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,
Hope it's okay if I join you? I'll try and read the thread later, I started to read some a couple of weeks ago - but thought I was sure to be pregnant this month, not so.

I'm 34 yrs old and still breastfeeding dc20 mths. My periods returned a couple of months or so after the birth. We've been ttc for approx 5 months. I've been using Clearblue fertility tests and getting positives.

Cycle is regular, approx 28 days, but have been getting something I can only describe as 'pre period' pains, a few days before my actual period - not sure if this is significant?

I don't know what else to try, and dd is not ready to give up breastfeeding yet, am beginning to think stopping will be the only way to get pregnant.

Just wanted to let you know that I miscarried this week. Just back from the hospital and they've confirmed everything is gone. Very sad but we are ok and supporting each other.

Does anyone think this might be because of breastfeeding? He only has twice a day now?

Oh LadyGG, I am so so sorry :( I'm no expert but I'd be surprised if bfing twice a day has an effect - I thought it only really affected implantation and that bfing through pregnancy was safe (unless you have a history of miscarriage maybe? have a vague memory of something like that). I think it's probably just one of those things - don't know whether that helps or not. Glad to hear that you are doing okay and supporting each other. Just so sorry to hear your news :(

So so sorry LadyGG :( I would have said the same as Dita, I think it affects implantation but not once you're actually pregnant.

Thank you so much for the info, Dita, I'll look into it.

O LadyGG, so sorry to hear your news. That is heartbreaking.

Like the others said, from what I've read from experts so far, there is no evidence that once your pregnant, breastfeeding affects that pregnancy. My DS is like yours, drinks twice a day. I do find that I am REALLY hungry these days - could be a sign that my body is kind of pushing itself a bit too far?

I will have my first scan in two weeks. (It felt strange making that appointment - this pregnancy is still a bit surreal). But I think I'll call and ask my GP what he thinks about breastfeeding and early pregnancy this Monday.

Lady GG - So so sorry to hear that. I've been there, it's awful. I really feel for you. I agree with the others. It's much more likely to be "one of those things" that you'll never know. And there's no reason why you won't be able to have a healthy pregnancy after this. I hope you're resting well and looking after yourself.

Welcome to all the new people.

And Dita, sorry to hear about your disappointment. I was getting really excited for you...

Thanks coconut, I was getting a bit excited for me too :( It doesn't help that DH doesn't really believe I was pregnant, makes it all feel a bit lonely/makes me feel like a crazy lady, but there definitely definitely was a line, though bit fainter than I'd expect at CD28 (thought I was testing CD26 when I did the test, but presumably it was faint because my hormone levels were dropping). Also doesn't help that I've felt unbelievably pg today - exhausted beyond belief, sick, headachey, suffering from insomnia for the past two nights (last two were symptoms for me last time, though not at four weeks!). Not sure what's going on there.

Also bit gutted because I really wanted a May or June baby after autumnal DD (though obviously I'll take what I can get!). My accounting had gone skewiff at some point and I thought it would be a July baby if we got pg this month, so was very excited to realise (via this thread) that I was a numpty and it would have been a May baby after all - felt like a sign. But hey, I never expected it to stick and there's always next month for my June baby :)

Hi btw 4 1/2 p - sorry, missed your post before +ive OPKs and regular cycles sound promising :)

Dita

A lot of people on this thread have experienced chemical pregnancies haven't they. I wonder if it's to do with the BFing or whether we're just all obsessed and testing early so we notice them more.

Funnily enough I had a very faint line on one of those supposedly 10miu internet cheapies yesterday but a BFN with a First Response. I tested again this morning with a different brand of internet cheapie and got a stark white. I've had some strange symptoms this month but have it could just be down to the natural progesterone cream I've been using.

Oh, and I've stopped BFing! I've been thinking about it for ages and finally decided to just do it as I'm pretty sure it's holding me back from getting pg. I was really sad and a bit teary at first but ds has been fine, and that was my main concern. He's two next month so I don't feel like I've done too badly.

So I'm no longer TTC while bfing. But I'd love to pop in from time to time and see how you're all getting on.

Oh Coconut, I am strongly in the line is a line camp so tentatively excited for you! What CD are you on? Are you testing again tomorrow?

Congrats on getting to two years (near as dammit) as well and on weaning going so well. DD is two in a couple of weeks and shows no sign of slowing down :( I was thinking yesterday how much I would like to stop now but I can't see any way of doing it without distressing her a lot and I don't want to do that. She is going to be re-nightweaned pretty abruptly when we move into our new place in a couple of days though

Oh yes, and please keep posting in here! :)

Nah - Massive temp drop this morning so AF definitely on the way. It must have been an evap. Gah!

Dita, each time we dropped a feed, I was soooo worried that ds would be distraught and he's been fine. You might find that your dd is better than you think (hopeful!). Each time we've done anything drastic like that I've gone and slept on the sofa for a few nights so that ds can't see me, then dp has dealt with it all, which makes it much easier. That way ds still gets loads of cuddles and a nice warm body to cuddle up to but without the temptation of lovely milk to distract him. Good luck anyway!

Please don't leave us Coconutfeet! We should make it the 'TTC when bfing/have bf at some point in the past' thread :o

Sorry to all who have AF now, how disappointing :(

Oh, and welcome to fourpence, sorry, i missed your post the first time around!

Hi all, I've talked to my GP on the phone this morning and he recommends that I'd gradually stop nursing DS, but NOT because it could cause miscarriage. He said it would be a bit much for my body - nursing while pregnant.

