that have commented. If no luck in the next few months I may go back to temping and using ovulation sticks but for now I will just try to BD every 2/3 days and only let oh rest when AF arrives in my bid to be more chilled about it all. We are just over a week into no feeding at night (still to sleep and in the mornings though) so am hopeful that may help the process lol.

Good luck to all trying and currently pregnant, I can only imagine how anxious I will be if it even does happen xx

Hi ladies, been a while so I'm just catching up on here. Sorry to hear about AF @Heyha I'm just at the end of it too so on cycle day 6 now. Looks like fertile week is while we are away at the in-laws 🙈 next week. Really pleased to hear about the longer luteal phase- the vitamins maybe doing their job?

How are you doing @Workingmama1 ? I hope all's well and that you'll feel the baby move soon? I was so much better with anxiety when I could feel her. Not too long til your next scan?

@Clairey844 I've never tempted but sometimes I've been surprised by ovulation sticks, especially after the mc I've had. Maybe try every other day through the month for a few months to cover all the bases? It's exhausting though but then at least you know you'll always have a good chance. It's so hard though... I know I'm going to be really anxious when/if I'm next pregnant. X

Hey everyone, how are you getting on?

It’s 10 days since I bf baby. He had a meltdown yesterday but other than that it’s going ok. I can already feel the hormonal shift in my body. Been feeling very hormonal and irritable. Did anyone else have this? Now focusing on losing some weight before we start ttc after Christmas. My bmi is 30! It’s the biggest I’ve ever been apart from during pregnancy. Having a big baby and him being so demanding has taken its toll a bit on my body. Hoping I can lose 10 pounds before Christmas. Xx

Hey @Catconfusion sorry to hear you had a difficult day the other day... I really do think the hormones are so crazy... my mil was saying that when you stop breastfeeding the awful adrenaline shooting feeling you get when you hear your baby cry gets less and less. Hope you're ok now. Must be such a challenge to lose weight at a time of lockdown, but good to have a reason and a goal to focus on.

I'm 8dpo and have convinced myself I can feel implantation today. Been really emotional too but that's because DD has tonsillitis and I've not had much sleep. Plus she's not wanted to drink my milk, just wants cool water. So really hoping I can keep our snuggly little morning feed going when she starts feeling better. Really hope we can... I'm not ready for our journey to end just yet.

Hope everyone is ok. X

Hey @glowingtwig, thank you for replying. I got AF yesterday so I think I’d felt rough due to the hormones. It happened exactly two weeks after my last feed with DS. I think I’m just someone who remains infertile while breastfeeding I would have loved to continue but we really want to be trying for another baby after Christmas.

The weight loss is hard at the moment. It’s crazy because I’m a size 10/12 but my bmi is 30! I do wonder if some of it was fluid through the feeding and down to hormones. I’ll be interested to see how my weight is after AF goes.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve not been getting much sleep. It has such a big influence of state of mind. I hope DD is recovering and a bit more into feeding. So promising you’re feeling positive about it potentially being your month. I’ve got everything crossed this is it for you! Xx

Hi ladies would you mind if I joined? I am about to start TTC #2 and currently still breastfeeding my 16 month old. Just first and last thing thankfully, so I’m hoping my cycle isn’t impacted too much! My periods returned about 8 months ago and seem pretty textbook, but a bit lighter than I remember. I have done OPK’s this cycle and it seems I am ovulating so that’s a good start! Just waiting for AF then we can get cracking

Hello @RandyGiles06, well done on breastfeeding for so long. Great news your cycles returned and you’re ovulating. Fingers crossed this next cycle is it! Xx

@Catconfusion that is really interesting about the fluid and BMI. I put on loads of weight via fluid in my pregnancy with dd and I was still size 10-12. I'm back pretty much to where I was now but really had to do lots of long walks and cut out some treats. I hope it settles a bit after AF.

Welcome @RandyGiles06 ! 16 months feeding is amazing. Good luck for your first cycle!

In other news... look what I got this morning - I really didn't think I was pregnant in the end because Internet cheapies had been negative.

So I'm happy but also so nervous after the last mc and being 40 in two months but will try my hardest not to obsess (easier said than done... I'm already analysing line strength as 15dpo but this was quite dilute not fmu) xx

Wow congratulations @glowingtwig that looks like a really strong line

Impatiently waiting for AF to come now so we can get started!

That is an interesting point @Catconfusion about fluid, my fingers are still a bit swollen 16 months on, I had just assumed that they were permanently like that now but do you think it could be down to breastfeeding? I have to ram my wedding ring on so often go without now 😂

Oh wow @glowingtwig congratulations, don’t know why but I had a feeling you’d get a positive. Just take each day as it comes and keep busy. This is a very strong line for 15 dpo. Fingers crossed this is it for you. Xx