TTC whilst breastfeeding support thread - join me to share your ups and downs!

[smallblackflowers]

Hi!
A little about me - I'm pushing 34, have a 10 month old DD that I'm still breastfeeding and really want to conceive no.2 asap!
I am on my second cycle since AF returned and am temp / CM / CP charting using fertility friend and have OPKs!
I ovulated on day 29 of my last cycle, and am on day 21 at the moment.
Have been having fun and games with very fertile signs over the past week, so lots of BD, but no ovulation, poor DH is full of a cold and not feeling very energetic but I keep insisting that he perform until my temps go up

So anyway - hoping that there are others out there in a similar boat who can help to keep me sane and hopefully share some good news in the coming months.

Hi again ladies. Long time, no speak! Haven't fully caught up on all your news but will endeavour to do so at some point.

Well, we've moved in - finally. Internet only just up + running but computer malfunctioning so forgive me any mistakes as I try + type on tiny phone keypad. New place is still a building site - "stuff" and workmen everywhere - and I have just had the most traumatic couple of weeks ever.

Started spotting at 5 weeks + 1 exactly, just as with previous pregnancies. Irritatingly predictable. Booked scan at EPU for 5 weeks+6 (approx). Told them I was 6 as just couldn't face waiting over Easter weekend + figured it wouldn't make huge diff. To my + DH's great delight, fetal pole/heartbeat detected on t/v scan. Too small to date (2.9mm). Spotting abated, but relief lasted only a few days. Spotting returned over course of move (NOT a great Easter weekend for us!). Then, had sudden gush of bright red blood and cramping on Tues afternoon. Bleeding was heavy and accompanied by cramping. Advised to go to A&E. Seen by junior gynae doc who examined cervix, informed me it was open, diagnosed impending m/c (with considerable confidence) and arranged scan for Thurs to ensure uterus empty. Devastated, naturally. Dragged myself along to Thursday's scan, withdegreeof reluctance, feeling 'whats the point?'. To my great surprise sonographer turned screen in my direction to show me what she could see... A larger fetal pole (7+mm) and unequivocal heartbeat... The mind boggles! Although hugely relieved I can't say I'm relaxed now as bleeding has continued for several days since. They think it might be bruising to uterus caused by DD's overenthusiastic cuddling/jumping on my belly, or alternatively that I was expecting twins, one of which failed to thrive and has aborted???

So, not all is rosy in the land of BFPs! Don't mean to sound ungrateful but can tell it's going to be a worrysome pregnancy... Hoping your eventual graduations are much less fraught with tension!

goodness me bird what a week you've had.
So pleased that littlebird is still in-situ and is growing nicely. Will keep everything well and truly crossed for you.

hello [queen] glad you're still about, can completely understand the lurking - tiny keyboards are a pita. Hope you manage to find some more time for SWI. I've booked some for this evening after DD is in bed, originally planned to last night but was feeling completely knackered so called it off at the last minute - not sure DH was too thrilled.....how romantic this SWI is

Well I did buy some sexy undies from the ann summers website sale, hope to keep DH from getting too bored with the rota approach to SWI - will surprise him with it tonight

Hi everyone! bird, how stressful, so glad to hear latest good news though! Well, I have now officially stopped BF (much to DD3's disgust!) But can I stay on the thread? Currently CD28 UCL 30 and trying very hard not to accidentally pee on a stick.

littlesilver 'course you can stay! As I have said, we need more graduates to inspire and motivate us!

CD13 for me and my cervix is at its most fertile (apologies if TMI ), approx a week earlier than the last few cycles, so fingers crossed this is me up to level 3 of fertility. Finding it very hard not to SWI tonight, as planning to do only every other day this cycle, but worried I'm missing an opportunity.......

I think DD may be starting to self wean...we're down to 2 feeds per day (wake up and bedtime) and these seem to be getting shorter. Am feeling quite mixed about this. Sad that it may be coming to an end, as I was hoping to carry on until she was at least 2, to help her immunity when she starts at nursery in July, and happy(ish) that it may mean the elusive DC#2 may be conceived more quickly.
I'm also worrying a bit that the shortness of these 2 feeds may mean that my milk will dry up before she is ready to completely stop. Does anyone have any experience of this?

My 2 weaned down to just 1 last feed in the evenings with no issues They were 14/16 months respectively and have always had great immune systems (DD has had a mere 2 days off sick since she started school 3 years ago!) I am sure she will be fine, remind me how old is she now?

Hi Queen, she's 13 1/2 months.

Hello all! Just doing a quick catch-up.

Bird that sounds horrific. Really hope the rest of your pregnancy is a bit more stress free.

lpsmum I winced when I read your post re biting but completely forgot to send my sympathies DD usually pre-warns these days (she looks up at me with a winning smile and says "Bite?" as though I'm going to say "Oh go on then, just this once" ) but it is so incredibly painful, and makes you really reluctant to carry on bf.

