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.

@golaz yes fine, it was a very quick appointment really. Just in as long as it took for the blood to be taken. I'm in at lunch time tomorrow as well. Really hoping I'll hear the results on Thursday afternoon. Tying not to worry, but it's hard.

@Orangio fingers crossed you'll be doing your 4th ever pregnancy test soon ☺️

@Orangio how exciting! Sounds very promising. @Golaz 8dpo is good, may the fertility gods smile on us this cycle 😎

My week is ok, a bit busy with life, but that's good in a way, keeps me from obsessing. I bought a baby book about nightweaning to read to DS. It's so twee it's almost unbearable, and really underwhelming for the price. DS, as if sensing that nothing good will come from that idea, decided he didn't like the book before I even got a chance to read it to him 😂 We are both recovering from our colds, so hopefully will start tackling night weaning soon.

@Billyv good luck! May the time fly and you get good news.

Haha! The nightweaning book sounds a bit like when you want to take the cat to the vet and the cat spots the travel cage 😂

@billyv fingers crossed for Thursday for you! Stressful time but hopefully just one more day to go before you get some answers.

@Mc3209 hope the night weaning is going ok! Any tips to share for a serial night feeder? 😅

@Orangio still plodding along over here! Think I’m 10/11 DPO and AF is due so just waiting. I took a clearblue at 9DPO and got the worlds worst evap line. Was faint but had colour and appeared in the timeframe but it was the only one that went pos before or since so def an evap. Won’t use that brand again. When do you think you’ll test?

@Golaz i think I tested this month at 6DPO 🤣 8DPO is still super early so fingers crossed. 8 day LP is decent though too, is that longer than you’d normally get?

Thank you everyone!

Spotting overnight and a little this morning 😬 I'm hoping the Dr sends me for a scan now. She thought it was too early, but I must be at least 5 weeks.

@Countingchicks welcome! To echo what @TrudyProud said, I upped my calories (metabolic loading) for a couple months and took multi vitamins and my period came back at about 5-6 months.

@Orangio that's a decent luteal phase! Do you think it's the night weaning that's helped? And yes, I don't have a cat, but dog seems to have a sixth sense also that something is going to happen that he's not going to really like 🤣

@Golaz also good news on luteal phase! Any updates?

@Mc3209 good luck with the night weaning

@Mugascauld ohh that sucks, hope you get better news with another test. And if not, that's a really decent luteal phase

@Billyv so stressful with the spotting. Do you have any pain?

Hello hello. So an update. HCG came back at around 370, can't remember the exact number. That's in range for 4-5 weeks, but not really in range if I'm just about to turn 6 weeks.

Dr thinks the most likely scenario is early miscarriage and given all the factors - the positive LH test on the 19th oct, the "period" at 13dpo, the spotting now, not much line progression, I think she is probably right.

If the HCG goes up I will need a scan - I won't hear until Friday as she's away tomorrow and the results go directly to her.

Feeling ok, I did think the whole thing was weird so I'm not too surprised she's thinking it probably won't work out. As that's what I was thinking too. Definitely much easier than getting a BFP and then bleeding at 6w for example.

@Billyv I'm so sorry to hear this update, it's not the outcome you were hoping for. I'm sure you're relieved to have answers though. I hope you feel ok and at least you have some clarity now.

@Billyv I'm sorry it wasn't better news. You're right that it's 'easier' when a pregnancy looks dodgy from the outset, but it still really really hurts. I hope you are okay ❤️

@Mugascauld well still plenty of time. Lots of people wouldn't get a positive at 10-11 dpo. Will you test tomorrow do you think? I will probably test about 16dpo or so. Pre-preg my LP was 15 days so AF should have showed up by then.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 well I'm not sure if the night weaning helped my LP because I don't really know what it was pre-nightweaning. But it can't have hurt, right? Remind me where you are in your cycle (sorry I've forgotten)!

Thanks @Orangio and @Mugascauld thank you. I'm doing ok really - although I'm still hoping it might somehow work out! Which I guess is natural. Still spotting, but just the tiniest bit when I wipe. I've asked if I can have Friday off as I can't really imagine getting bad news and then being all jolly in the office, especially as it's just me and two older male colleagues in that day.

Keeping my fingers crossed for some BFPs here. Some nice uncomplicated ones 😁

@Billyv ahh I’m so sorry to hear of the spotting and the drs prognosis. The fact that you got pregnant so quick is an amazing sign even if this pregnancy doesn’t end up progressing. I hope Fridays results are uncomplicated and don’t bring too much stress. Good idea to take the day off work. ❤️

@Mugascauld 6dpo 🤣🤣🤣. Ok you are officially worse than me 😅. Without breastfeeding my lp is typically 14 days, but while bf I haven’t had one yet longer than 5 days. (Until now! Assuming I did actually ovulate).

sorry about your evap line 😫. When will you test again?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 no updates. I’m 9dpo, no bleeding yet. Trying to hold off testing again. How are you getting on?

