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 everyone, have been away and mad busy at work, so have been out of the loop, but looking back through the messages I see that I need to send sympathy to you sbf, though glad to hear you feel quite positive.

Well, I'm desperately trying to cut down bf as a prelude to steeling myself up to stopping . Can't quite bring myself to put DD through cold turkey. I also have to confess that I am secretly hoping that cutting right down will be enough to deal with any problems caused by the bf, though I know it probably doesn't work like that .

I have told DD no more bf during the day, which she mostly seems to accept, though when she's tired I get her begging 'just a tiny, tiny bit Mummy, please' which is heartbreaking , though I usually manage to distract her eventually. So we're down to one fairly brief bf some mornings (but sometimes I manage to just get her up and she forgets about it) and one fairly brief bf before she goes to sleep. I'm trying to cut the latter one down so that she doesn't fall asleep on the boob but gets used to just cuddling after a brief feed. Sometimes that goes okay and sometimes not. I'm just hoping that she gets used to having hardly any and I can keep cutting further back until she's not bothered about it, but have no idea whether it will work!

I still feel quite sad about doing it, but time is not on my side now with TTC, so feel I have to move things on if I can...

My cycle seems to have been well and truly screwed up by the brief chemical pregnancy. Temps took AGES to fall back down (hovered on the coverline for about a week) and then fell right down lower than usual and have been down there for 5 days or so. No sign of a LH surge (CD 17) and my temps have usually gone up by CD 15. So am getting knackered with SWIing, and DH is feeling the pressure!

Sorry about the epic! Quite a lot has been going on...

I promise to be less self-centred in subsequent posts

Hello ladies and thanks sbf. You can all now unclench as AF arrived this afternoon, though I wasn't terribly surprised after the immense RAGE I was suffering from last night. I'm not dealing with it terribly well, far more weepy than I have been in months, so suspect my hormones are going a bit mental (hoping that's a good sign in some way!). I think it's partly that I keep passing these landmarks where I fully expected to be pg - first it was skiing in March (I thought I would be heavily pg - in fact we delayed ttc slightly so as not to risk giving birth in the chalet), next is a big family wedding in a few weeks when I thought I would be pg and glowing and able to volunteer to drive, whereas now I'm unlikely even to OV by then. Sigh. Though on the plus side I'd rather be pissed at a family wedding than sober, so there is a silver lining

I'm also really regretting telling people that we were ttc no 2, so feeling like a bit of a dick at the moment.

Think I'm going to start acupuncture again, though I would like to try a different practitioner. The one I saw before emailed me a couple of weeks ago to see how things were going and I said I may be in touch depending on how this cycle went. For some reason I feel ridiculously guilty about wanting to try a different practitioner. Gah. Not sure what to do really.

So cycle length 39 days, +OPK on CD26, so reasonable luteal phase of 12 days ish. Ho hum.

Me me me me me ...

lilysma I'm afraid I have no words of wisdom but wishing you lots of luck in the weaning. It's so hard isn't it? I refused to feed DD for about ten minutes in the small hours last night and she cried like her heart was breaking You have done an amazing thing for her to get this far, don't lose sight of that. Oh and I'm no expert, but some drastic cutting down might well do the trick. Fingers crossed for you

Thanks Dita and sorry about AF arrival. It's so hard to let go of our well laid plans about pregnancy, isn't it? In my plan I would also be heavily pregnant by now (sigh). Hope the weepiness passes soon. Sometimes I think I can't do another cycle at this point . But then I'm always insanely hopeful at the point I'm at now .

dita really sorry, came on to check whether you had good news... I know exactly what you mean about plans and dates etc... our original plan was to have 2 DCS in subsequent school years! At least you have a good luteal phase so hopefully next month will be the month...

lilysma sounds like it is really hard cutting down on the bf-ing but you are hardly feeding at all now - hopefully it will make a difference soon. I am sure given the choice later in life DD will appreciate a sibling over more bf-ing but that doesn't help right now, does it? ...

We are going to see how this cycle goes, go for it, but if it doesn't happen again this month, I think we will just forget about it for the summer, and then try to at least night wean DS! He has had an awful cold these past 2 days and has hardly eaten any solids, just fed from me, and all night too, and at times like this I really don't see how I could give up or cut back even.

lilysma I'm with you on the stress and of cutting down feeds, but at least my DD can't talk yet, as I'm not sure I could cope with the pleading.
DD had no naps today, probably because I wouldn't bf her, but we are on day 6 of only 1st thing and last thing feeds and I'm being strong. I nearly broke at a couple of points, due to the tiredness induced whinging and crying that was pretty much non stop from about 3.30 pm onwards. The only day where I have actually looked forward to going back to work

dita also with you on the thinking I'd be pg by now, and having told loads of people about my plans to be pg before going back to work in July....feel like I am being looked at pityingly when month after month go by and there is no announcement. At least my boss will be pleased. (Not that I'd told him of my plans). I am going back full time, purely for the reason that I thought I'd only be in for 3 or 4 months before going on Mat leave, and that DD would be ok in nursery full time for only a short length of time, now it looks like she'll be in for at least 7 months, and I'm starting to feel the guilt and the sadness of missing our time together already. Oh woe is me....

