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.

I really am sad for you, Mama. I know how hard it is. Big hugs from here too. I bet you'll fall pregnant again pretty quick. I had one AF after my mc (at 7 weeks) and then fell pg. If you've only had one mc then your chances are still only 1 in 5 of miscarrying again (same as anyone). It's just stupid bad luck. Doesn't make it easier but hope you find the stats of some comfort.

xxx

Ok, with encouragement from Mamafoof, I will post my sorry story, if only because it contains a tiny nugget of information that might help.

You may remember that I have made (possibly patronising-sounding) references to having had a "contraceptive injection" in the past. I live in Germany and what I was given is sold under the name Sayana here. I had googled it before and come to the conclusion that it wasn't Depo, but started googling again after reading the most recent "depo is the most evil stuff ever" thread on here and realised it was. (For anyone who hasn't read any of those threads, they are full of people saying they took five years to conceive after stopping depo, depo should only be given to women who do not plan to have any more kids, etc. The German forums said basically the same.)

Fortunately I got the new version of depo which has a third less hormone in. My gynaecologist said it would be okay when breastfeeding and that it was 100% effective. To be fair, she must have hinted that it might take a while for menstruation to return, because she said something about going on the pill for a month as a kick start, but at the time I wasn't in a rush to get pregnant again.

I'm just feeling frustrated and impatient. I started spotting again yesterday, but it's pretty much gone now, exactly like the last bout 8 weeks ago. I assume this is breakthrough bleeding and I haven't ovulated. My temps are hovering around 36.4-36.5 and haven't dropped and also the bleeding was so light. I guess there's nothing I can do but wait and chart to see when I might finally ovulate.

The nugget of information, Mamafoof, if you're still reading, was that some women have low progesterone levels after being on depo and cannot support a pregnancy, but that this is easily rectified by progesterone supplements, which I guess you take from ovulation. I can't imagine you'll need them, though, I think ladygg is right and you'll be pregnant again in no time.

mama I haven't any experience of this I'm afraid (my specialty subjects are PTSD, 3rd degree tears and post-partum incontinence )

I have read about natural progesterone cream though and bought some this month which I haven't even taken out of the envelope because I got my bfp before the parcel arrived. You are more than welcome to it if you like? I'll link the website so you can read about it if you like xx

here

oh I'm sorry Hulla , I thought you had been through something similar but must have meant LadyGoneGaga - apologies to you both Ladies, my brain is mush at the moment.

I am so sorry you went through this LadyGoneGaga but so happy you are pg now . Can I ask how many cycles you had before you ttc? I am feeling guilty that we started on our first cycle - which wasn't even a proper af.....I bled one day and then ovulated on my usual day 21 and managed to conceive. I was always a bit worried deep down as I wasn't convinced I was totally back to normal with my hormones and all. So was just wondering how long it takes to get back to normal as don't want to go through this again but equally, time is ticking and don't want to wait too long! Am also wondering whether bfing had any part to play but think probably more to do with my hormones.

Thanks so much Hulla - v kind of you. Think I'll wait to see what happens first otherwise I may go crazy but will def think about the cream in the future - thanks for the tips

Thanks silkenladder - that's interesting stuff. Good thing you had the new depo. Will you be taking progestorone supplements and do you get those from your gp? Hope all goes well for you and soon!

Hi Mama, Well my cycles came back when DS was 19 or 20 months I think. Then we didn't start ttc until after he was two so prob about 5 or 6 cycles. But not because was concerned about hormoes, just didn't want them too close together.

After the mc I started trying straight away but had a really crap LP (7 days) taht first month and this is the second month (but really first "proper" cycle).

You know chances are the mc is absolutely nothing to do with it being your first cycle and prob just a random chromosomal thing. Don't let it put you off. Dust yourself down and get back on the horse as soon as you feel ready. ((Hugs))

Thanks for the sympathetic ear, Mamafoof. I hope it wasn't insensitive to post a moan about my clearly self-inflicted lack of fertility. I just needed to get it off my chest somewhere and DH doesn't think it's anything to worry about (he's probably right, but still).

