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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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Starsinthesky22 · 02/08/2022 22:53

@tingalayo I thought I’d reply to say I am also breastfeeding my son who is 3 (he breastfeeds to sleep at night and up until a few weeks ago he was in the morning too). My periods came back when he was 11 months old and I’ve had regular cycles. I got pregnant on the first cycle trying so breastfeeding didn’t have an impact…In fact it was much quicker than with my first. Wishing you lots of luck!

Mc3209 · 03/08/2022 08:37

@Porridgeaddiction I am in similar predicament, but I don't think I have the stamina to BD several times a week for potentially months 🙈 I am also the worst for symptom spotting. Any weird niggle or nausea MUST be pregnancy 😬😂

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 03/08/2022 09:11

@Mc3209 Right with you with the symptom spotting! I had a cup of tea yesterday that didn't taste quite right... My mind jumps to oooh, I wonder if it's hormonal?!

In reality, I married a man who doesn't know how to make a decent cuppa! 😂

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A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 03/08/2022 13:14

@PinkDucks I'm so sorry you have to wait longer to find out. Hope you're okay and good luck for Thursday.

@Porridgeaddiction that's so funny re the cup of tea! Update from me- I've been eating the extra calories and on the Zita West preconception pack, and the spotting turned into a proper four day period just like before I was pregnant. Baby is just six months old, we are on hols somewhere hot so I've been feeding constantly it feels, so I was surprised to get a period with all of the feeding. Im not exactly looking svelte, but have decided to continue with the eating and the vitamins for this cycle to see

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 03/08/2022 13:43

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ooh how exciting! I bet you've never been so excited to have a period! Haha

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northerngal20 · 03/08/2022 13:59

eek @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 exciting about the period! jealous of your holiday!

@PinkDucks how are you getting on? sorry you're going through such a stressful time, hopefully Thursday will give you some answers. sending positive vibes your way.

update from me - AF turned up 6 days late last month which was super stressful as it really got my hopes up that i could have been pregnant! I think i must have ovulated late. We then dropped a feed (so down to just one a day) to see if that would help regulate my cycles, but then our whole family caught covid which was a pain! as DS was sick i had to do some extra night feeds to get him through. theoretically i should be ovulating in a few days so we're just going to dtd as much as we feel up to and see what happens - i've heard it can impact sperm (plus the extra night feeds might impact my cycle again?!) so i'm not feeling too optimistic, but going to try to at least enjoy the trying! 😉

hope everyone's doing okay and having more luck than us!

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 03/08/2022 15:27

@Porridgeaddiction well yes but thinking it could have ideally happened a bit before or after this holiday 🤣

@northerngal20 that's so annoying! Must have really for your hopes up. Hope you've revived okay from Covid

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 03/08/2022 15:28

*recovered!

tingalayo · 03/08/2022 20:25

@Starsinthesky22 aww thank you! I haven't been on this thread a lot because I'm not sure I belong here, I think my girl and I are close to the end of our feeding journey and maybe it isn't a factor in why I'm struggling to conceive. You sound a lot like me though in many ways. Congratulations on getting pregnant first time! I'm entering month 12 now, hopefully I'll get there one day xx

Mc3209 · 03/08/2022 21:22

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 congrats on your period! I started those vitamins on your recommendation. It has been less than a week for me of taking them, but your story is giving me hope.

User65412 · 03/08/2022 21:50

Just thought I'd add my experience for you ladies - I would have loved this thread when ttc! I successfully conceived when my baby was 9 months old after worrying my period would never come back. I read some research somewhere (I can't remember where!) that explained that your cycle is most likey to return after a more drastic change in feeding patterns rather than a gradual one. So dropping one feed, then another etc gradually was shown to be less successful that a drastic drop, even if feeding still continued at this level afterwards. This deffo worked for me - I returned to ft work at 8 months so dropped 3 feeds a day (eventhough I pumped them - something else in the research about it being to do with actual suckling that releases the hormone that suppresses ovulation). Bang on 4 weeks later, first period. 2 weeks later, bfp. I still can't believe my luck! I continued to feed 3 x a day then 2 and still feed now, but the sudden change may have 'kick started' ovulation.
I'll see if I can find the research!