Not really sure what is going on here Like last month, I seemed to have a transitional result on the microscope and got really excited, particularly as it was on CD12. Then ... nothing. Not sure whether I'm just not very good at using the microscope Anyway, we've been SWI-ing away so just waiting for my temps to go up. We're away with my family (again!) this weekend so tonight is our last chance really.

DD is still wanting to feed 24/7 and I'm getting pretty fed up with it. For one thing I'm more nervous about feeding her in public at the moment, and I'm already getting plenty of comments from my family, but she is wanting to feed every 20 minutes or so, but it's do it in public or don't leave the house (and I hate this house, I get cabin fever after a couple of hours). Our big news is that we might be buying somewhere - an absolute wreck so lots of work to be done but it has a big garden so DD can run around and we can keep chickens and everything

Hi all
Looks like I'm with you Little Silver - think my days of bf'ing are officially over . We were down to just the bedtime feed but tonight my LP took himslef off to bed without so much as a by-your-leave. Fairly sad as I'm now not that special person to him in the same way but hey-ho. Also worried as that was always my trump card to get him to do whatever I wanted - "lets get ready for bed now LP and have some mummy milk", "time to get out of the bath now LP for mummy milk", "get your head from down the toilet now LP and we can have some mummy milk".

Hope things are more settled with you bird
sbf I don't think your should worry about your supply. I can only go from my experience but for the past couple of months by boy has alternated between 1 and 2 feeds a day and I've never had any problems.
Dita how exciting to be looking at somewhere new! at the large garden. We've spent today in out small garden on the sand/water table (uugghhhh) but would love to let my boy run around a big safe garden.

I'm currently on CD22 so not long left now

Hi!

Thanks for the reassurance Lpsmum, and sorry to hear lp didn't want his milk tonight. Tomorrow is another day though and who knows what it may bring

dita the new house sounds like an exciting proposition - would love chickens, but unfortunately DP thinks it's a silly idea!

Well my exciting news (totally unrelated to TTC) is that my DD took her first steps today - completely took me by surprise as I thought she was weeks off. She has then done it over and over again, about 4 steps followed by a dive into the carpet!
Think I am ovulating today - have had a sharp pain in my side for the last few hours, and +ve opk yesterday, although it feels like it has been building up to it for days.

Hmmmmm sure I ovulated Thursday, but no SWI (I was too pissed off with DH/tired) so that was a comletely wasted opportunity .

If I am already knackered can I cope with 2???

However, will await AF to check luteal phase - was quite short before DD.

Hi everyone, have been trying to avoid MN for a bit in the hope that it might help reduce my obsession with TTC but it doesn't seem to have been very effective .

Seems a lot has happened whilst I was looking the other way!

Bird, sorry you've had such a horrific time, but really glad your bean is hanging on in there and hope all settles down and your anxiety subsides a bit asap.

LP, sorry you're feeling sad about the apparent end of bf, but be warned that DD (now 3.4) has gone through brief phases of not wanting it before and even had an entire week off when I went away, but is still bf for britain and implacably opposed to even cutting down .

Fannylogan I know what you mean about tiredness and 'what the hell am I doing TTC?'! I say this kind of thing several times a day as the depths of my inadequate parenting are revealed in all their glory (truculent, rude, tantruming, refusing to go to bed DD)! And then she says something like 'I'm just going in the tent with my sister (teddy bear), mummy' and I'm desperate to give her a real one again....

Things trundle on much the same here. Am nearing the end of the 2ww and have had spotting as usual from day 10, so not holding out much hope .

I've had two accupuncture sessions though and think they have helped with the pms symptoms as I've been feeling generally more positive this month. I think cycling a lot and the sunshine may have helped lift my mood as well though . Had a bad day yesterday due to lack of sleep but feel a bit better again today. Have held off on the progesterone cream partly because of having day 21 blood tests and partly cos the accupuncturist wanted to see what effect her treatment had this month. Has been hard though, as I really wanted to see whether it helps with the spotting. Oh well, roll on next month...

God this post is long! Sorry

Hello I'm new here... I've been trying to conceive since my DS was 9 months - he's now 27 months! - doing extended breast feeding! Thought i'd got lucky this month as AF is 4 days late but got BFN when tested this morn...
I'm taking vitamin B and was also considering trying the progesterone cream - although I asked at the chemist and they didn't think it was a good idea to self diagnose and prescribe...
Is it ok to use cream whilst feeding? I don't want my DS to suddenly start sprouting boobs - although he does seem rather keen on mine not sure having his own would be such a good thing!
TTC is very depressing when it goes on this long!

Hi raspberryknickers, sorry you've been TTC for so long. I've been at it 9 months and it feels like an age. I have been dithering about self-prescribing progesterone cream too but in the end have been so frustrated with the medical bods who seem to just jump to prescribing things like clomid without really looking at whether its needed, that I've thought what the heck. I suppose I figure as its just increasing your progesterone levels it shouldn't really affect a bf child, but perhaps I'm being naive...

