TTC while breastfeeding/ short lutal phase

[SummerSun24]

Hi everyone!

I know there is alot of TTC threads on here but I just wondered if any one is or has experience of TTC whilst breastfeeding? DC is 15 months and nurses before bed and resettled on waking with BF. This works for us and working full time it saves my sanity and sleep!

But, after using OPKs for the first time, I saw I was ovulating a bit later than average (CD19) but then was surprised when my period came early 9 days later. I have been caught off guard by early period twice now but with the previous cycle (jan-feb)being 36 days (so assuming much longer lutal phase?). They seem to be getting shorter!

Anyways since google I saw that a short lutal phase makes TTC more challenging and is very common with breastfeeding, even though I don't alot anymore.

I have started taking more potent vitamin B6 complex tablets to try to help lengthen LP, but I was just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced the same and had success conceiving? This is only really my 1st cycle properly TTC so I know it's ridiculous to worry so early (first two cycles I couldn't DTD round fertile days for various reasons) but found everything I read on short Lps a bit concerning and doom and gloom.

Thanks for reading this far, turned out longer than I thought!

Hi @SummerSun24 ☺️ I’m not TTC while BF, but I did successfully conceive my DS with a short luteal phase. Like you I was taking B6, and possibly another b vitamin supplement, and I remember vitamin c also being good to lengthen the luteal phase? I’m gearing up to start TTC for baby 2 and I suspect I have a short LP still. I think I ovulate around CD18 and my cycles are 28-29 days long. I think I’m going to leave off of taking anything for now and see how the first few months go ☺️

@MintGreenLife thank you! To be honest I'm not sure if mine were short the first time round, it would make sense as my cycles were only 26 days or so but I feel pregnant first cycle and never thought much of it. Will add vitamin C to the mix as well 😊

Hi there,

i am breastfeeding and also TTC. I noticed that my luteal phase was about 10-11 days long so I started taking more b6 and I happened to conceive that month. I continued taking b6 but unfortunately I sadly had a miscarriage. My consultant has prescribed me with progesterone to take if I get pregnant again.

I have been trying to read up on this as I really don’t want to wean my baby from breastfeeding and I came across three amazing blog posts by an IBCLC. I’ll post the link to the first one below but it’s very worthwhile reading. She talks about how the longer follicular phase can also be a problem though. I’ve actually just posted a thread myself with a question about that which you might find interesting too.

https://www.carolsmyth.co.uk/breastfeeding-resources/posts/2017/june/breastfeeding-fertility-and-subfertility-1/

Thank you so much for your response @Stargaze123 and for taking the time to post the link! I'll have a read now 😊

I'm a bit the same, don't really want to wean my little one, I work full time so enjoy the connection it brings after a long day apart, not to mentioned the sanity it saves at night.

Also sorry to hear of your loss as well @Stargaze123 💕

I know this is an old thread but wondered if anyone had any success?
I'm also ttc and my baby is 9.5 months. Feeds a lot less during the day but still feeding a lot at night, also for my sanity! I've taken tests and they show I'll.ovulating so feeling a bit deflated it's not happened yet, though it's only been about 3-4 months. My period has also come 2 days early the last 2 months, so luteal phase has been around 9 days...

Hi yes I did! I am 20 weeks now 😊 got pregnant 3rd cycle so I know I was very lucky! My luteal phases for cycle 1 &2 were 8 and 6 days so very short. I had Implantation cramps at 7dpo tested positive at 9 so it can happen just need an early implanter. I did also take vitamin b6 within a vitamin b complex and cut out day feeds (my baby was over one though so I wouldn't recommend that for you) but it's hard to say what did it in the end. 9 days is long enough for an egg to implant you just need to hope it's the right one!