TTC whilst breastfeeding. Tips, advice and support

[Porridgeaddiction]

Hi all,

There doesn't seem to be a thread for TTC whilst breastfeeding, so I thought that I'd start one. All welcome to jump aboard if that's your journey too, or offer tips and insights if you've managed to conceive whilst feeding a young one.

[lilroo87]

Currently breastfeeding my 11 month old and am 11 weeks pregnant.
Tbh, it just happened, was not expecting it as it took us nearly a year to fall pregnant with our DD so we thought we had a while of trying 🤣

[northerngal20]

hey! i'm on this journey -- we're trying for #2, i'm currently on my second cycle while breastfeeding my 13 month old. i should be due this weekend so will see how we got on this month, i feel like i'm not even sure if i ovulated so will just see what happens! How are you doing? Are you finding your cycles are back to normal? really glad someone else is going through this too!

[Porridgeaddiction]

A little background on myself. DD is just over 8 months, my periods haven't yet returned but age is not on my side (I'm 39) so we're keen to start trying again.

We've dropped a feed this week, so I'm bf her all apart from one 120ml/4oz bottle in the evening (she eats little an often, so 120ml is her limit, she often leaves the last 20-30 MLS) I've got a cupboard full of multivitamins, co enzyme Q19 and iron and I've just asked my Dr to do full bloods to check for any deficiencies that may be impeding fertility.

I'm hoping that by dropping a feed and looking after myself nutritionally I can kick start my period again. I've also got the sticks you pee on to tell you if you're ovulating.

Wish me luck! I'll keep you all updated!

[Porridgeaddiction]

@northerngal20 have you done anything differently whilst TTC?

[northerngal20]

eeek good luck! it's tough not knowing when/what's happening fertility wise isn't it! i googled loads about when my period would return and it's so annoying it just sounds like everyone is so different it could be any time! it eventually returned for me just before DS turned one - it was a total surprise. we were down to three feeds a day by then. how often are you checking if you're ovulating? i haven't done that yet but if we aren't successful in a few months i might do the same. do keep us updated and i'll let you know how things go this weekend with potential AF!

[northerngal20]

@Porridgeaddiction haven't done anything different yet - just DTD a lot during the month so fingers crossed! but i've had weird EWCM today (day 25 of cycle) so i'm wondering if i'm ovulating late or having an anovulatory cycle.. i guess i'll just have to wait and see

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

Also wanting to TTC in a month or two. Baby is 5.5 months and my periods haven't come back.

Did see an article here about eating a lot more calories to regain fertility while breastfeeding as normal, so might try to give this a go! I may just be fat and still no cycles however....

www.thealphaparent.com/how-to-get-pregnant-whilst-breastfeeding/

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

Also for those checking you're ovulating, how did you know when to do it without periods starting? Or did you just check randomly?

I've had near constant EWCM in the last month or so

[Porridgeaddiction]

Ooh, thanks for the link, looks like I should get baking! DH never says no to a bit of homemade cake, and if eating many more calories is all in the interest of my fertility, then it's worth a go!

[Porridgeaddiction]

I've got a clear blue ovusense. Just started using it, so I'll let you know how often it requires me to poas

[Orangio]

I'm in this position too.
DS is 9 months, he has 5 breastfeeds still, 1 formula feed (will introduce another soon once he stops spraying the contents of the sippy cup up the walls) and is getting better with solids.
I don't have periods yet though so I think we are on a hiding to nothing 😆
Eating more calories eh? Hmmm! Do they need to be nutritious calories, or will doughnuts cut it?!

[tingalayo]

I'm TTC while BF but she's 3 and a half years old! My cycles have been back to normal for over 2 years so that's different from those of you whose cycles haven't restarted yet. We were down to 2 feeds a day, first thing in the morning and bedtime, and I've started ramping it down by cutting out the morning one (I just stopped offering it and she didn't notice). We're 10 months in now and getting quite frustrated by it. If we do go a year I'll think about stopping BF entirely because I figure that's the first thing the fertility people will tell me to do :'(

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

Looked at the studies and it looks like high fat carby calories, along with nutritionally dense food (root veg stew with rice and noodles, honey and nuts). Frequent snacking, less exercise. So yeah, why not doughnuts! 🤣 I'll give it a go and see if it makes any difference

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

@tingalayo two feeds a day, thats frustrating. Hopefully cutting out the morning feed will do the trick

[northerngal20]

@tingalayo that must be so frustrating.. fingers crossed for you that it will happen soon and you won't have to give up feeding completely!