Thanks Lilysma, They wouldn't prescribe you clomid whilst breastfeeding if it was a prob though surely!?
Cool that you are trying the accupuncture - good that it helps a bit with PMS - fab if it helps with conception too! I have the book chinese med infertility book by Randine Lewis and thought about trying the accupressure points she suggest as not sure i can afford the real thing...
Also got Toni Welshler(?) book.. not finding that v helpfull... actually going insane with too much confusing medical info!!
So glad to hear that there are people on here who are managing to conceive
Got my fingers crossed for the rest of us. X

Hi all and welcome raspberryknickers

I'm one of the self medicators, and as far as I understand, the progesterone cream just raises your progesterone level to what it should be, so your baby doesn't get anymore then they would if your hormones were working normally IYKWIM.

Lilysma sorry to hear about your spotting
I am 2 DPO (i think) and started this cycle's progesterone cream this morning, so fingers crossed it helps to hold off my spotting...will update next week!

I've told DH that if we don't conceive by the end of next cycle then we'll both go and see the GP for bloods / sperm analysis! Must say that he wasn't impressed that I am questioning his fecundity!

Must go, DD has found a teabag (herbal, from the bottom of my mug) and is squishing it around the furniture

Raspberry knickers I haven't actually been prescribed clomid, but saw a horrible consultant who nonchalantly said it was probably what they would do without having even tried to work out what the problem was and then sent me off for more tests. Haven't even been able to raise the bf issue with them yet (discussion was not an option with this guy!). Have ranted about this at length elsewhere! . Am seeing someone else next week so we'll see what they say...

SBF thanks for the sympathy. The spotting stopped today. AF is due weds so of course I have been getting all excited when I know full well that it sometimes stops briefly and I have plenty of other PMS symptoms including cramps if I would only pay attention to them! I hate the way I keep on hoping right to the bitter end . Planning to test tomorrow just to try to put myself out of my misery!

PS hope your spotting holds off SBF. This could be the month (holds breath!) .

I meant raspberry knickers of course

Hello all - been away for a few days so just having a quick catch-up. I've now worked out that I was putting too much spit on my microscope, though I seem to have a transitional result every day now Managed to SWI a couple of times this month but not really sure where I am (has my cycle snapped back to 28 days?) or whether I've OVed (slept incredibly badly the last two nights, so temps all over the place) so guessing we're on the 2WW but not particularly hopeful.

Good luck for tomorrow lilysma (DD loves the seesaw, but an only child on a seesaw is such a sad sight! )

OMG, BFP this morning . Faint line, but it was definitely there. 14 DPO today. BUT, had reasonably bad cramps in the night that were enough to keep me awake, so not sure what to think. No bleeding though. Am all over the place.

What is also worrying me is that the line was faint, which is how it was at around the same time when I had my ectopic pregnancy. The line with DD was nice and strong. I know there is probably nothing in this, but I am still anxious.

Nothing I can do but wait though. Slapped on the progesterone cream quick as anything this morning though . Am going to see my accupuncturist today so will ask her to do everything she can to strengthen the little bean! Please keep everything crossed that AF doesn't turn up tomorrow!

lilysma a line is a line is a line, so they say!
That's wonderful news, am so pleased for you. Fingers well and truly crossed for your little bean. x

Will try and resurrect the stats list later to add you onto the grads list. Just heading out now to the Bolton Breast Buddies AGM.

Hello everyone - new to this and have read quite a lot but still have a few questions if that is OK.

1. Does ovulation cause sore nipples when feeding? Seemed to have a week of it starting around day 13.

1. If so, I have ovulated the last 2 months but AF has arrived at 48 & 41 days - is this normal to be so long. Before DS I had 29-31 day cycles.

Only on cycle 3 since AF returned, so am probably being a little impatient.

Woo hoo, that's fantastic news! Fainter line could mean anything - that it's implanted later so HCG levels aren't very high yet or your pee was just more dilute. I also had bad cramps for the first few weeks or more with DD - think it was just my bits stretching! Keeping everything crossed for you that AF stays away

here's the last stats list I could find, have updated myself ,had a go at updating everyone else, but am likely wrong as we don't all have the same length cycles. lilysma please feel free to add yourself to the grads section!

smallblackflowers; TTC#2; Cycle 4; BF 13 mo DD; age 34
DitaVonCheese; TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 18 mo DD; age 33
Alibaba; TTC#2 iminently; BF 20 mo DS; age 32
LPsmum; TTC #2: cycle 3; BF 16 mo ds; age 32
QueenFee TTC#4 No AF yet BF 9 mo DS; age 28
iloveholidays; TTC #2; No AF yet; BF 12mo DD; age 29

graduates

Birdonthewing: TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 15 mo DD; age 34; BFP 16/3/10