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.

Morning all. I'm feeling particularly sleep-deprived this morning as DD has a cough, so was coughing every 30 seconds or so most of the night, which wouldn't have been so bad had she not coughed hard enough to vomit - twice So we had to strip the bed, change her pjs, sponge me down etc then lie there wincing and waiting for it to happen again. Tried sitting up in bed nursing for a while in the hope that being more upright would lower the danger of puking but then she got really awake and over-excited (think it was being free of the sleeping bag!) and started crawling around the bed, trying to turn the light on and screaming when restrained. Hoped she would sleep in but she woke up early so I'm up, dressed but unwashed and shuffling round like a zombie.

Ali Yes, in a nutshell - try Googling basal body temperature. Your resting temp (ie first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed) is slightly higher during your luteal phase. It doesn't help predict when you will OV, but if you've recently BDed you can feel smug and over time it can help you build up a picture of your cycle. However, need to take temp same time every day and have at least three (ideally more) hours' sleep immediately beforehand.

well.........................

I took a test this morning, and after the prescribed 10 mins it was negative.......

..........however after 45 mins there was a line

So. I could be pregnant, then again, I could also not be pregnant! Will leave it a couple of days and test again.

Oh how exciting! I have been longing and longing for even an evap line and got nothing, so I am very excited for you! Do you think you'll actually wait a couple of days or do it tomorrow and then indignantly go to the shops for a digital like I would?

sbf, that's unsettling for you when you just want an unequivocal answer (preferably +)! It's so hard to remain patient and not to keep testing...

alibaba, meant to say 'hi' last night but was half asleep so kept my mssg short. I'm empathising; I too am horribly sleep deprived, although sounds like things might be improving for you? 5 whole hours of uninterrupted sleep - wow!! DH & I are trying to get DD to feed less at night. She's used to latching on whenever suits, which can be anything up to 10x/night. The co-sleeping arrangement started due to sheer laziness on my part (although I appreciate the alleged benefits for DD). Even with regular nightwakings, she and I both usually go straight back to sleep after a nuzzle/guzzle. Nevertheless, the time has come to try night-weaning as we'd dearly like to have another, and this seems to be one way of boosting fertility. Easier said than done . Our current strategy is for me to sleep in the spare room (which I find really hard!) and for DH to do the night-time feeds, with bottle - obviously. It's been hard, and there've been plenty of tears. I find it so difficult hiding away in another room and not intervening, but we agreed I could wade in if 5 minutes had passed without any de-escalation. The grand plan seems to be working as she's going for longer stretches without milk and is often able to get back to sleep by just climbing onto Daddy's chest For a while she was getting through to 3/3.30. Two mornings ago she managed 4.30, and it was 5.30 this morning before I had to go through and BF. I'm more knackered now than I was with the previous arrangement, but feel like we're getting somewhere at last!

Lilysma, according to Fertility Friend, being ill (even if there's no fever) can definitely make temps rise. Hope you're feeling reassured.

Dita, re. the acupuncture. You're bringing it all back to me now. I remember feeling very foolish lying there with pins stuck all over me! It definitely requires you to put innate scepticism to one side. Perhaps it's all about the chilling out (if you could call it that) or alternatively the effort to focus on your body. Agree with alibaba, it's upsetting that she was negative about the BF - so many are, sadly Hope DD is feeling better?

Lpsmum, if my DH had any idea how much i spend on HPTs he'd have a fit! Anyone got any tips on where to get them cheaply - online for instance? I got some on Amazon (from Home Health Ltd.) but not convinced of their quality/reliability.

I'm continuing to chart, but there are outliers all over the place. Erratic waking times not helping. Just hoping I can somehow detect a biphasic pattern from the random mess!

Well, joining this thread has been an education in the prevalence of mooncups. I'd sort of heard about them but must admit I hadn't even considered using one. Slap on the wrists for me! Am now considering giving it a go. As for the fossicking, well, I guess it can't hurt... ...can it?