It seems that Hulla and I have both understood that your mc was caused by low progesterone, whereas it could of course be the other way round. Did they tell you at the EPU? If it was an unviable bean then that's just bad luck and not related to anything else. Didn't Beveridge or someone on here get pregnant first cycle?

Tbh I hadn't even considered my own progesterone levels yet. I only had one shot of depo and I think the problems were in women who had had it for several years. I need to produce enough oestrogen to ovulate first I suppose.

< silkenladder vows never to go anywhere hormonal contraceptives again and will rely on FAM in future>

I killed the thread, didn't I.

Hope you are bearing up, Mamafoof

I just read this

Low progesterone, however, is usually a symptom of an nonviable pregnancy, and not the cause. Doctors often prescribe progesterone suppositories out of patient pressure when the hormone levels are low, but their use is controversial and usually completely ineffective.

From here

You haven't killed it! I'm still lurking, just don't have a lot to add, plus seem to have lost my posting mojo atm

Didn't kill it at all! Trying to keep busy over the weekend so didn't have a chance to pop on here. Thanks silkenladder. Spoke to the EPU who said that the low progestorone is a symptom of the miscarriage and that they did not think anything was a problem at this stage particularly since I have a dd. Just down to "bad luck".....

Still ummming and ahhhing about whether to ttc straight away as wondering whether things went wrong because we caught the first cycle after dd was born (when she was 11mths) and things weren't back to normal....but somehow don't think I'll have the self control not to try if I am ovulating!

Hope all you ladies are well and have a great week xx

I've been away which is why I haven't posted...

So so sorry Mamafoof :( The right time to TTC again is when you feel it's right. Have been thinking about you, hope you're doing ok.

Update on what's going on with me - I have had two bouts of EWCM so far this cycle and have made good use of them One of them was on CD14 and one a few days later. So, with the consideration that AF starts 2 weeks after ovulation, should I wait until CD 31 to test (or later if I get any more EWCM)?? I am fairly patient with testing so probably won't test early (also worried about chemical pregnancy, so would rather be unaware if I had a chemical pregnancy and then AF arrived, IYSWIM). With DS, I didn't test until 16DPO!! I know you'll all be shouting at me to chart and do temps etc, but I'm still a little bit head in the sand about TTC and it seems a bit 'formal' somehow

Evening ladies, I just thought I'd pop back and see how you were all getting on. Congratulations to all those with BFPs!

Mamafoof - Sorry to hear about your loss. I've just experienced the same as you. I don't know if you remember me but I was on this forum a while ago. I stopped BFing when my ds was almost two as I was convinced that it was stopping me from conceiving. It seems I was right - The following month I got a BFP but miscarried only a week after finding out. Like you I tested again only to find the lines were actually getting fainter, so I knew it was coming. The next month (this month) I got pregnant again, and the same thing happened. The only difference this time was that my positives were much stronger and it took a bit longer to go wrong. I wondered whether it was something to do with only just stopping BFing, and my hormones still getting back to normal, or whether it was just one of those fluky things that just happen. Sorry this isn't really any help to you at all, but I just wanted to say that I totally understand how you're feeling and that frustration of not really having any answers. Hope you're OK.

So sorry to hear that Coconut . Will they do some tests now?

Oh Coconut I'm so sorry. Hope you manage to get some answers.

Kate, peeonastick.com says you should wait to test until 19 days after you last SWI to be sure either way but I guess you can just see how you go - hold off as long as you can and test if you think there might be a reason to iyswim.

Oh I'm so so sorry Coconutfeet - thanks so much for sharing. It is so horrible seeing the lines get fainter as you know deep down something isn't right despite what we find on google.

