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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
Golaz · 16/03/2023 10:47

Hey!

Congratulations @Ciaonow . Wishing you a healthy 9 months. <3

Sorry I dropped off the map a bit. Still here, still ttc, still breastfeeding 🙄.

I'm currently 13 dpo, but have ALL the AF symptoms so not hopeful at all this month. I'm trying to convince myself that ravenous hunger might be an early symptom of pregnancy, but really I know I always get that the night before AF :(. On the plus side, I think this is my longest LP to date. Bubba still feeds all night long, we co-sleep and she screams if I refuse. Don't have the heart to resist! Le sigh. I'm 39 like you @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 so feeling the time pressure, but what can ya do? 💁

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 16/03/2023 12:20

@Golaz that's good re the long luteal phase, and hopefully AF doesn't come! That is very tough on you with the night feeding. And tiring. And not compatible with SMEP etc!

I've just started spotting today, so I'm out this month. I actually stopped trying for a bit so this was my first proper cycle again after I stopped feeding as I was just a bit nervous. So a bit let down that it didn't work. But yeah I def gave up feeding earlier than I'd like, and all because of time pressure also as I'll be 39 end of the year. Definitely a sigh to that. Sounds like we have a similar cycle however!

Golaz · 16/03/2023 13:02

Oops sorry I thought you were already 39 - a whole year extra then :). Means a lot in your late 30s I think..

Really sorry you starting spotting :(. It's so disheartening isn't it. I think as you get older it just takes a little more time. It took me 2 months to conceive DD1 at 34 and 7 months to conceive DD2 at 36/7 (I was breastfeeding then too, however). Fingers crossed for next cycle. 💪

Yep, baby is 16 months and still waking up every couple of hours to feed 😫, totally exhausting and def not compatible with SMEP lolol.

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 16/03/2023 15:32

You conceived while feeding already for your 2nd? That's brilliant! And you mentioned you've a decent luteal phase, so it's hopefully just a matter of time this time around.

I'm getting a bit nervous, as I also don't know if I'd like one more or two, and hoping to at least get one. So my age is feeling a problem as I'll be in my 40s potentially for a third 🤷‍♀️ I ordered some ubiquinol for egg quality and some supplements this morning and hopefully that'll help.

Oof I hope that improves soon and you get some more sleep! I wonder if part of what makes it difficult is the tiredness and stress of lack of sleep and the constant illnesses or teething etc...

Countingchicks · 23/03/2023 03:15

I reduced our feeds to once a day. Due to allergies she has Koko super milk the rest of the time. Ovulated cd18 and got a very very faint positive at 9dpo yesterday. I tend to have a 10 day luteal phase. Period returned ten days after I ovulated for the first time post partum in December. Increasing calories definitely helped to get it to come back but now I need to not eat so much as we're down to just the one feed a day. Can only hope this sticks as I've seen multiple people on here have early losses while BF.

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 31/03/2023 15:33

@Countingchicks congratulations!!! Lovely news! I'm so sorry for the delay, I missed this message.

How are you feeling?

Countingchicks · 31/03/2023 16:40

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 feeling ok actually. Currently 5+1 so period is definitely late now! Keeping up with just the morning feed more for the bond really and I'm sure she'll be fully weaned super soon

TrudyProud · 21/04/2023 16:00

How are you all getting on? I'm currently in my TWW (cycle 1) still breastfeeding . We managed to DTD 4 times around my presumed ovulation so keeping my fingers crossed.

TrudyProud · 01/05/2023 17:19

Hi ladies, not sure if this thread is still active but I got my BFP this morning. It's still early days but very excited. According to the internet my due date would be 9/1/24.

Keeping everything crossed for the stickiest of beans. Hoping everyone else's TTC journey is going smoothly

Elfy11 · 01/05/2023 19:26

Hey everyone, hoping this thread becomes active again!

We want to start TTC no 2 but still no periods for me yet. Have been feeling very PMTish for the last couple months on and off but no AF. Our first is nearly 10 months and is almost going the whole night without a feed now.

Anybody have any tips for encouraging AF to return? I read somewhere about Agnus Castus if anybody has any experience with this?

Also congrats to you TrudyProud on your BFP!

ZoomiesCat · 02/05/2023 15:59

Hey everyone,

Sorry I've not been on here in a while. Congratulations @TrudyProud on your BFP, hoping everything goes well in your pregnancy.