I'm not going to test again until Friday. The line was very faint - I had to ask DH if it really was there (or just wishful thinking!) - he could also see it.
I bought a load of ovulation and preg tests off ebay (75 ov / 25 preg) for about £15. Am desperate for a 'proper' test but DH has said no as we can't afford to be wasting money - he is out of work and I am on mat leave (we are living off his redundancy payout).

And my car was keyed today
The last thing I want to waste my money on is a new paint job. Am feeling really pissed off about it and quite down. I tend to expect everyone to behave like me, and when they don't I get really let down - suppose I need to harden up and expect the worst from everyone

I am sorry about your car sbf

If this is any help, I too had a neg, then a line appear. Said line is dropping books out of her cot as we speak. It's really argh not being sure either way isn't it?

Don't expect the worse from everyone

sbf sorry about your car. My Dh is also out of work. He had a second interview for a job today so fingers crossed but it would mean relocation which I am a bit about
Who ever asked swi-ing I meant Shagging with intent but ig did'nt quite work in context!
Off to buy test tomorrow local £1 shop sell them 3 for £1 so will let you know!
However I am very as I appear to have EWCM today

sbf sorry you have had a rough day and hope that you get a positive result soon to cheer you up .

Thanks for reassurance birdonthewing. I had just come to the conclusion that I was just winding myself up as usual , when of course the temp came down this morning to confirm it!

Whoops dita forgot to reply to you, thanks for the support re temps rising and also good to hear I'm not the only mooncup dodger . Going to bed now as still feeling a bit rough.

thanks guys

Good luck to your DH queen, and I too seemed to have something a bit EWCMy yesterday and have been feeling very ahem damp down below. I keep checking as I think that AF has arrived, but she still hasn't, and there isn't really any evidence of the dampness that I am feeling
Something is definitely up. Perhaps the cocktail of pills I'm taking has really sent my hormones into a bit of a whirl....

Sorry about the car, sbf. Happened to me in a previous life when I lived in the Big Smoke. Infuriating! Am now leading a more rural existence (DH's job led to a relocation for us just before DD was born, Queen). Am a born and bred city-girl, so it's really taken some getting used to - but there are advantages. Lack of car-keying delinquents for a start!

Loved LittleSilver's story about the positive-negative!

Funnily enough I've just been reading about EWCM on Fertility Friend. It says: - "Some cervical fluid after ovulation is possible because the corpus luteum (though its main function is to produce progesterone) produces oestrogen in small amounts. This may cause some fertile-looking cervical fluid, even after ovulation". It goes on to say that if temps etc. show clearly that you've already ovulated, you can be fairly confident you have. It's not uncommon to confuse semen and EWCM (nice!). Also, some women also notice fertile-looking fluid just before menstruation. Finally, it suggests that, if your chart doesn't show clearly that you've ovulated (with a clear and sustained thermal shift), you shouldn't stop having intercourse...

Hi ladies.

Well...the witch arrived today, so bird your EWCM before AF explanation rang true here!

Not feeling to down about it though, as my LP was 14 days which is a significant improvement, and probably down to the vitamin B6. Fingers crossed for the next cycle

The car being keyed was unexpected as I think live in a nice, semi rural town - used to live in Burnage, (Manchester), and would have fully expected regular vandalism there!

Oh, bad luck sbf! I am sorry. Still, great news about extended LP. here's to the next month.

WTF??

I've just updated FF and thought, hmm, what are the days coloured in green for? FF has been down as ovulating on CD9! Have no real idea of my cycle as have been pg/not having af as bf/pg/pg for the past six years, but I do remember in the dim and distant pasthaving a 34 ish day cycle. Argh! I've only SWI'd on day 8 and 10. I would have SWi'd on 9 if I had known!

And, breathe!

Littlesilver I've had fertility friend change its mind before about ov dates - is your coverline solid or dotted? If it is dotted it is just a 'guess', it only goes solid when it is certain.
My varying LP is currently really confusing FF - it doesn't think that I ov'd at all this last cycle any more, even though I have a definite biphasic temp pattern and all the EWCM etc in the right place.