[Porridgeaddiction]

From my research, supplements thatay help restore fertility are:
Coenzyme Q10
Iron
Vitamin C
Vitamin B complex (including folate)
Zinc
Vitamin E

I take these in the form of a pregnancy vitamin (that supports pre, during and post pregnancy), a coq10 capsule, floradix iron (which also contains b vitamins and a touch of vitamin C) and and also a omega 3 fish oil and a probiotic. Plus my diet is pretty good, lots of fruit, veg and healthy fats

I've read that taking separate capsules for each vitamin works better than taking a multivitamin, but I'm taking enough as it is! I'll be rattling with all those separate supplements!

Make sure that you're taking a good quality vitamin made from wholefoods as synthetic vitamins (usually the cheaper tablets you buy from supermarket shelves) aren't easily absorbed by the body

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

@Porridgeaddiction which one are you taking? I'm currently using up my last trimester Zita West ones, but just messaged them to see if I can start on the conception ones again while feeding. Did them last time and they include all of those, and in absorbable forms I think (methyl folate instead of folic acid etc)

[Porridgeaddiction]

I take cytoplan pregnacare. I know that it's a brand that is good quality. It was recommended by a naturopathic friend of mine who specialises in fertility

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

Thank you!

I just had a reply back from Zita West saying I can take the pre-conception vitamins, the antioxidant booster, the DHA and the probiotics and vitamin D, but not to take ubiquinol while breastfeeding. I did take ubiquinol with my last one to improve egg quality, but I guess I'll do the others and miss out on the ubiquinol this time around.

Thanks for setting up this group. I think that most people I know are trying not to get pregnant so quickly, so it's nice to have this as a support

[Taylor0111]

Hi everyone, I hope it is OK to hop on here as really stressed. 🙈
I have been Breastfeeding since my son was born on 23.06.21. I had my 1st period 15.04.22 which lasted 8 days. Then I didn't get another period until 05.06.22 and lasted 6 days. Been taking OT everyday since my period ended this cycle and I'm really unsure what's going on here. They don't seem to be getting dark at all. 😭
I'm so confused as when we were TTC with my son it was a very clear positive on a 33 day cycle.
Anyone else experienced this? Is it due to breastfeeding still? Does any day look particularly dark and could be a potential peak at all?

Any feedback I would be very grateful. 😊

[Porridgeaddiction]

Breastfeeding can stop ovulation and it is possible to have a period without ovulation actually occurring.

How frequently are you breastfeeding?

[Taylor0111]

He feeds once in the night and like 2-4 times in the day. Sometimes more if overtired and fighting sleep. So not as much as I did when he was under 1.

Period without ovulating? Didn't know that could happen?

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

An annovulatory cycle, when your hormones are a bit out. I had them after a miscarriage, apparently they can be normal after anything that affects your hormones. Such as breastfeeding I guess. Seems such a minefield

[LT2]

Hopping on here too. Baby is 6 months, EBF. I'm not optimistic it will happen soon. We conceived first cycle trying this time but my periods always stop completely with hormonal contraception (implant and mini pill) so I'm guessing I won't get them back until I stop breastfeeding😒

[PinkDucks]

Also hopping on. DD just turned one and my periods returned when she was 9 months. They seem to have returned fairly regular but with a short luteal phase which has got 1 day longer each cycle. I always had a short lp before my daughter and acupuncture finally got it it 12 days and I know breastfeeding can cause a shorter lp so we'll see how it goes over next few cycles. It took us almost 2 years and a MMC to have our daughter so keen to start trying again. I've tried to cut her feeds down to just 2 a day and sometimes 1 overnight if she wakes. Had been going well but I'm struggling to get fluids down her in this weather so have upped the feeds again a bit which feels a bit of a backwards step but hopefully only temporary.
My period is just finishing so we'll be trying again from the start of next week.