Calling all Breastfeeding mothers who are TTC!

[loopylula]

AF come back! All is forgiven!! I couldn't wait to see the back of her in the summer 06' but now I desperately want her to come back so we can get on with #2!

In an attempt to suss out when AF's likely to return I've been temping and checking my saliva on my ISIS scope and it seems that I am definitely not ovulating.

Having resigned myself to a long and boring wait to become fertile again I thought I'd start a new thread for support. Any fellow MNers out there in the same boat?

So when was no 1 born? I had dd3 in April 07 and still no sign of AF - with previous babies it's taken 9-10 months - so could be any day. On the other hand I really do NOT want to get pregnant so it's not bothering me. Hope you hear from some fellow ttc's soon - and good luck!

Hi NL, thanks for the answer. DD1 was born in June 07. I am still giving her 2 bf's a day.

Were you BFing your DC's and if so did AF returning coincide with you giving up BFing? Sorry for the Spanish Inquisition, you have no idea how bored I am waiting for things to ge back to normal ? charting temps is only fun when there is something to chart!

Hi loopy - I'm still bf 18-month old DS (usually twice a day) and we're ttc at the moment.

My periods came back pretty quickly, first one at 4 months, then fairly regular at 6 months. DS was still feeding quite a lot at the time, including at night .

I'm fairly sure that I'm ovulating, although I don't do the temping thing. We've just been trying the lots of sex route, DH can't believe his luck

It would be good if I gave that useful info wouldn't it - doh! Yes I have b/fed all three and for the older girls I got my periods back before stopping b/feeding. Still doing 2 or 3 feeds during the day plus one at night with dd3 so I think that may have something to do with current lack of periods. If your lo is 7-8 months old then going by my experience it could be a few more months before you see any action - but oth there are loads of women on here who have got pregnant whilst b/feeding - so I don't think it follows one way or the other - sorry that's not much help.

well I concieved dd while ds was still bf

and managed the same trick again with db (due any day )

no periods at all in this time-its now been, ooh, 5 and a bit YEARS

oh i should also point out that neither dd nor db were actually planned...

Fillyjonk - can I be nosy and ask how long it took you to cotton on that you were pregnant then? When you started throwing up??

Apologies for my curiousity

Thanks NL & Fillyjonk your info was v.helpful and has given me hope!

MaeWest, you lucky girly, hopefully it won't be too long before you get your bfp.

I am planning to switch DD onto hypoallergenic formula soon (due to milk allergy) as she has just started biting and tbh she's only interested in one feed so I'll keep my fingers crossed that hormones will return to normal.

I've had a break out of spots this week, one's the size of Mt.Etna, do you think that's a sign of hormones rebalancing? The only times I've suffered with mahoosive zits prefiously is puberty and early pregnancy! Defo not preggers though ? did a test last w/e coz I was planning a boozy one and just wanted to clear my conscience.

Loopy be careful what you wish for. I'm 15 weeks pregnant with my second child. I've not had a period since 2005!

I have had sex twice since DD was born 15 months ago (well actually since we got pregnant we've had lots but that's beside the point). Each time we conceived (mc first one).

Honestly it depends on the person. But I was stunned and still am a bit TBH because I had no signs of fertility whatsoever - cervical mucous - non existent till second trimester for me!

Lots of sex will definitely raises your chances though

Oh and obv I'm still breastfeeding DD (even now)

northern lurker-umm...yes it was really with dd.

this time around, it was all more complex, I had a feeling something might be up. I had a very small amount of bleeding, and so tested a few days later (when the penny dropped).

However, because there is a history of this sort of thing happening in my family I do keep a bunch of those cheap testing kits and use them. Normally, I am a caffeine addict and not unfond of the occasional beer, but I really personally like to avoid those things while pg, so like to find out asap.

Hey, I'm still BFing DD and am ttc. DD is 8.5mo. I've had one AF since DD was born and currently on cd27. Not holding out much hope for this month though

Hi,

I have an 8.5 mo (almost 9) DS who I BF twice a day and am also expressing twice a day for a bottle EBM.

He has reflux so if formula needed I use a hypoallergenic type but try to keep the breastmilk supply up as it is definately more comfortable for him when it comes back up again.

As a result I am a bit reluctant to cut down on the BF/expressing but am getting on a bit 38 now but 39 in 3 months and would really like another DC.

Last saw AF in August 06 and am amazed that I would celebrate getting AF back! But as well as TTC I get cramps and feel VERY grumpy every 3-4 weeks but nothing shows up.

My younger brother was concieved when I was 3 months old and being exclusively breastfed but my Mum was a little younger at 22 at the time! Wondered if it might run in the family but would not have coped being pg when LO was 3 mo!!!

Hello Davidsmom It's ages since I've 'seen' you and I think the last time we did talk it was about reflux DD has improved a lot since then with cranial osteopathy treatment and the occassional bit of formula she has is now easy digest stuff.

I had cramps and grumpiness every 3-4 weeks for about 3 months before AF returned so hopefully you will be visited by AF soon.

Today is CD28 but I'm not very hopeful. I had quite a few symptoms but I think that most of them are sleep deprivation related. I also wonder if DD's variable nocturnal habits are going to stop AF coming this month but I was sure that I had OV on CD11/12.

