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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

TTC whilst breastfeeding. Tips, advice and support

744 replies

Porridgeaddiction · 11/07/2022 16:55

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.

OP posts:
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26
Orangio · 19/07/2022 13:18

What a broad range of ages and stages everyone's at! I'm guessing it might take quite a few cycles/months for everyone to conceive, so I'm in this for the long haul 😆 Really looking forward to hearing good news from you all.

Wemetatascoutcamp · 19/07/2022 14:50

Thought i’d jump on board as TTC baby number 5(🫣) while bfing our 13mnth old. Previously conceived my 2nd baby whilst still bfing but that was 16 years ago! Period only restarted in February so not been trying long however 4th was conceived almost immediately so suppose I was hoping for the same this time! Good luck ladies.

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 20/07/2022 08:43

@Orangio I feel like I am in it for the long haul also 🤣

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 20/07/2022 15:37

The battery ran out in my opk so I can't keep track anymore, but I have noticed a slight change in my cervical mucus today. I'm not sure if it's just me getting myself excited over nothing, but I'm taking it as a positive step.

DD is seeming to be eating a little more, too and increasing times between feeds slightly. It was every 2 hours before, but now it's more like 2 1/2 to 3

For the previous poster who said about eating more to kick start ovulation... I think I took that advice as an excuse for treating myself and I've literally been going out every day for a decaf coffee and a slice of cake, or tucking into a family sized bar of chocolate (or both! 🙈) To make me feel healthier I've also been keeping a bowl of nuts and dried fruit on the kitchen countertop to snack on, but all of this ovulation induction has seen the scale creep up by nearly 2 kg!!!

OP posts:
Orangio · 20/07/2022 19:42

Baby number 5, @Wemetatascoutcamp ? You're a braver woman than me!

@Porridgeaddiction oh dear! Seems it's a fine line between inducing ovulation and inducing podgery 😆 I don't think it's a line I can successfully tread, so don't think I'll try!

Pitstop1986 · 20/07/2022 22:53

@Orangio that's the problem with me, I am very all or nothing. I either eat really well or I stuff my face. There's no in-between!

Wemetatascoutcamp · 21/07/2022 06:05

@Orangio well the oldest 3 are teenagers (17, 15 and 12) from a previous relationship so apart from the teenage drama’s and hormones aren’t too much trouble. I remarried in 2020 and hubby didn’t have any kids of his own so here we go again….. My older kids are very keen for no5 as they think DS2 will be lonely when they all leave home 🤣🤣.
I’ve been eating like a pig again the last few weeks but seem to be BF more again despite wanting to wean- DS2 is a booby monster 😂😂.

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 22/07/2022 07:38

@Porridgeaddiction oh no! But TBF coffee and cake out sounds amazing. I darent get on the scales, have been eating a lot of creamy cheese and treats.

Has anyone had really weird CM while breastfeeding? I'm currently getting so much ewcm (much more than I've ever had before). But seems to be a lot more than 3-4 days a month. My baby is only almost 6 months so it could just be normal, I don't know

Orangio · 22/07/2022 09:48

Could be wrong but isn't ewcm just what your body makes when oestrogen is high? So definitely a good sign fertility wise!

DS had got down to one night feed and three day feeds, but he munched all night last night 😑Do you think he's just about to have a growth spurt? I hope he's not taking a stand against the bf reduction!!

OceanbreezeSun · 22/07/2022 10:15

My periods didn’t come back until 16 months after giving birth to dd, I was still bf a lot at that stage inc through the night. We always knew we wanted a 2nd dc, but we didn’t want them too close together so it wasn’t an issue that my periods hadn’t returned.

We started ttc no.2 on the 2nd cycle after my periods came back, & got pregnant on the 6th cycle ( my periods were very irregular after returning, I don’t think I ovulated every cycle either)

Unfortunately we had a mmc at nearly 12 weeks in Jan.

I’m still bf now ( dd is nearly 3) but it’s only before bedtime now and maybe before a nap. I am currently nearly 12 weeks pregnant again 💚

Pitstop1986 · 22/07/2022 10:18

Oh no! @Orangio I hope that it is just a growth spurt and he settles down in a few days. We had Covid about 4 weeks ago, DD was sleepy for a day and I felt like death for about 48 hours, but she went from sleeping through the night to waking every 2 hours for a feed. Luckily that has passed and she's now back to sleeping through, with the occasional 2/3 am feed.

I have only noticed the odd day of extra mucus, so can't really comment on that @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 but it's sounding positive! I hope it's your body getting back to peak fertility! 🙂

I'm hoping all this cake eating works! I have a wedding in a few weeks and none of my dresses will fit at this rate! If it doesn't work, I've had a delicious journey. Weight can be lost after baby number 2, I'll worry about it then!

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 22/07/2022 11:49

@Orangio oh hopefully just because it's hot, and the extra feeding settles down a bit 🤞 I don't know, I assumed the EWCM means I'm not ovulating because it is consistently here here 2-3 weeks at a time 🤷‍♀️

@OceanbreezeSun so sorry about the miscarriage but so happy you're pregnant again. Hope you're feeling well.
Hmm so periods didn't come back until 16 months.

