TTC whilst breastfeeding - cycle 4

[ThatNimbleOP]

Hello,

Is there anyone who’d like to join me…

Currently on cycle 4, CD11. Still breastfeeding my nearly 2 year old and co-sleeping, wondering if it’s having an effect on fertility as we conceived in a blink of an eye the first time…trying not to overthink it all.

Anyone welcome to join, don’t have to be breastfeeding, just any support welcome!

Thought last month was the month but here we are again… :/

That definitely sounds like what was happening to me. I did find it quite fustrating that other people’s cycles were back to normal when breastfeeding and mine was so messed up

Thank you. Very nervous but we'll see.
Ive only stopped breastfeeding since March so its amazing really how quickly it happened after

@BGxxxcongratulations, that’s fantastic news! Very exciting.

@ThatNimbleOPyes my periods were regular and a normal heaviness. This one has just been horrendous, heavy and long and (tmi sorry) brownish clots.

I stopped feeding with my second after an unexpected medical procedure which meant I couldn’t feed for 48 hours. She was a bottle refuser and I was so worried. Actually I just removed myself for the nights by going out and said ‘all done’ when she wanted breast in the day and just gave her a bottle instead. Within 2-3 days she was taking a bottle and feeding herself. It was surprisingly easy so I didn’t bother reintroducing the breast afterwards

Haven't been here for a while, congrats @BGxxx and @Samsi17 fingers crossed for both of you!!

No exciting news on my side, we're now on cycle 7 and with my DD it was this cycle that I fell pregnant so trying not to think about that...
Cd20 with no ovulation in sight yet, sigh.

I think night weaning is on the horizon for us over the next couple of months. DD is such a bad sleeper and she seems to just want it for comfort which is waking her up 🤦🏼‍♀️

I've just got a BFP! The first month using ovulation sticks again and it worked. I'm now to just breastfeeding if my 12 month old wakes at night, we've been gradually doing fewer feeds, but it's the night time ones that will be the hardest to stop.

@Mountainview8 congrats! That's great news...oh interesting, thought nightfeeds can prevent. Let us know how long you were TTC, when your periods came back etc.

I've looked back at our months trying and tbh feel only 3-4 cycles we gave it a good shot. So going to try harder now 😞

Thanks @ThatNimbleOPMy periods came back at 6 months, they were irregular(always have been) and i had 5 periods in the last 7 months. We were just seeing what happened really, but then last month I felt more ready so got out the ovulation sticks.

The last month I was feeding upto 4 times a night, but usually 2-3 times.

Thank you. Unfortunately I've woken up bleeding again, only made it to 5 weeks 4 days.... :(

Morning ladies. Congrats to all those who got BFPs.

A little about me. Have 2 DC 3yrs and 10months. Wanting to TTC earlier due to my age 39. But still nursing DC2 day and night and teething badly, 5 teeth and counting so that has uped nursing even more. In the day maybe 4 solid feeds and at night around 3/4 2 at for feeds and the others are all comfort. He is a big foodie and loves to eat so he is happy with not nursing as much in the day he can often to 5 hours without a feed.

My period returned after 7weeks, 6 weeks PP bleeding 6 days off then my period returned! No break for me. But they were erratic 47 days then 21 days..last 3 months hwve been 32/33 days so fingers crossed.

With DS2 is was unable to conceive him until he was fully weaned! And then it took 2 cycles to get my BFP.
I assume that even despite ovulating prolactin lowered the progesterone which is needed after implantation to sustain the featus and embryo until the Placenta forms. So even if there was conception Prolactin inhibited implantation. It sucks, I guess high levels of Prolactin are to be expected in some people. I know a few friends who confirmed this and were unable to conceive until fully weaned. I really don't want to wean until at least 18months like with DS1. 😒

@Samsi17 i'm so so sorry to hear this! I hope you find some peace today with what's happened. Would this be classed as a chemical again and if so, can you get any help from the doctors?

