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.

@Orangio well that's exciting, especially if it's the right time after ewcm, sounds like something is definitely happening. Either pregnancy or your cycle returning. That's fab.

@Porridgeaddiction well more wet sounds good. The pumping must be an absolute pain, hoping it brings your cycles back really quickly. I agree, the baths you can have during pregnancy are rubbish! I like a piping hot one. Have to say I didn't mind Nosecco however, and on occasion, a small glass of real champagne. But proper red wine - delicious!

I don't know what's happening here. My cm changed from egg white to creamy, so IF I ovulated it looks like I'd be 5-6 dpo only. Waiting to see. Saw a lot of info about people having messed up luteal phases til they gave up feeding however. Will temp next cycle and see

Sounds like lots of things are starting to happen over here!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I thought my luteal phase was a bit iffy and suspected feeding probably wasn't helping, but it didn't stop me conceiving in July so I'm feeling a bit more hopeful about that now.

Pretty sure I ovulated last week as I had all the signs and a positive opk. We're not trying this month as I want my body to 'reset' so we know where we are with things.

Without me needing to night wean DD seems to have done this herself 🙌🏼 had several nights now where she's slept through without waking. Down to just two feeds now and thinking of stopping the morning one next so I just feed her before bed.

Sightly different topic but is anyone else struggling to stop their baby from constantly putting their hands down your top?! DD has become so persistent in putting her hands down my top every time I hold her. She doesn't seem to want feeding as she does it even after she's just been fed. She's not trying to get to feed it's more like a comfort thing? But I don't know how to make her stop. I just keep gently removing her hand and saying no/trying to distract but it doesn't seem to stop her from automatically going straight back in 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

Oooh a self-weaning baby Pinkducks, lucky you! I should've ordered one of those 😆
Yes, DS does also fuss at my breasts. He can't really get his hands down my tops, but he plucks at my t-shirt to show he's hungry. He doesn't understand no yet so no idea what to do about it either!

@PinkDucks sleeping through the night sounds brilliant!

Good to have you back. A month off sounds good, you had a horrible experience with your 1st month ttc no2.

My baby yanks down my top and breaks buttons, but when he is hungry. Not to play yet

Hello, I'm currently pregnant and still BF quite regularly. My periods returned really early so I didn't have that to contend with (although felt quite annoying at the time). My cycle was weird for a long time though, and conceived when DD was just short of 2, having been trying for a few months. Just thought I'd share this article in case you've not seen it as I found it quite interesting. I didn't do anything special to get pregnant, think it just took a while to strike lucky www.carolsmyth.co.uk/breastfeeding-resources/posts/2017/june/breastfeeding-fertility-and-subfertility-1/

@Keha thank you for that article, was really interesting reading. I just got my period 😐 so that's a 5-6 luteal phase at a guess. My baby is just seven months so although my cycle is back now (and at it's normal 31 day length) I guess he still needs a lot from and enough to impair my fertility

Ahh sorry @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 , that sucks. I guess it could take a while to get back to full fertility even if you are having periods. Are you still planning to temp this cycle? Will definitely give you more info!

How is everyone else?

@Orangio yes will temp this cycle but starting in a week when I get home. The sub fertility info in that article was interesting though. That cycles can come back but we can be sub fertile by the body shedding the lining before the egg can implant - due to low progesterone. Will have a think how I can increase progesterone also- b vitamins and liposomal C for example. Without giving up feeding for now.

How is everyone else going? What's new?

Omg this is SO informative. Thanks so much for sharing. I didn’t fully understand all of it - especially regarding the subtle balancing of the different hormone levels, but the big picture makes sense.

Finally got some indications today of an LH surge. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 Not sure if I’m ovulating or not, but hoping this is a good sign. Going ti DTD tonight 😉😉

It is really interesting! Particularly the bit about how it's the total length of time suckling per day which seems to matter. I've been letting DS fall asleep on the breast and carry on suckling in his sleep... oops...

