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.

I can't believe they're allowed to sell dodgy tests! That's awful 😠 I don't think you're definitely out though, as aren't you only about 11dpo? The digi might not be sensitive enough for that. But it does sound more likely to be the first test that was dodgy if they are well known for being rubbish. I hope not though!

@Billyv if you can get even a rough idea of ovulation from temping, what about using natural planning and just avoid fertile week? Hope your belly button gets better soon!

Re Christmas... I live very far away from shops so have to do it online. This year with postal strikes etc it seems sensible to get it done early! I'm not that organised normally 😆

I think 9dpo, my luteal phase isn't that good 🤣

How's it going @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ?

@Orangio I think I may be possible ovulating now - huge amounts of ewcm (tmi). Thinking maybe baby being very poorly and feeding tonnes could have stopped me actually ovulating when I thought I did. I'm a few days late now, so would be ovulating a couple weeks late (or trying to)

How are you?

Oh that's interesting! At least late ovulation would explain the missing period nicely. Hope you can find the time (and energy) to take advantage of your second fertile week 😂

Poor DH was sick yesterday (probably covid again) and didn't look very enthusiastic to DTD, but since it is possibly ovulation day today he did manfully step up to the plate. So courageous of him 😆
I'm good anyway, busy with trying to fit in seeing friends before Christmas. It always gets impossible over the actual festive period because there's so many family visiting etc. I used to manage, but not any more with naps and early bedtimes!

How is everyone else doing? How's your belly button @Billyv ? Did you ovulate before your DP got back @Golaz , or did you hold on?

Hi @Orangio aw sorry to hear your DP is unwell, hope it’s not Covid. Glad he managed to power through though 😂💪🏻, my view is if it doesn’t feel like work you are not trying hard enough 🤣.
So my status is that my app thinks I O’d on 2nd. If that’s actually true there’s a chance could have caught from DTD sesh just before DP went away 😝 but tbh based on recent experience I don’t think I did O and no sign in sight 🙄. I got a few solid smileys on digis but no clear positive on Premom strips, and when I do O I usually get dark positives for at least 24 hours. So I guess I’m back to know idea how long this “cycle” will be and if and when I will O. I’m a bit disappointed as I had hoped that with returning to work and achieving a 10 day LP, things might be starting to regularise. But hey. Sorry long moan!

If it doesn't feel like work you are not trying hard enough 🤣 I will tell DH that if he is still sick tomorrow 🤣
That sounds really tricky to work out. Is it just the opks you are using? CM/temping? If just opks it does seem to be really hard to figure it out while BF. Are you feeding a few times a day?

@Orangio and @Golaz 😅😅😅 gosh it's got down to the point where it's work! So true, would much rather half an hour to read my book or the news these days. Gosh my poor partner.

It's rubbish, seems our cycles are a bit off, and can't guarantee we ovulated at all

Hey lovelies, sorry I dropped off the earth. Got a convincing BFP on FRER at 12ish dpo, now I am 5 weeks and a bit. Going ok here, have my early scan on Saturday, so bricking it a little and trying not to think about things too much until then.
Holymoley, this pregnancy I am a lot more symptomatic than with DS. The exhaustion, nausea, and sore nipples.. I really hope DS self weans soon, as BFing is really not pleasant right now.

@Billyv hope you are recovering well. I would probably go for pill if you are putting TTCing on pause for 6 months. Less headache that way.

Sending baby dust and cycle fairies your way!

Congratulations @Mc3209 hope your pregnancy goes well! Looks like I might finally be trying to ovulate I’ve had some positive ovulation sticks yesterday and this morning. No DTD though because DS was up pretty much every hour from when we put him down. So I am out before I’m even in but oh well. Will be interesting to see if I actually get a period in 2 weeks or not. Oh the 8 month regression 🫠

@Mc3209 lovely to hear from you! So glad everything is going well so far. I hear girls cause worse symptoms, so maybe you're brewing a girl!