However, I've read that supply will dwindle during 4th month or so. DS can stop on his own account.

I came across this site: it's Dutch but there are many motivating pictures of mothers who tandemfeed: www.borstvoeding.com/kindjeaandeborst/tandem-voeden/ Perhaps a bit of a boost amidst all the dissappointment.

LadyGG I'm so sorry, hope you are looking after yourself.

Dita it was sounding so promising. Here's to June...

Coconutfeet I had a massive drop in temp when I was pg with DD, I had to get up at 5am to catch a train instead of 6.30am and my temp was much lower than normal. Obviously , the next day taken at the proper time it was back up again so fingers crossed...

Looks like I was right about oving a fortnight ago, AF (or a more substantial version of it than I had last time) appears to be starting - nice to know I can work out what's going on even after all this time!

Am mostly chuffed that there seems to be a least a vague cycle happening now, although a bit of me is obviously gutted that DH and I had that bug at the potentially crucial point a few weeks ago.

It's also cheered me up because yesterday I had 2 people ask me in front of others if I was pregnant again yet/when I was planning to be . Apart from the rudeness of it , it made me start to panic about the complete lack of AF this far on given my old bird status.

Random thought for the day:

It's been that long since I had AF (about 18 months if you don't count lochia), that I'm worried I'll have forgotten what to do! :o

Oh, and Beveridge, it does annoy me when people ask if you are pregnant/planning to be or not. My SIL is terrible for this, she's pregnant now and won't stop asking us when we're going to have another one :( The other day, on hearing that DS is now 9 months old, said 'Oh, 9 months? You could have had another one by now!'

Oh poop, sorry Coconut :( but congrats on the fledging cycle Beveridge :)

Kate I thought that too re AF I have become really squeamish about tampons and hardly use them at all now, despite not liking the mess of pads - not sure what's going on there!

And oh yes, it's actually been so long that people have stopped asking about #2! Though every time I say I'm tired or feeling sick or whatever I do have to specify that I'm not actually knocked up. And my granny did put her hand on my belly the other day and do an excited gasp in my face because I was reading the baby names column in the Telegraph, despite the fact I do that every single time I visit her

Prima That site is great! And who knew that 'boerstvoeding' is Dutch for bfing!

Love the term 'fledgling cycle' Dita!

Hello! Just popping my head round the door to see how you are all getting on.

Congratulations prima . I was a little worried about BF in the early weeks of my pg, as it caused a little cramping, but 20 weeks down the line all is fine and dandy. Not sure quite how much milk I have left but DD still nurses first thing and at bed time, so even if my milk has dried out she is still getting some comfort (and I'm getting another 15 mins in bed in the morning)

I had my 20 week scan today, and to my complete astonishment am expecting a boy. I was convinced he was another girl as my pregnancy is practically identical to my 1st. Was told that my placenta is too low at the moment too, so have to be rescanned at 32 weeks to see if it has moved. Most do apparently. Really don't want a c section, so it had better get out of the way!

Hope you are all ok, and keeping my fingers crossed for some more good news soon. x

Hello everyone
Hope you are all OK and big hugs to those who have had bad news recently.

Well I haven't posted for a while but DD stopped breastfeeding a few weeks ago, after I night weaned her she seemed happy to call it a day completely! That resulted in a 3 week AF for me so I have no idea what CD I'm on but probably 40-something! Had a BFN last weekend but to be honest it would take a psychic to work out what's going on with my cycle..... Had similar probs when came off BCP TTC #1 so long cycles not unusual for me.

stargirl x

Hello! Can I re-join? My periods returned last month so we're officially ttc! I am sure I will be here for a while, I've had one period, am not charting (still nightfeeding so thought it not worth it due to the 3-hour-stretch thing) and DH has started a new job which involves lots of travel.

I haven't been following the thread so I am off to catch up. Will pop back this evening.

Lovely to see you, smallblackflowers, I'm so so glad all is going well for you! :o

Stargirl and Hulla, welcome back :)

Another step has been made for me, AF returned this morning! Along with some rather uncomfortable cramps which I haven't had since I was a teen Really glad that things are starting to get back on track, it would be so good to be able to start TTC properly once my operation is over.
Oh, and I have remembered what to do re AF :o

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Been thinking about you, LadyGG, especially since you've not been back on the thread.

Hello Kate, I have been lurking but not much to report so not posted. The bleeding all stopped and got a BFN so think body trying to get back to normal now. And was first day back at work today. Just really want to get pregnant again I think - hopefully will not take too long.

Good that AF came back, how old is your LO? When is your op?

I'm glad you've come back LadyGG. Will you start trying again on your next cycle?

DS is 9 months old. My op's on 27th October, I've definitely got mixed feelings about it!

Can I ask those in the know about all things TTC related... do I remember reading that breastfeeding can cause a short luteal phase which translates into not much time between ovulation and AF? Just interested as about a week ago, I remember thinking that I was getting EWCM, which would fit with that theory, and also, this AF is lighter than I would expect, but presumably that would fit too as there has been less time for lining of uterus to build up?

Not sure. But think my luteal phase has been fine. Might just take a cycle or two for AF to get back to "normal". Just bear in mind that oftern prengagncy resets your cycles so what was "normal" for you before having DS won't necessarily be the case now. Mine seem to have gone pretty irregular with late ovulation whereas before I used to ov pretty early.