I've been letting DS fall asleep on the breast and carry on suckling in his sleep... oops..

^ I have always done this and I'm pregnant so I don't think there's anymore to this than all the other must dos when trying the first time...as so many people eventually conceive anyway and always would have regardless of what they did or didn't do.

@Flittingaboutagain congratulations! Can I ask how old was your baby when you got pregnant and had you noticed your luteal phase being shorter?

Thank you. Baby was 12m and feeding at least 8 times a day (still is now and I'm almost three months pregnant). Started trying at 8m. My cycles were a bit all over the shop and never got a positive on a opk the whole time. That's the same as ttc my first actually!

Morning. Work has been a bit crazy, crawling slowly towards the vacation.
Gosh, yes, my DS suckles quite a lot too, one boob then the other, then back to the first one, the licks it 😅 then suckles again. Honestly.

@Flittingaboutagain thank you! I read opks don't work if you're breastfeeding and the results are invalid. That's so brilliant you fell pregnant while feeding.

@Mc3209 we have similar over here - switching up boobs and suckling loads. Especially in the evening.

Discussed with my partner and we're going to introduce one big bottle of formula before bed and see if that helps.

Hi all! Hope it’s okay to join! My DS is 6.5 months old and me and partner would love to give him a sibling! We both grew up close with our siblings!
he is was EBF since birth but since he turned 6 months I have been weaning him and mostly formula feeding during then day. He still needs once or twice at night and maybe once during the day to sleep but still no cycle! Starting getting some lower abdomen pain today mainly on the left! Could this be ovulation starting?

Omg my period started... 14 months pp! Never thought I'd be happy to see aunt Flo again, but dear God, it's like the lift scene on the Shining, I hope they're not all going to be like this!

How long did it take for everyone's cycles to stabilise?

@Flittingaboutagain congratulations! How exciting!

@Sneezymcsneezy also very exciting!

I think since I started pumping, DD is having bigger bottles much less frequently. From breastfeeding every 2 hours, she now has a 7 oz bottle after breakfast, then lunch, a 5/6 oz bottle 2/3 hours after lunch and 8oz before bed, a couple of hours after dinner. Pumping 3 times per day (always a bottle behind, so there's always one on the fridge) and seem to get what I need for feeds from 3 pumping sessions per day. I just breastfeed during the night. DD also naps better after a bigger bottle feed so might keep up this practice.

It's been 2 weeks since my more wet phase and I'm tempted to do a test, although logic is telling me that it's a waste of a test!

@Porridgeaddiction I want to say do it (because I'm nosy) but actually only do it if you think you can handle a negative. It could be a long few weeks/months if it makes you upset every time!

@Bby2 hi! If it is ovulation returning that would be great! I think 9 months is about average, so 6 months you'd be ahead of the curve 😊 Are you all recovered from birth? Just that 6 months is quite a short time - no judgement, but what about your iron levels etc?

@Orangio I'll do one on Monday when DH is at work. He's more laid back than me and would think that I'm crazy to test before my cycles had returned. He's quite happy to BD and would love another baby but he doesn't think it'll happen until after my period comes back

Haha mine is the same 😆 I think Monday is a good idea, if you can breeze the result of it's neg (fingers crossed it isn't)! You always hear stories of people who conceive before a period, so it has to happen to someone...

@Porridgeaddiction how exciting! I've got everything crossed for you.

Yesterday and today I had what I think is EWCM, as well being very in the mood. Last few days have been a bit manic but we managed to squeeze in some BD. Don't know, let's see what happens.
Can't remember the last time I was That hot under the collar 🤣

@Mc3209 that's sounding great! I've got my fingers crossed that in two weeks you'll be doing your own test and getting some good news 🙂

Oooooh @Mc3209 that's very exciting! Especially the libido part, I'm sure that's got to be a really good sign.

This is sounding very positive all around!