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.

LifeOfKate I think you need a luteal phase of at least 10 days for implantation. I hadn't thought to look out for my luteal phase this month (havent noticed any EWCM but wasn't looking). I think it's a consideration but apparently, like LGG says, it can take a few cycles to get back to full fertility.

It might be worth keeping a record of when you see EWCM and how long it takes for AF to appear. If you think your LF is short I think preogesterone cream is supposed to help but you'd need to see your GP I think.

If I have just written a load of rubbish, someone please correct me. DD was up feeding constantly last night. I am shell shocked today. I don't think I've had a night like that since the 4 month growth spurt

If you temp as well that will give you a definitive answer - try Fertility Friend - free to sign up, although you WILL become obsessed. It's useful to see whether you are ovulating as sometimes the first few AF's can be non-ovulatory.

I have an app on my phone for tracking periods and fertility

Another excuse reason to get an iphone then!

Good to see everyone.

Weird things happening here. AF last week lasted only 24 hours and was v.light - fair dos after all this time but then I had another stint of v.v.light bleeding 7 days later (stopped within 24 hours again).

Trying to chart with FFriend (not temps, just CM)to see where this goes...

Evening ladies. I've not had chance to catch up on the thread but didn't want you to think I had disappeared after one post. I got a BFP last week and am a little in shock. It's still very early days so I am really nervous (but very happy).

Good luck to everyone and wishing you lots of BFPs :)

Ooooh, Congratulations, Goodvibrations!

Congratulations Goodvibrations fabulous news!

Ooh excellent Goodvibrations! Hope you are keeping well!

Update from me is that on Monday morning after a weekend of suddenly feeling tired, cold and off food I decided to clear it up once and for all and quickly test with the one cheapy stick I had left in my bathroom cabinet.

to find 2 lines!!

Still quite ! I'm bit cautious because of the 2 episodes of spotting/bleeding I've had but I was feeling terrible this morning so am hoping that's a good sign.

Hope it's catching...

Congratulations Beveridge. I hope it's catching too

Sorry I've not been back since last week, I went away for a long weekend.

Thanks for the info, I think I'm going to hold on and see what next month brings in terms of when I get next AF and my operation.

Delighted to see all the BFPs, congratulations all! I definitely hope it's catching too! :o

Hi everyone. Hope you don't mind if I join you.

DD is 16 months, on morning and evening feeds only, but I haven't had proper AF yet. Had contraceptive injection back in Feb, next would have been due in June, so I guess that should have worn off by now. Anyway I had some brown blood last week and thought AF was arriving, but it only lasted 2 days. Hopefully a sign that things are getting back to normal.

Did you ladies have irregular AF when it returned while breastfeeding? I'm a bit worried now that I could be waiting a while for the next one.

Congratulations to all with BFPs.

Big big congrats Goodvibrations and Beveridge! How lovely to pop back (temporary internet access while visiting DMIL) and see some fab fab BFPs

Welcome silkenladder. My AF was regularish when it returned but my cycles were very long to start with. It was only really when we nightweaned (the first time!) that they snapped back to 28 days.

No real news from me, just wanted to mark my place. On 2WW at the mo. It's DH's birthday on Saturday and AF due on Friday so hoping he'll have an extra birthday present this year :)

congrats to the new beans :)

I am lurking here regularly still!

I have given up all hope of af returning till DS is weaned. We have decided to try and night wean him at half term so it doesn't matter if the kids are disturbed so much.

Good luck Fee. I am a bit that I didn't notice the weaning thread was started by you If it helps, our night weaning has gone much better this time round (!) though she is still waking a couple of times a night - you'd think she'd give up

Forgot to say that I am now also feeding a two year old :) so now well into WHO/Unicef/raging hippy loony pervert territory, depending on which way your views lie

Happy Birthday to your DD DitaVonCheese - where have 2 years gone? My new boss treated me to his views on NTBF recently - "it's for the mother's benefit".

I have bought some agnus castus but I am unsure if I should be taking it all month or just to OV? I read that it can lengthen LP but if you don't take it during the 2ww then how does it work?

I've also picked up some EPO and pre-natal vitamins Not sure if their all ok to take so going to google tomorrow.

I'm off to bed now, to enjoy a selfish night of broken sleep and breastfeeding

Hope everyone else is doing well

Thanks everyone

I forgot how long this first bit is, I think it'll be 5 weeks till the scan (if they're not superbusy)and I feel like I've been pregnant forever already and I only found out a week ago!