Aren't we all a barrel of laughs this Saturday evening? I'm home alone (if you don't count a sleeping DD and a stinky cat), and am thinking about pouring myself a small glass of cointreau. Have been doing slimming world for the last 5 weeks and have lost 9lbs, alcohol consumption has been very minimal, and the wine rack is empty....hence the raiding of the random liqueurs
You are all welcome to a tot, or I can offer you amaretto or cherry brandy

dita also meant to say sorry about AF's arrival, but a 12 day LP is pretty good!

Thanks for the commiserations I am feeling a bit better after a hot bath, several glasses of wine and quite a lot of chocolate - figure I might as well while I still can. Loving the random liquers! I would be pissed on Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's rhubarb syrup mules right now if I'd had the foresight to have ginger ale in the house

Good luck on cutting down sbf It's bloody hard work sometimes isn't it? DD has been so stroppy at times today that DH asked whether she was getting my PMT hormones via breastmilk (that can't happen, right? )

Un-Mumsnetty hugs all round.

Hello everyone Sorry I've been AWOL, my cycles were just too weird and it was depressing me thinking about it.

DS is sleeping through the night, woohoo! So big improvement in cycle length last month and I had a proper period - 4 days of heavy-ish bleeding, had to change tampons in the middle of the night even so I feel more positive that things are working more normally!
Today is CD16 and I think I'm OVing. DH and I managed to sneak in a quick SWIing last night even though we had my parents and my brother and his GF staying (was my birthday).

Dita - I completely know what you mean about the milestones. It is my brother's wedding in 2 months and I really thought I would be 4/5 months pg and able to tell all the extended family. As it is the 'best' I can hope for is to be vomiting inbetween the speeches!

Lilysma - cutting the BFing is so hard, so emotional

So I'm on a 2WW now, although longest LP has been 11 days which was last month so we will see.

Alibaba fingers crossed for you on your 2WW - your heavy period also sounds positive - a good lining for implantation
I reckon my periods are a bit too light - never thought I'd be wishing for heavier ones though.

I've just bought a book called The Infertility Cure - it is based on recommendations of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is written by a lady who practises that and modern medicine. Will pass on any nuggets of wisdom to you all

Somedays I wish I was less of a 'doer', as I always feel that I have to be proactive in achieving what I want, and this getting pregnant malarkey seems to be getting the better of me at the moment!

alibaba fingers crossed for you here too.

dita was totally the same as you and enjoyed a bottle few glasses of wine once I realised I wasn't pg!

sbf pass me an amaretto - reminds me of being a teenager and raiding the parents drink cabinet! Remind me, were you experimenting with progesterone creams? I am convinced that I have a short LP, but am basing this on just one cycle following my mc. It's probably way too soon to start self-medicating. But like you, I find it hard to sit back and let things take their natural course!

missjackson yes - have used natural progesterone cream for the last 2 cycles (post ov), and it took my LP from 13 to 15 days. Am having a blood test this month so will not be taking it - will be interesting to see if my LP reduces again and if my early spotting returns.

I'm currently toying with the idea of dropping one of my two remaining feeds - DD has coped very well going from 3 to 2, and isn't even asking any more during the day (we are 10 days in). Am thinking that I can drop the morning feed and whisk her straight downstairs for breakfast, and even better DH can share the early morning load (6am for the last few days)and I can get an extra hour of sleep a few times a week. Not sure he'll be too pleased about that, but then I'm never too pleased when he sleeps in till 8 (or later if not working) when I've had to get up at 6!!!

Won't start tomorrow though, as weighing in at slimming world, and the last thing I need is the extra weight from a load of excess milk!

Oooh good luck with that sbf! I must admit that I did enjoy sharing the early starts with dh when I stopped the morning bf. I found that taking up a beaker of cows milk did the trick for us - a new distraction and something to fill his tummy a bit. Ask dh to do the first week perhaps and fingers crossed you'll not look back

Evening ladies, Can I join you all? FannyLogan kindly pointed me in this direction.

I'm still BFing my 19 mo ds. Been TTC for about 3 months now and have recently started charting. I know it's early days but it all happened very quickly before so I think I could be in for a bit of a shock.

Plus, I'm getting on a bit (42) and was worrying that BFing might be also hindering my efforts, making the whole thing even more difficult. But I don't feel ready to wean either, especially if ds turns out to be my only child. Arggh!

