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.

Ugh. It was just a dicky belly. BFN on FRER today.

Aw sorry @Mc3209 that sucks 🙁 Fake symptoms are the worst.

@PinkDucks hope fertile week was successful! It's so much harder with the little one in the house eh. DS has impeccable timing with waking up 🙄

@Katnissx what's happened with the spotting since?

@Mc3209 sorry about the negative test, that's rubbish.

@Orangio impeccable timing 🤣 oh dear.

@PinkDucks hope your fertile week goes well!

I'm staying at a relatives house to help them out (they're unwell) so I think I am out this month. However noticed I'm ovulating very late in the cycle with a very short luteal phase, which apparently is v common sun fertility when breastfeeding 🙄

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 still having spotting, it became a bit heavier so I thought it was AF starting but then became lighter again and it mostly has been like CM with a bit of blood mixed in. So I don't really know if it is AF or not... My periods are usually quite heavy so this is strange for me. Although I haven't had a period in a long while so maybe it's just a weird first period? Idk 🙈

@Katnissx oh that is strange. I think the breastfeeding hormones just mess our bodies up so much. Hopefully it is your first period

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thank you, I hope so too- I am so broody 🙈 do you BBT or anything? I'm wondering whether to start so I can work out if I'm ovulating yet 🤔 (OPKs don't really work for me due to PCOS)

Hi @Katnissx I don't BBT atm but will start again soonish. I think also OPKs are not accurate when breastfeeding, so I haven't been using those either. Just following fertility awareness signs.

How about you?

Good news! I got my first period this morning! So happy it's back (and now I can fight the next battle... subfertility) 🤣

@Katnissx I got spotting about 24 days before this period, so maybe it was a sort of mini period, and maybe yours is too? Think you should assume it is and get some BD-ing in at the right time!
I'm trying bbt too. I don't think it will be as accurate because I'm up a lot in the night, but I'm hoping for a rough pattern. Hopefully I can see a phase of generally higher temps post ovulation even if I can't pinpoint the day. Will be interesting to see how we get on! Is anyone else charting?

Ah yay @Orangio welcome to sub fertility 🤣

@Orangio whoop! Whoop! Congratulations on the return of the period! How exciting 🙂

My nipples have been super sensitive over past week. Breastfeeding has become interesting to say the least, but the fiddling with the other nipple during feeds is the worst 🥴 I am hoping it's the sign AF will show up soon, I used to get very sensitive nipples before AF in the past.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I think I'm going to start tomorrow morning, I'm struggling to find a good app to record it on though. I used to use Ovia but it doesn't seem available to download any more. Has anyone got any app recommendations?

@Orangio ohh yay that is good news! I bet you are so happy 😃 that's really interesting, I think I will treat it as a mini AF! It has completely stopped now so will track CM & hopefully BBT and see what happens ☺️🤞 same here with BBT, not sure it will be super accurate but worth a try!

@Mc3209 yes the fiddling is the worst!!! My DD does it too and it drives me mad 🙈sounds like you have a hopeful sign of AF though so that's good 😃

yay @Orangio ! very exciting! definitely a sign fertility is coming back!

update from me - i decided to stop BFing last month (we did the last feed the day my period came) as my cycles were really long and I was getting EWCM at random times throughout the month, so I was starting to think it was either making me ovulate really late and have a short LP, or preventing ovulation completely. I had had 4 cycles with nothing happening. So... fast forward to this week and it seems to have done the trick as i just got a BFP! it's very early days and i'm not sure i fully believe it, but cautiously optimistic.

Slightly sad that I had to stop BFing to get there but DS has adapted really well - we've just switched our morning feed with a story and milk and he seems to be quite enjoying the new routine. I think i must just be one of those people for who BFing really affects fertility.