@Pitstop1986 I think I'm taking the same approach as you! Delicious pastries and cheeses, extra snacks, if I'm fatter at the end I'll sort it out later 🤣

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 22/07/2022 11:50

I'm also thinking if things aren't getting better in a couple months, I might try to wean him off the feeding. Maybe just nights and naps, and formula for nursery

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 22/07/2022 11:50

When he starts nursery

OceanbreezeSun · 23/07/2022 09:55

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 Thank you for your words❤️

I have to say it was nice not having periods for 16 months!
My dd really was a prolific breastfeeder though, I was still feeding her at least 3/4 times during the night and many times in the day so I think that had something to do with it!

Oh I know what you mean about eating all the treats! I put on quite abit of weight as I was hungry ALL the time!

PinkDucks · 25/07/2022 19:11

Ahh help! I’m freaking out a bit. Last month was our first month trying for no.2. I did a pregnancy test 10dpo it was negative and (typically) my period started that day. It was quite light and lasted 9 days which is odd but I am still breastfeeding so just put it down to that. I started opk’s today on CD12 and got a blaring positive opk this morning. I thought this was odd because I don’t normally ovulate until day 18ish and can normally tell when it’s about to happen so I was very surprised to see the strongest opk I’ve ever had. Did another opk later on this morning and again blazing positive. Just got home and went to the loo and I’m bleeding quite heavily 😩 at that point I started to think this is odd. Did a pregnancy test and guess what - two very pink lines! Now I have no idea what’s happening and the heavy bleeding is obviously not a good sign?! I’m thinking maybe an early loss? I'm worried about ectopic 😬

Orangio · 25/07/2022 20:35

@PinkDucks oh no, I'm so sorry you're bleeding 🙁 it's always so scary. It may or may not be anything I guess. Will you get it checked out, just in case it is ectopic?

PinkDucks · 25/07/2022 21:00

Yes I'm going to ring hospital in the morning. I was under the consultant in my last pregnancy because I have a clotting disorder and have had a previous MMC so hoping they will see me again (they were really good in my last pregnancy). I'm not hopeful at all that this is a viable pregnancy but just hoping it's not ectopic

Orangio · 25/07/2022 21:45

Good to find out what's going on, whatever the outcome. From your timeline I'm guessing you're 5-6 weeks preg? If so at least they'll be able to find the baby on a scan. I hope all is well xx

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 25/07/2022 22:44

@PinkDucks so sorry to hear this. Your head must be spinning wondering what's going on. I've got my fingers crossed for you that all is well with the pregnancy and the bleeding isn't anything too serious. I bled with my DD at around 7/8 weeks pregnant and it really worried me, but turned out to be nothing and I went on to have a very healthy pregnancy. Let us know how you get on x

OP posts:
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 27/07/2022 10:38

@PinkDucks how are you?

PinkDucks · 27/07/2022 11:04

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm ok thank you. Epu can't see me until Sunday. It's frustrating as I just want to know what is happening. The bleeding has pretty much stopped but it was quite heavy so I'm not feeling hopeful. Pregnancy tests not getting any fainter yet. I feel in a real limbo as if I am pregnant I should be on blood thinners by now but I've been advised to wait until Sunday before I start taking anything. So now I have the worry of if this is a viable pregnancy hopefully it will still be come Sunday Sad

It's a really strange feeling as I just wanted this time around to be more straightforward and to feel excited and happy from the point of getting a positive pregnancy test. Instead I feel confused and frustrated and the positive pregnancy test was such a complete unexpected shock (unlike my previous pregnancy when I stared at the test willing those pink lines to appear)

Sorry I feel like I'm derailing this thread a bit already!

How's everyone else getting on?

Orangio · 27/07/2022 12:53

You are definitely not derailing! Support is what we're here for. Pregnancy is so tough.
How come they can't see you? Are you not far along enough? Sunday is a long way away, so hard to wait not knowing 😔

PinkDucks · 27/07/2022 15:40

@Orangio just too busy I think. When they rang me back with the date they were very apologetic and said they wished it was sooner and know how frustrating it is etc 🤷🏼‍♀️. I know they do like to wait until after 6 weeks too so maybe they are stalling a bit? Not sure, they saw me in my last pregnancy the day I was 6 weeks so I could start clexane injections. I will be 6 weeks tomorrow with this pregnancy if my dates are right based on my last proper period. But with that pregnancy I was already advised to take aspirin from a positive test so felt a bit more reassured.

Pregnancy is such a worrying time! I loved my last pregnancy eventually when I felt movements and knew all was good after the 20 week scan. Hopefully I'll feel the same this time if this pregnancy does work out (not sure with a toddler in tow though 😂)

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/07/2022 18:25

@PinkDucks ohh being in limbo and waiting is horrible. You're absolutely not derailing the thread, as Orangio says, it's for support for all of us.
If a private scan is an option, I had one early in my last pregnancy to check if it was viable, and it was £70 and they were fab. Saw me same day as I was bleeding, and I was in and out in 20 mins (unlike EPU after my MC when I was there for four hours....). Anyway it was a harmless haematoma, and they showed me the small pocket of bleeding on the scan.
Hoping it's all good news for you on Sunday