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 03/08/2022 22:47

Oooh, I wonder if pumping for a feed per day would help? Tbh DD prefers a bottle to boob and I've gone through phases of her refusing the boob for a day or two (usually in hot weather) and I've just pumped and then given that to her in a bottle straight afterwards.

It's a bit of a faff, but if it helps get them periods back, I'm willing to give it a go!

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Orangio · 03/08/2022 23:00

Oooh that is really interesting @User65412 ! I don't think DS would be very impressed if I tried it though!

I do need to work harder at switching another feed out, but it is so much more effort than breastfeeding and I am lazy. He does take formula, but it's a battle, he gets burpy, doesn't take enough to get him to sleep, etc etc. I suppose we just keep plugging away at it!

PinkDucks · 04/08/2022 14:16

@northerngal20 hcg levels are dropping now so it has confirmed miscarriage. At least I know what's happening now, just got to wait it out. Hoping it will all be over with fairly soon so we can start trying again 😞

Orangio · 04/08/2022 14:17

Oh I'm so sorry @PinkDucks Take care of yourself xx

northerngal20 · 04/08/2022 14:40

ah @PinkDucks i'm so, so sorry to hear that. you must be absolutely gutted. i hope you are able to take the time you need to recover and that you have the support you need. Sending hugs your way!

PinkDucks · 04/08/2022 14:50

Ah I'm ok thanks. We kind of knew this was going to be the outcome right from the start so I feel like ive already accepted it (as much as you can). It's very different to our first miscarriage where we'd had positive scans and it came much more unexpected. This time it feels easier to accept because our hopes were never up.

Thanks for everyone's support though - I'll definitely stick around as we're keen to try again!

northerngal20 · 04/08/2022 14:56

that's good - it sounds like you're in a good (or as good as can be) headspace. yes do stick around as you try again! at the rate things are going on my end i will likely be here for a while😆

Original poster
Porridgeaddiction · 04/08/2022 18:03

@PinkDucks so sorry to hear this. It was made so much more difficult with having to wait so long. At least you have answer now, although not the nicest of answers.

Sending you hugs and I hope you recover well. Take care of yourself xxx

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Mc3209 · 04/08/2022 21:07

@PinkDucks sending over a fluffy blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, and all the best wishes. Speedy recovery!

I will be on this thread for a while @northerngal20 😬

PinkDucks · 04/08/2022 22:27

Thank you @Mc3209 and @Porridgeaddiction. Just hoping I ovulate pretty quickly once this is all done 🤞

How old is everyone? I keep swaying from feeling really chilled thinking times on our side, we've got plenty of time etc to panic mode that we're getting on a bit and left it a bit late so we need to get a move on if we want more kids. I'm 32 and husband is 33. I always said I wanted to wait until our 30s but now where here I keep thinking should we have started sooner?!

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 05/08/2022 11:52

@PinkDucks I'm really sorry to hear that. Sending hugs. Hope you're okay and yes ovulate quickly. I don't think you've left it too late at your ages honestly. But when things go wrong like this I think it's natural to be anxious and worry.

I'm 37, hence why I am aiming to go a bit quicker if possible. But many of my friends of a similar age to me have fallen pregnant pretty quickly. The ones that have had issues have had known issues - pcos, male factor etc.

PinkDucks · 05/08/2022 16:02

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 you're right, I think it does heighten your anxiety a bit! And I keep trying to tell myself there's no point worrying because I can't go back in time now so it is what it is. I also know lots of people having babies late 30s without any problems at all. If I could have a crystal ball that said you'll have x amount of children by the time you're 40 I'd be happy 😂 it's the not knowing when/if it will happen I think

Mc3209 · 05/08/2022 21:33

I am 33, not feeling the pressure of time quite yet, but that's probably I know we will settle at 2 children. I wouldn't mind having a larger family but my husband won't be up for that for sure. It was a negotiation and a half to talk him into having a second.

You are right, not knowing is the most frustrating bit.

Orangio · 06/08/2022 09:21

I'm 36 but not too worried about time tbh. Pretty sure we're only going to have two. If we do want a third I guess we might be able to squeeze another in but not devastated if we can't.
I know secondary infertility does happen, but I do feel more confident this time round, now we've already proved everything works as it should 🤣