My LO is now 16.5 months old and I had my first pp period last month. It is possibly time that made it come back as I read average time of ppp to come back is around 15 months, but I'd been making a fair bit of changes to try and get it to come back. Feel in a positive headspace for when we start TTC in a couple of months time as have been able to pinpoint the time I ovulated prior to period returning and on 2nd cycle after it returned. I think what did it for me was having at least a 12hr window without breastfeeding in the daytime, and then nighttime I just breastfeed whenever needed which feels like all night 😅

I just need to now work on increasing luteal phase as first month it was only 4 days and this month it was 6/7 days. Have been taking vit c and b6 and having a daily mug of raspberry leaf tea to hopefully increase it and wondering whether to try seed cycling maybe next month. Hoping I don't need to night wean to get a good luteal phase 🤞

@Elfy11 I'm not 100% sure what did it for me, but I was trying to calories load, although I did this for a month or so and was trying to only do light exercise/walking but got a bit fed up of this so wasn't eating so much and returned to running the month period returned. I also have been taking a good conception/pregnancy multi vit, iron, b12 and maca root. Out of the vitamins the newest addition was the maca root so may have been that that helped it return. I've not tried Agnus Castus unfortunately.

Pastaf0rbreakfast · 02/05/2023 17:42

Hi everyone 👋🏻

I’ve not read much of the thread but we are starting TTC this month and I am also currently breastfeeding my 20 month old.

Had coil removed in January and I’ve been doing ovulation tests for the last couple of months so have a pretty good idea of ovulation. AF due Friday.

Hoping I can join you!

Clouless · 02/05/2023 18:08

Hi everyone! Please can I join in. We've been TTC for about 4 months now I think. DS is 19 months old and still feeds at bed time. Trying to wean him off his morning feed and always hope he won't want a night feed but teething has been preventing that happening a bit recently!

Elfy11 · 02/05/2023 22:31

ZoomiesCat · 02/05/2023 15:59

Hey everyone,

Sorry I've not been on here in a while. Congratulations @TrudyProud on your BFP, hoping everything goes well in your pregnancy.

My LO is now 16.5 months old and I had my first pp period last month. It is possibly time that made it come back as I read average time of ppp to come back is around 15 months, but I'd been making a fair bit of changes to try and get it to come back. Feel in a positive headspace for when we start TTC in a couple of months time as have been able to pinpoint the time I ovulated prior to period returning and on 2nd cycle after it returned. I think what did it for me was having at least a 12hr window without breastfeeding in the daytime, and then nighttime I just breastfeed whenever needed which feels like all night 😅

I just need to now work on increasing luteal phase as first month it was only 4 days and this month it was 6/7 days. Have been taking vit c and b6 and having a daily mug of raspberry leaf tea to hopefully increase it and wondering whether to try seed cycling maybe next month. Hoping I don't need to night wean to get a good luteal phase 🤞

@Elfy11 I'm not 100% sure what did it for me, but I was trying to calories load, although I did this for a month or so and was trying to only do light exercise/walking but got a bit fed up of this so wasn't eating so much and returned to running the month period returned. I also have been taking a good conception/pregnancy multi vit, iron, b12 and maca root. Out of the vitamins the newest addition was the maca root so may have been that that helped it return. I've not tried Agnus Castus unfortunately.

Thanks for your response. Will definitely try a new vitamin routine and see if that helps.
Even if we weren't TTC I'm pretty keen for AF to restart just so I know that's what's making me feel this crap! Forgot how awful my PMT used to be and it's ramping up now. Did you get many symptoms prior to yours starting up again?

Clairey332 · 04/05/2023 12:18

Hi All, we are looking to start TTC ASAP. My first period came back last month and going to start ideally trying in June/July as we have a holiday booked.

My LP is extremely short at 6 days so hoping it will lengthen after a few cycles.

All very exciting but extremely stressful journey all at the same time!! 😬😬

Elfy11 · 04/05/2023 19:11

Clairey332 · 04/05/2023 12:18

Hi All, we are looking to start TTC ASAP. My first period came back last month and going to start ideally trying in June/July as we have a holiday booked.

My LP is extremely short at 6 days so hoping it will lengthen after a few cycles.