Good luck for the weekend Dita! And here's to predictable cycles and BFPs all round

Welcome silkenladder :)

Happy Birthday to your DD Dita :o and good luck on Friday!

Beveridge, the first 12 weeks are definitely the longest 12 weeks of your life! All the daffodils were coming out when I got my BFP with DS and I remember driving to work every day thinking 'when these are all gone again, I'll be able to tell people', which worked well as I love daffodils and always hated when they died again, so it was a nice 'reward' for that, IYSWIM. Hmm, feeling a bit emotional now, sorry about that!

Hi ladies

Can I join you, and ask a question of those who have "made it"?

Did your nipples really hurt? We've just started TTC.
I'm still breastfeeding DD and suddenly I can't feed her any more, my nipples hurt too much. It's only a couple of days since I would have ovulated though, I wouldn't have expected this so soon.

Any advice appreciated. :)

Welcome loopy I had this (started a thread in Breast & Bottle feeding). I am only on my second AF since DD was born (arrived today actually) so I don't know if the sore nipples happen every month - I hope not!

I thought it must be ovulation but couldnt work out if it was the start or the end of ovulation.

How old is your DD? My DD is 20 months so has bf along with food but she eats very little and during the sore-nipple stage she seemed to want it even more - or I just noticed it more. I also got cramps and nausea when she nursed.

I've had my period for a year now, and this is the first time this has happened.

I'm trying to wean her now, I just can't cope with the pain. She's 15 months so should be able to cope with it, but she's screaming and screaming and won't go down for her nap. I started a thread in feeding last night when she wouldn't go to sleep then. I just can't feed her, it's excruciating, but she doesn't understand what's going on. :(

Not a year, (silly, I can't count, forget there were 12 months in a year..) 10 months, sorry.

How long have they been painful? Is it just around ovulation or all month?

Sorry, it sounds like you're going through quite a tough time physically and emotionally x

For about three days now, probably would have ovulated about Saturday ish.

It feels like pins are being stuck in :(

Different kind of sore now, from not feeding, but also the nipple pain, even when she's not had a feed for about 18 hours.
Do you reckon I'm doing the right thing by stopping? I've been trying to for a while but never had the heart to make her miserable, however I have a real reason now, it just hurts too much.

Oh it's really hard making a decision for yourself which you know affects your child but there isn't anything wrong with saying you don't want to carry on feeding, it is your body afterall. Women encourage weaning for all kinds of reasons.

I know when I experienced the same pain (like needles describes it perfectly) it was the first time in ages I didn't enjoy feeding dd. I noticed every feed, rather than them just being a frequent part of our day.

Oh, I have just remembered this:

Hormonal changes

Are you ovulating or about to get your period? The hormonal changes at these times can cause sore nipples for a few days. Typically, both sides will be sore. Many moms of older babies are more bothered with latch on during these times, and it may feel as if baby is clamping down or scraping his teeth on the nipple, even though he doesn't seem to have changed his latch. Mom may also feel generally uncomfortable and even irritated with nursing. Some moms get relief from the soreness by taking evening primrose oil or a calcium/magnesium supplement.

From here and more

The recommended calcium supplement dosage is between 500 mg calcium/250 mg magnesium and 1500 mg calcium/750 mg magnesium (the higher dosage is generally more effective). Calcium dosages this high should not be taken alone, but as a calcium/magnesium (or calcium/magnesium/zinc) combination. Otherwise the calcium will not be adequately absorbed into your body. The amount of supplement depends on the composition of your diet -- the more animal protein, the more calcium/magnesium needed. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, the lower dosage may work fine for you.

Start the supplement when you ovulate, and continue through the first few days of your menstrual period. If periods are irregular, then begin calcium/magnesium at 14 days after the beginning of your last menstrual cycle, or simply take the supplement every day.
Here

I still have hopes to let DD self-wean so I have decided to try the supplements (EPO this month).

If you still want to wean it sounds like you're doing it sensitively with your DD in mind.

Thanks for that Hulla, I waswondering how you're doing? Didn't feed DD all day yesterday (had to express a bit, and they are still really sore). Took her 2 hours to go to sleep last night :( .
Are your feeling better?

How is everyone else getting on?