@justwantobeamum hopefully if you DTD today you might just catch it .. fingers crossed your DS let's you 🤣

Hi all do we think it's inevitable that I am going to miscarry? Cycles never longer than 28 days normally 21-28. Currently CD39! I ovulated around CD17 and we haven't dtd since CD 16 so can't really be late ovulation. I tested when I was 5 days late for AF and a faint line. I have tested 3 times since then and still a very faint line i.e. a squinter. I have attached a photo of yesterdays. I did have an afternoon of feeling nauseated and sore boobs but now nothing. This can't be good can it.

Hello @TulipVictory really sorry to say I don't think this looks good either. If the test line doesn't change, can you ask your Dr for some blood tests? That's what I did and they were very happy to help. If you keep getting positive tests definitely worth getting checked out, but it probably is a chemical? I know it's really crappy to be waiting and waiting for an answer. So sorry not to be able to say I think it might be ok, but best to be realistic.

Just popped on and saw Tulip's message... Have been meaning to update though so will come back later 🙂

Thanks for getting back to me @Billyv I headed t

Sorry posted too soon, I headed to the shops to get the ones with the weeks just so I could be certain but they had none. Done another cheapie and still a faint line. I hate this limbo, I know in my head this pregnancy is likely not viable but it's just that little bit of hope that's getting to me. I'd rather if I was going to miscarry that it'd just happen 😓

@TulipVictory arch sorry you are in this stressful position. After Billy’s recent experience, I’d definitely second the advice of asking for some blood tests- don’t let them fob you off!

@Mc3209 so glad to hear all is well. Wishing you all the best for your scan 🌟. I really hear you on feeling sick , exhausted and the challenges of bf. I found my second pregnancy so much harder than the first. I was also still breastfeeding DD1 when I was pregnant with DD2 and it was so painful! Hoping you feel better soon.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 totally with you on preferring a few mins of quiet to read a book 😅, it’s so exhausting ttc with a baby.

@Orangio hope your DP is better!

So after my big moan yesterday , it appears I am ovulating after all ☺️. Yesterday I got lots of CM so took an OP and I’ve had strong positives since last night. Perfect timing as DP is home. I’ve concluded that tracking CM is by far the best option for me at the moment as that’s what’s really given me the heads up every time, and the opks are all over the place. (I don’t think I can temp as cosleeping and night feeding still).
So @Orangio about to join you on the tww ☺️

Ooh that's exciting! Really hope you are ovulating and you can time DTDing right 😁 No idea exactly when I'll ovulate, I haven't yet, but the next three days for sure.

It's horrible being in limbo @TulipVictory . Definitely try to get a weeks test, or at least something reliable like a frer, where you know exactly how dark the line should be. Then if still a faint line I would call the GP.

Just to update, I've started to bleed today at what would have been 5 weeks and 4 days. Never mind, I knew it wasn't right with no progression on the faint BFPs. I've never had these issues before though and I've had two chemicals in a row now. I wonder if it is to do with breastfeeding/low progesterone. I have literally stopped feeding within the last two weeks so time will tell I guess. Not sure we will try again and just grateful for what we have. Best of luck to all of you 💗

@TulipVictory that's horrible I'm sorry. I think there's something in it, as for this thread we're seeing a lot of early losses. Hopefully with stopping feeding, your hormones will go back to normal and it won't happen again.

Hope you're as okay as you can be

Sorry to hear that @TulipVictory . Hope you're okay. You could be right about the early miscarriages. I think I read once that there is a slightly increased risk. I guess we never think it'll happen to us though, human nature I guess. Take care.

@TulipVictory so sorry to read your comments here. I hope you're feeling OK

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling okay. At least now I know for sure what is happening 😊

How is everyone doing?
@Golaz and @justwantobeamum I think you're both at the start of the two week wait? And @Mugascauld you too? What about @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 , did your period ever turn up?
I'm 3 or 4 dpo, so period due maybe 23rd. At least we will find out before Christmas... baby or wine, so good either way 😂

Hi @Orangio im 3dpo over here too 😏☺️. AF due 21st. I’d love a Christmas BFP, but I know the chances are low .