I'll keep this brief for now but I'll go back now and try to catch up with the rest of the thread.

Have a good evening everyone.

Hi and welcome coconutfeet, you are in good company here, although things have been a bit quiet around here for the last few days!

SWI is starting for me today or tomorrow (probably tomorrow as feeling completely knackered at the moment!).

Started taking a few more supplements (DH told me that he didn't think I'd gone to Holland and Barret 'to buy the whole shop') based on advice from my new book. And am doing some accupressure on myself, so will let you know if I notice any improvements in my cycle.

Hope you are all enjoying the sunny weekend

Welcome coconutfeet. Nice to see new faces.
It's defo worth reading through the thread if you have the time as there's lots of really useful info.
Most important thing is keep in mind you shouldn't have to wean to conceive and some of the ladies here have given lots of helpful tips. As with anything though we need patience
well I'm hoping to test some time from Tuesday but just don't feel positive at all this month

Good luck for tomorrow lpsmum

I haven't dropped my morning feed, thought I'd wait and see how my cycle is this month in response to the dropped afternoon feed, plus, I don't think either of us are ready for it yet.
Think I may be having some response to my extra supplements - things were a lot more, ahem, lubricated, during yesterday's SWI (apologies TMI), CD15 today and I'm expecting to ovulate in the next few days, the sooner the better as apparently egg quality starts going downhill if ovulation is later than CD18.

Hope you are all well

Right, I've finally caught up with the thread. Sorry to hear about early miscarriages and chemical pregnancies, Miss Jackson and lilysma. It's horrible having your hopes dashed like that.

So, what supplements are you taking SBF?

Have you tested LPsmum?

Was anyone on here charting before? I've noticed a couple of things compared to when I charted previously. The first is that, although I'm ovulating, the range of temps isn't as wide. The pre-ovulation temps aren't as low and the post ovulation temps aren't as high. I also noticed that previously when I ovulated my temperature shot up, whereas this time round the increase was very gradual. I don't know if this means that my progesterone levels are lower. LP is OK though.

I'm trying to cut out daytime feeds and stick to morning and evening only and will see if that has an effect on my charts. Of course, it could all be age related and have nothing to do with BFing.

Right well it looks like made a baby
Did 2 tests yesterday an eBay cheapy and a cb digi and both agree.
We're still numb to be honest. But thrilled too obviously.
Oh girls fingers crossed you'll be celebrating your own news with me very soon x

coconutfeet the book that I am currently reading - the infertility cure by Randine Lewis - has info about LP defect and how a gradual temp increase after ovulation is down to low progesterone - HTH

Supplements I am taking - Agnus Castus, Vitamin B6, Spirolina, L-arginine, Dong Quai, Evening Primrose Oil and a Preconception multi vit. I've been on the first 2 for a while but the rest are based on recommendations from the book for my particular pattern of symptoms. I am also drinking 2 cups of raspberry leaf tea and 2 cups of Birt and Tang's 'cycle tea' each day.

This is my pre-ovulation prescription, it's all change post ovulation, where I drop the Agnus Castus, Dong Quai, EP Oil and RL tea, and take horny goat weed and black cohosh instead.

As you can see, I have spent a small fortune in Holland and Barratt [shy]

Got a +ve opk today, so lots of SWI for the next few days.

x posts [lpsmum]

that's fab fab fab news

Oh lpsmum huge congrats!

Congratulations LP's mum! Fantstic news!

SBF - Sounds like you're single handedly keeping Holland and Barrett in business! I remember hearing good things about that book while TTC ds. I might try and get a copy from the library. Interesting about the slow temp rise. It was you who was using the progesterone cream wasn't it? I'm going to see whether I have the same pattern next month and if so, I might consider trying it.

You mentioned EPO too. Are you taking that to help with the, ahem, lubrication?

Out of interest, is anyone making and major dietary changes? I think that could be my next port of call.

I keep thinking about getting hold of a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, but I'm waiting for pay day. Does anyone know if it's got a reasonable dietary section in it (with info apart from the obvious in it)?

Have a good day eveyone!

[coconutfeet] TCOYF just advises you to stick to the recommended diet for people with PMS and menopausal symptoms, which you can find online.

I have recently cut out caffeine, alcohol, sweeteners, and am restricting refined carbs - joined slimming world 6 weeks ago and have lost nearly a stone too (stubbornly thinking that if I can't be pg, then at least I can be skinny!)

And yes it was me on the progesterone cream - another thing that The Fertility Cure recommends, although I'm having a break from it this cycle as getting my bloods checked at 7DPO. My post ov temps aren't as high as they should be and I get a big dip at 7DPO which is indicative of a faulty corpus luteum.

God I sound obsessed!!! I'm not stressed out about it though, surprisingly, think that if this was TTC#1 then I would be, but having such a wonderful DD takes the edge off it