@Orangio I know 😂 spot on re cat analogy!
@Mugascauld my nightweaning plan so far is not going to plan. Plan B is to just go for it and stop feeding between 11pm and 5-6am. I'm planning on wearing a turtle neck to bed (DS ends up in our bed most nights) and just weathering the inevitable screams.
@Billyv I am sorry. At least now there is some clarity on what's going on. Stay strong, lovely.

@Golaz I know, I'm insane. I didn't get a chance to test again, AF arrived yesterday evening 🙃Was expecting it but still pretty disheartening. But on the upside I ovulated on time rather than late as I had been previously, and I gained a day on my LP, it was 10 days this month (10.5 because AF arrived in the evening rather than morning...if I can count that extra half day😂)
Do you think you're gaining days in LP each cycle?

I've promised myself no testing next month before 12DPO...if I get that far. I seem to be gaining a day in my LP each cycle so I think AF will be due at 12DPO.

@Mc3209 Yeah we bedshare too so I feel like it'll be impossible to night wean. Found it easy to stop feeding during the day though. Hopefully the tutleneck does the job for you!

@Mugascauld ahh so sorry about your af 😔😔😔.
Right there with you- mine started this morning ☹️ (10dpo).. We are cycle buddies 😍.
I’m taking the positives like you that at least I might be starting to ovulate more regularly and LP is lengthening. 🤞🏻
time to start tracking opks again soon. At least I can feed my poas obsession 🤣.

Aw @Golaz and @Mugascauld sorry about AF 🙁 But you have an LP long enough to conceive theoretically, so that's a massive plus! Tuck into the wine and chocolate!

@Mc3209 good luck tonight! Hopefully the turtleneck does the job for you. If not you'll have to decamp to the sofa and leave your DP to do it 😂

Hello everyone. I'm at a&e waiting to be seen. I called my surgery in the end (and had a bit of a cry to the receptionist) as I've been having some pain on my left hand side, spotting and a weird... pain in the arse. Like shooting pains in the bum hole. Also my HCG rise was just 30. The Dr spoke to a gynaecologist here at the hospital, who said the safest thing was to come up for an assessment.

Have an odd burning sensation in my back but I'm otherwise ok and glad I'm getting checked out tonight rather than lying at home worrying.

Just been triaged and they are looking for a room for me.

Awh @Billyv you're having such a rough time of it! Glad your doc is taking it seriously. How’re you feeling? I’m sure you just want to be clear of all this.

I’ve heard of people describe that shooting pain in the bum as ‘javelin arse’. I haven’t experienced it but I’m sure it’s not remotely as funny as it sounds, the name does give me a giggle though.

@Mugascauld it's honestly awful! I think the javelin arse has almost been the most distressing thing! Sitting at playgroup trying to pretend it doesn't feel like you've got a massive spike up your arse is f**king stressful. NO ANDREA I DON'T WANT ANY TEA.

I'm just waiting for some more bloods. At the moment they are thinking it's a teeny ectopic. Apparently they can only spot them on a scan once your HCG is over 1000, mine is 390. They are doing another blood test tonight and if it's risen/stayed the same they will get me in again for an ultrasound of my stomach, to check for fluid outside my uterus. The other scenario is standard miscarriage, which a drop in HCG would indicate. Actually, she said they could still offer a scan in that case to check everything is passing out my uterus ok.

They've been absolutely brilliant! Seen very quickly.

Oh that sounds awful @Billyv you are having such a tough time. It must be a relief that they're taking it seriously and checking for ectopic. Far less chance of any issues if they're monitoring it. I hope you're more comfy and you get answers quickly xx

Oh no @Billyv im so sorry, how utterly stressful and horrible for you 😢.
So so glad they are taking you seriously, and getting all the tests done.
Sooo well done for being proactive about this and getting it all checked out , so many ectopics don’t get caught until it’s too late- if it does turn out to be ectopic (hopefully not). You absolutely have done everything right ❤️

@Orangio it's ok. I wasn't getting my hopes up. The pain isn't awful. And much worse finding out at a 12wk scan. Will update with blood test results, it is reassuring though that the blood tests results I have had mean that if it is ectopic it's not growing much.

Hope everyone else is ok. Sorry to hear about periods making an appearance. Keeping my fingers crossed for you Orangio.

@Orangio how many dpo are you now? You must be getting close! 😏

@Golaz oh sorry missed your message. Thank you very much! I keep worrying that I'm making a fuss! And then have to tell myself my concerns are perfectly valid.

Right that's DS resettled. Hopefully I will sleep now too.

Thanks everyone ☺️

@Billyv oh, I am sorry, what a night for you. Sounds like you are in good hands. Sending strength.

@Mugascauld and @Golaz what a pain re AF. Here is to the new cycle, new hope.

I am 5-6 dpo ish I think.. not much to report on my end.

@Billyv oh I'm so sorry hope you are feeling better. What a horrible night. On the scan (if they do one) it's possible they won't see anything under hcg of 1500 even with a transvaginal. However if there is a thick uterine lining (from memory over 12 mm) it indicates it's much more likely to be uterine and not ectopic. They can sometimes see fluid in the tubes also. From when I had a suspected ectopic. They also said to me it's extremely unlikely to rupture unless hcg levels are high. It was the waiting that was horrible, wondering if the pain light get worse.

Hope you're okay x