All very exciting but extremely stressful journey all at the same time!! 😬😬

Good luck! Hope it's an easy journey for you 😊

Clairey332 · 04/05/2023 19:25

Hi @Elfy11 thanks! My little girl is 10 months on Sunday and I have only just had my first period at the end of April so could be any time for you! X

Elfy11 · 04/05/2023 20:06

Clairey332 · 04/05/2023 19:25

Hi @Elfy11 thanks! My little girl is 10 months on Sunday and I have only just had my first period at the end of April so could be any time for you! X

Ah that is reassuring! Did you have months of feeling like AF was about to arrive but nothing happening? Feel like I'm going a bit mad but definitely feels hormonal... or at least that's what I'm telling myself 😬

Clairey332 · 04/05/2023 20:29

No I didn’t have PMT but my skin started to break out and my CM started to change. My skin started to worsen around a month before my period started! I am usually sensitive to progesterone before a period so that all started up again. Do you usually suffer with PMT in a normal cycle?

Elfy11 · 05/05/2023 07:54

Oh yeah I used to get it pretty bad the week before AF. This has been going on (on and off) for a couple months so hopefully it's just my body trying its best to get going again. No change to CM yet, in fact hardly get any these days compared to before so maybe a way off yet... our wee one is finally sleeping better at night so hoping that will help. 🤞

Clairey332 · 05/05/2023 14:23

Hi @Elfy11 if PMT was always your thing then you never know. My CM only started 2 weeks ago, just before I had ovulation pains so it all happened very suddenly. There was no signs or build up apart from my face getting spotty!

Glad your little one is getting better sleep at night. My LG is cutting the top front teeth she’s decided to feed more this past 5 days! 🥴 Trying to give her loads of food and snacks in the day but it’s not making a difference. Hopefully when they break through she will go back to feeding around 3 times at night. 🤞🏼

ZoomiesCat · 05/05/2023 20:21

@Elfy11 I think for around 3 months it definitely felt like things were changing and that I was on the verge of it returning with hormones going a bit all over the place and CM increasing. This was around the time my LO started nursery a few days a week so I was having longer stretches of time without them when previously we had been together 24/7. I also started some gentle boundaries of when I was breastfeeding LO as I was suffering breastfeeding aversion but didn't feel either of us were ready to end our journey. To be honest when period did return I was a bit surprised as it had been so many months of feeling like it was about to come. It might just be around the corner for you.

Elfy11 · 05/05/2023 20:29

Clairey332 · 05/05/2023 14:23

Hi @Elfy11 if PMT was always your thing then you never know. My CM only started 2 weeks ago, just before I had ovulation pains so it all happened very suddenly. There was no signs or build up apart from my face getting spotty!

Glad your little one is getting better sleep at night. My LG is cutting the top front teeth she’s decided to feed more this past 5 days! 🥴 Trying to give her loads of food and snacks in the day but it’s not making a difference. Hopefully when they break through she will go back to feeding around 3 times at night. 🤞🏼

🤞I can but hope!

Oh poor wee soul, hope they cut through quickly for her. Most of February and beginning of March were a bit rough for us as she gained 8 teeth all at once. Loves putting them to use now though!

Elfy11 · 05/05/2023 20:34

ZoomiesCat · 05/05/2023 20:21

@Elfy11 I think for around 3 months it definitely felt like things were changing and that I was on the verge of it returning with hormones going a bit all over the place and CM increasing. This was around the time my LO started nursery a few days a week so I was having longer stretches of time without them when previously we had been together 24/7. I also started some gentle boundaries of when I was breastfeeding LO as I was suffering breastfeeding aversion but didn't feel either of us were ready to end our journey. To be honest when period did return I was a bit surprised as it had been so many months of feeling like it was about to come. It might just be around the corner for you.

Thank you, reassuring to hear you were in a similar position. Don't have any friends/family that have experienced this or are up for talking about it so good to know it's a thing other people experience and I'm not just throwing a wobbly!

Clairey332 · 05/05/2023 20:47

Wow! That’s a lot of teeth at once!! Is that why “nipple shields” was a name first thought of!! 😂😂😂 she was will only have 4 once these two are fully grown brought and yes, buts them to good use like your little one!! 😂🥴. Keep posting your updates and see what happens from here for the both of us. Will be interesting to see what does happen given our LO’s are the same age!! X