Mooncup update - (another reason to be ok about AF's arrival - I get to use my new purchase) - very pleased so far - I can't feel it at all and no leakage (apologies if TMI!). Only slightly grim bit was the emptying, but I'm sure I'll get used to it

Sorry to hear that sbf, but great that you're seeing the positives. Hopefully you'll nail it this time round and actually SEE a POSITIVE! I'd like to think that the presence of EWCM is a more unambiguous sign of ov than FF's interpretation of your temp fluctuations. And temps themselves can be affected by any number of things.

LittleSilver, if that is the case, am sure there'll still be lurkers from Day 8's BDing, just loitering around in the wings waiting for their lucky break on Day 9

I'm still getting the hang of FF. Temps continue to be rocky. Just found out DH is away on a work conference on the most crucial days for BDing this month. He's even suggesting DD and I go with him!

Oh sbf I'm so sorry, about the car and the witch. Hopefully March will bring better things for all of us. Btw, I've just noticed you're in Lancs - we're in Warrington, so probably not too far away from you.

Queen thanks for explaining swi-ing - better than BDing! I was reading it as a Wayne's World style "sch-wing" which I quite liked

EWCM when I was expecting AF was one of my earliest symptoms when pg with DD ... but I seem to have had it every single cycle this time round.

Thanks sbf; yes, broken line so not terribly convinced, although to be fair to FF it does say you need at least two cycles to chart accurately. TMI alert! CM is kind of stretchy but def not clear, which I am interpreting as not EWCM, but rather its forerunner. SWI on to-do list this weekend, which would make it days 13/14/15 and thus prob good time.

Incidentally I like the way the FF grades my SWI timing! I got a "Good"; can you get an "Excellent"?

Dita, I live NW of Bolton - DH used to work in Birchwood before he was made redundant.

littlesilver I think you get a 'high' rating after 'good' but agree that 'excellent' would leave me feeling much more smug about my SWI timing ability!!

sbf He didn't work for a large phone or construction company did he? DH, my brother and SIL have all worked in Birchwood recently.

I am just getting to the end of a whopping week-long AF so maybe the acupuncturist's "flushing" has done something. Also trying to cut down on feeds a bit - we've had a couple of days this week when DD has only had one feed outside of bed; but then we also had one day where I think she stayed on for the whole of a two hour nap

Just got myself a microscope off ebay, so I can move my obsession to a whole new level It comes with a (used but presumably sterilisable) BBT thermometer (not sure whether it's C or F). I already have one so if anyone would like it, let me know and I'll stick it in the post

Hi all - can I join you? Month 1 of TTC #2 - DD is 7 months and still pretty much breastfed around the clock. Been taking a vit b complex and have been researching Maca which looks to be safe with BF. We took 5 years to conceive DD so I'm very grateful for what I have. But I'd really rather not give up the BF so early in case she turns out to be our only one.

Periods are pretty regular so I guess that's a bonus.

Bit of a chicken & egg situation I guess!

Hi all
well AF turned up today so at least I've now had one full cycle (35 days) so good news in a way.
Welcome JetLi, wow 5 years - good things come to those that wait eh.

My boy has been poorly this week which really makes me nervous for when the time comes that I am pg or have a newborn as there's no way I couldve coped this week! Being a mummy is so the hardest the job in the world isn't it

Hi and welcome Jetli - another wow for the 5 years to wait for your DD.

Lpsmum glad to hear AF has arrived - Its nice to know things are sort of back to normal, and that you have a reference point for ovulation and your next (hopefully not!) AF.

Dita my DD's favourite place to nap is attached to my boob too. Have discovered just yesterday that she falls asleep when in my patapum back carrier if I am doing housework (I usually only use it out walking, but was at the end of my tether yesterday). Was painting the hall with her in it today, and as soon as she is asleep I offload her onto the sofa and have a wonderful hour of doing stuff rather then an hour watching tv with her attached to me! Fingers crossed that it will continue to work this well.

jetli fingers crossed for you. If it's any inspiration I have a friend who's first took her 7 years to conceive (she had given up!) then #2 arrived 13 months later

poas no I haven;t done it yet had a bus week... note to self buy poas tomorrow