@MixedBananas bananas, welcome and thank you for your insight. That's new info about the prolactin levels. I'm 9 months into trying but only 3-4 cycles "properly" trying and one very faint line in that time. We're looking to wean in July, daughter is 2.5.

Thank you.
I don't know, I'm to go in for blood tests tomorrow but I know I've lost it.
I don't really understand the difference between a chemical and an early miscarriage?

@Samsi17 it's before 5 weeks so actually it's classed as a miscarriage. I just know they start investigating after 2+...

Let us know what blood tests reveal. Did you have any miscarriages with before your first child?

Ah OK thanks.
No, nothing at all. It took a while but these are my first miscarriages....

@Samsi17 sorry to hear that. I hope the blood tests can help find some answers.

Thank you.
They just found my hcg numbers around 700 and should be higher, I know 100% I've had a loss with how much I've been bleeding, but I've to go back on Tues to get bloods repeated.
I'm in Scotland and they dont class it as recurrent until it's 3, they say the odds are still in my favour and just bad luck at this point....

Sorry to hear about loses. I'm three weeks into night weaning. Feeling all over hormonally took the attached tests and really unsure if positive or just unlucky with two evap lines!

Have been stuck in the house due to sickness bug hitting the family so haven't got any better tests yet!

@OneKookyPinkShaker the second one looks positive! Did the line come up in the recommended time?

@OneKookyPinkShaker they look positive to me? All my negatives have been stark white!! Think if there's any colour in it, it's positive?

Did your period come back then and can you remind us your background and story i.e how long have you tried for etc. :)

All helpful!

@Mountainview8 I took clear blue today and both came back negative.

@ThatNimbleOP no it hasn't come back yet. Something is going on hormone wise as I had spotting, cramping and bloating. I'm 14 months into feeding my DS, it took around a year to concieve him as had irregular periods before so wanted to start sooner rather than later so I came off contraception at 6 months in the hope I'd get period back and have a few months of regular cycles but no such luck

@OneKookyPinkShaker sounds normal...i had a month of bleeding at 6 months PP and then my periods fully came back 14/15 month mark - which is the average for exclusively feeding mothers.

Are you doing ovulation stick testing and mucous tracking?

@OneKookyPinkShaker that's a shame the clear blues are negative, were they the blue dye ones? I've heard they can inaccurate.

I empathise on the irregular periods. Mine always were before DD and continue to be so now. CD37 over here with no positive ovulation sticks or signs or positive pregnancy tests either 🙄

Fully at the point of just being miserable now.

@Strongbrewplease funny was just coming on to post and saw your message! Can totally understand it must be so frustrating and agonisingly long when you just want to crack on with baby-making. Do you have PCOS? Anything longer than 35 days indicates annovulation. I know they can prescribe things to trigger it like Clomid - were you ever on it?

@OneKookyPinkShaker how are things progressing for you?

I came to say we have finally cut the breastfeeding down to one morning feed but hoping to cut that too by waking up before my daughter (still cosleeping).Not breastfed in 1.5 days now…no boobie this morning. Honestly, it feels great haha!Think i ovulated yesterday or about to today, either way we have done SMEP/doing SMEP so should be covered. Partners sperm test Friday, praying for good results!

@ThatNimbleOP No confirmed PCOS, although I suspect perhaps there must be some degree of it. I did visit my GP years ago about my cycles, they were extremely dismissive of it. I managed to get a blood test but it was just one at a completely random point in my cycle and came back normal... although who knows what they were actually checking 🙃 once my next cycle starts I think I'll be heading back and be a bit more pushy this time around!

Womens health care hey!

@Strongbrewplease how are you doing, how is everyone doing?

We’re officially 9 days past our last breastfeed, really hoping it helps with our chances. 9/10DPO and feel the same as every other month so who knows.

Refusing to test though which is helping.

Hi ladies, how are you all doing?

Just looking for some support with those who have weaned, was your first period just a hormonal shit show 😥

I'm cramping so bad and my mood is LOWWW. Period hasn't come yet and haven't tested at all this month. Could be pregnancy but either way, i feel awful!

When did hormones balance out again for you, how was your mood?