Really don't know what the answer is and maybe it is the hormones getting back to normal but then again, there are so many ladies here who continue to breastfeed and have healthy pregnancies so could just be horrid luck. Will you be trying again soon? I really hope you feel strong again soon and my thoughts are with you.

Kate - I admire your amazing self control!! Fingers crossed for you this month!

Hope you're both doing great LadyGoneGaga and Dita

So sorry Coconut :( Please keep coming back and talking to us and let us know how you get on xx

Dita - thanks for that :) Testing 19 days after would mean testing the day after DS's 1st birthday, what a good birthday present that would be :o That would be CD 37 though, even with my amazing self control I'm not sure I'll be able to wait that long Also don't think I'd want to sit through DS's birthday wondering either way when I should be concentrating on him, so I might test the day before if AF hasn't arrived by then. It's sooo much harder when your cycle length isn't as predictable, last time I just waited until CD 28 and then went out and bought a test

Glad you're all still here. I was just a bit paranoid that I'd driven everyone away

So sorry to hear about what you're going through Coconutfeet Will you be having any tests?

Kate you really are on my wavelength. I didn't test until 19 days post-SWI with DD (probably about 17dpo) and I would also want to wait next time round until I was fairly sure anyway. In TCOYF it says you can assume you are pregnant if you have 18 high temperatures in a row (temp goes up at ovulation and falls again when you get your period), but that many women will already know a day or two before that because they will know how long their luteal phase should be. I know you don't chart, but since you have an idea of when you might have ovulated, testing 17dpo seems pretty reasonable. Good luck

Dita and LadyGG nice to know you're still lurking. How are you getting on?

Not too bad bar the paranoia. I don't really believe it's going to happen and won't relax until past 12 weeks I think (if then). Ah well, I'm doing all I can so just have to wait and see. Time has slowed down - am only 5 weeks tomorrow!

Hello everyone, I'm still lurking & reading but I'm away from home and have been since last week so posting from my phone which is just rubbish really.

coconut I'm really sorry. I hope you'll come back to the thread when you're ready.

Silkenladder I'm so sorry you're having to go through all of that. Your story really upset and shocked me. I have a friend who's been having depo injections since about 2002 and I just had to say something. I tried to make it a light comment (if you can about such a thing) and she said she'd look into it. So thank you for sharing, I hope it all sorts itself out for you soon.

Kate good luck! I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Evening :)

LadyGG I'm the same - cannot believe the past two years have gone so fast and the last two weeks have just draaaaaagged. Also don't believe it's going to happen, not helped by my lack of symptoms (except feeling really sick today, hooray!), plus the fact that DH keeps forgetting!

Hulla, completely forgot - the scan place got back to me eventually to say that they used to do free gender scans but they now charge £30, and I can't have one until 16 weeks. Erm, not even remotely what I asked! I replied reiterating it was the reassurance scan I was after and haven't heard back, so might give them a call and see if I get an answer that way (though I am deeply phone-phobic) but might try Warrington EPU first to see what their policy is. Not much help, sorry

Have just booked a private viability scan as so anxious. But not til 8 weeks. Which will be week before Christmas - not sure whether that a good or bad thing. Is £60 but prob worth it for the reassurance.

I think it's worth it, though not sure we can afford it so will be checking out all the local EPUs! I was 6 weeks yesterday and was planning to try and get a scan around 7 weeks but am finding myself putting it off - I think partly I feel I'm better off not knowing. Hope everything goes well for you this time.

Gosh, I remember the first weeks dragging so slowly when I was pregnant with DS, it was possibly the longest 12 weeks of my life! Hope you all get the reassurance you need soon.

I went for an appointment with the consultant today to check up after my operation. It's all good, healed really well, his main message seemed to be 'go forth and have lots of sex' :o The only slightly concerning thing seemed to be that he was rather enthusiastic to offer a caesarean next time if I wanted one Ah well, hopefully it's not too long before I have that sort of thing to think about :)

Glad to hear you are all systems go