Anyway - just wanted to pop on and update. Hope you're all doing okay! x

@northerngal20 congratulations!!! Amazing news! So happy for you 🥳

How old is your little one now? I'm wondering if I need to stop also, as my cycles seem similar to yours - random cm patterns and a short luteal phase. I still fully breastfeed prob 8+ times a day. Have bought some formula to introduce soon, and was hoping to sub in a few feeds 🤷‍♀️

thanks @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 :) still feels very surreal! although i will say i'm finding i have a lot less time to think about it/worry this time around with a toddler which can only be a good thing!

he's 16 months. Yeah it's a difficult thing to decide - such a personal decision as to when to drop feeds! we gradually subbed some feeds with formula (/ cow's milk when he was bigger) so by the end we were just doing one BF a day. i loved that feed cause it was first thing in the morning and it was so cosy! but now we just have the cuddle time instead and it's nice cause it means i can occasionally get a proper lie in if OH gets up to do it!

you might find that just dropping a feed or two gets things going - i just seemed to be super sensitive to the hormones as even with just the one feed my cycles were still all over the place.

Wow congratulations @nonortherngal20 that's amazing! You must be over the moon 😊

Great news @northerngal20 ! At least now you know that for you it's probably necessary to stop BF to conceive (might come in handy if you have another after this one)! How far along do you think you are?

@Katnissx try fertility friend? It has the clearest chart of all the apps I've seen people posting on the conception board.

I've started temping and it's really obvious if I haven't had enough sleep - I get a 0.5 degree spike! But at least I know why so hopefully can still work out IF I'm ovulating, which is the main thing.

@Porridgeaddiction how are you doing?

Congratulations! @northerngal20 that's fantastic news! How exciting!

Unfortunately I'm out of the running at the moment. I developed a bit of an appetite that turned into insatiable hunger. Went to the dr's and after bloods I've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I've been told not to TTC until thyroid levels are sorted as there's a higher chance of miscarriage with high thyroid levels. I'm waiting on an appointment with the endocrinologist next week as GP wasn't sure of the medication as I'm breastfeeding.

Kind of gutted. Also pretty gutted that everyone that I know who has suffered from hyperthyroidism has lost weight. I have put on weight with all the eating 🤣

Hope everyone else is doing ok. I'm hoping for lots more happy news in the upcoming weeks 🙂

@Porridgeaddiction oh I'm sorry to hear that. It's great that you have an endocrinologist appointment next week though - hopefully they can get on top of it quickly. It's so hard though when you're in the headspace for ttc but circumstances prevent you. I've been there and I sympathise big time.

It could have been that the high T3 and T4 levels were stopping my period from returning, so once corrected, it may trigger my cycles to start again.

I've been reading online and most cases resolve in about 3-6 months, so hopefully it hasn't put me out of the game for too long. I'll still be checking in on this thread to hear all of your progress!

@Porridgeaddiction I'm so sorry, but so glad you've figured it out and can treat it. And as you said, once it's corrected, it may well trigger your period quite quickly

Sorry to hear that @Porridgeaddiction hope it gets corrected quickly so you can get on with TTC 🤞

How's everyone doing?

No updates here. Just looking out at the rain, trying to summon up the enthusiasm to go for a walk.... not tempting! The dog is giving me baleful looks though so I'll probably crack. We all go a bit stir crazy if we don't walk every day. DS was very grumpy yesterday (teething) so I'm losing my mind a bit! Talk to me and entertain me?

@Orangio no entertainment here. Was 5 days late, now on heavy period 🙄 Also packing to move - yay - have so much stuff when I thought it'd take no time at all! Still haven't exchanged yet.
Teething over here also, and a baby that woke every hour last night.

Anyone else have any fun stuff?

Oooh I've got some catching up to do!

Congrats @northerngal20!

Ah @Porridgeaddiction you must be disappointed! It's good you've got a diagnosis now and it can be managed to hopefully put you in a good position for ttc.

@Orangio another one here with a grumpy teething baby! The last molar is coming through and 🥴 it's not been fun. I only had to look at her yesterday and she cried she just didn't know what to do with herself. Thankfully she seems a bit better today and it's currently nap time so everything is calm and peaceful 😂🙌🏼 but sending sympathies and solidarity.

We're out this month. AF arrived last week so onto the next cycle. The months are whizzing by with a toddler and being back at work 🤯

It's finally, FINALLY, CD1 here 🎉 only took 2 years.. and still breastfeeding, which is a positive, I seriously though I would need to stop completely. Now onto some proper TTCing. I might do ovulation tests, I haven't decided yet.