Does anyone know if pg symptoms are likely to be different/stronger whilst BFing? I'm a bit nervous about what is going to happen with BFing DD if I do get pg.

Hi

Was surfing the net and found this:
link

May be of interest?

Have decided to cut down on BF to 3 x day and try no expressing. Am a bit reluctant as have had 9 months of BF problems with ?not enough? being an important one. I have expressed several times a day for EBM and to keep supply up for all but 2 months of BF- is going to be a bit strange.

Have had about 9 days of tummy cramps and grumpiness so hope AF is coming! Although have had some CM changes so have been virtually making DH BD. He seems to have gone all "tired" on me- expect headaches to be mentioned soon!

Hi Swaliswan- thought I recognised the name. Am glad your LO has improved. Mine has fewer symptoms on Omeprazole but is still frustratingly pukey and NOT a good sleeper. Are you going to test? My maths is not great these days but Ov on CD11/12 + 14= 25/26 so may be able to? Havent got my head together about testing days after OV yet.

Well, today is CD29.....

But, I'm not going to test as I feel that AF is on her way and have felt like that for a week or so now so I'm just going to be patient for a few more days.

Oh the joy of ttc

i'm pg with dc3. this one was concieved whilst breastfeeding. ds2 was born in feb07 i fell pregnant in november 07. i'm a bfing counsellor and think?? i was taught that bfing can only be a reliable (!) form of contraception for 5months. i didn't have a period at all in between ds2 and this one. sorry if it;s not much help. just quickly scanning, i didn't think that charting temps or ovulation can be relied upon when breastfeeding as the tests for ovulation are impaired by hormones released during bfing and your temp is always fluctuatng depending on when you are making your milk...there's too many outside factors. also another thing to consider i didn't test positive for pg until 9weeks apparently due to the amout of hormones in my body thy overwhelmed the hcg meaning it didn't show up until there was loads of it

sorry for going on

Bealcain, erm thanks...I think. Not exactly sure that is what I wanted to hear though. I was much happier just convincing myself that I'm not pg instead of doing the whole 'am I or aren't I' thing. I had planned on temping from my next AF if I'm not pg to chart OV. I was certain that I'm not pg as my temp hasn't stayed high all the time since I thought that I had OV.

what do I do now?! DH is going to get so annoyed with me not knowing either way.

sorry hun. the only sure way if you're under 10weeks and bfing a considerable amount is a blood test at the drs......i'd book appt. for tomorrow and just find out you should be able to get results within 48hrs or if you're lucky 24

No need, I had a BFP when I tested after reading your post! You are making me nervous about the possibility of twins now though.

Hi all, apologies for starting the thread and then disappearing of radar for a few days!

DM ? we have alot in common, my DD was diagnosed with reflux when she was a few weeks old but now it turns out she's actually allergic to dairy. This evening I tried to get her to drink Pregestimi but she wasn't having any of it. I tasted the stuff myself and it made me feel sick ? how on earth are you supposed to get babes to drink that stuff?

Interesting stuff BC. Esp. about temps fluctuating when you make your milk. I am religiously taking my BBT first thing every morning and I do it just before DD's first BF of the day ? maybe that explains why my chart has been going up and down.

Do you think its possible to actually be pg but still get low temps?

Hey Swaliswan did I read it right- you got a BFP????

Loopylula

I wondered about dairy but 2-3 weeks completely dairy free did little to my DS's problems. I have gone on to goats milk/butter etc and I think it helps a little- am sure he is worse when I have scoffed a few biscuits or chocolate (not that often)his eczema also seems to worsen then too.

I use Neocate but still think that it has cows milk proteins in it and am not that keen on FF anyway. Not sure why as was quite relaxed about the possibility of not BF before I had him.

Someone recommended diluting the FF more than it should be so it wouldnt be as "strong tasting" ie disgusting which seemed to work eventually. Now can give it full strength and use it in porridge etc.

Bealcain
Thanks for info but worried now as have had the same symptoms as had in early stages of PG with DS vvvv tired, cramps and in addition my SPD symptoms seem to have worsened slightly. Put it down to AF hormones trying to break through and sleep deprivation as tested several times with BFN. Now you have got me wondering!!!! Tho pretty certain am not PG.

i'm so sorry i've amde you all worry, it wan't my intention!

loopy - it could well explain temp changes although that might not necessarily mean bfp it could just be making milk and your body working 'overtime'. i know that you cant take temp changes as read when bfing.

swaliswan - BFP? is that good or bad? why twins hun?i really wanted them this time as DH said this my last pg and i wantd an even number of kids....this will be no.3

DM - you still might not be, but now i've said all that you could be subconciuosly thinknig you are which is making your body think you are. does that make sense??

BFP is good. I was wondering about twins because if my hormones aren't supposed to be showing up whilst BFing until 9-10 weeks then they might be a bit high for just 4 weeks iyswim. I'm just freaking myself out really. I'm still not convinced that this is going to be a 'sticky' one.

Hi Saliswan- CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I got AF today which at least means things are functioning again. Thank goodness as I was getting REALLY cranky and testing every day with cheapy HPT as had to take painkillers for bad cramps.

Now how do I work out when I might be OV? Didnt really plan anything when TTC #1

Never thought I would be excited about AF arriving