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.

PS. Dita, no thanks to the BBT offer... unless it's an all-singing-dancing one that slips into your mouth at the same time every morning without waking you, switches itself on, records your temperature, sidles out, settles itself quietly back onto the bedside table and, later, tells you your BBT at a more civilised time - SEVERAL TIMES OVER - just so you don't forget...?

Oh, go on - and then makes you a strong cup of coffee ;)

Lol bird - if it did that, do you think I'd be giving it away?

I must be pre-menstrual. I just burst into tears listening to Lily Allen.

Aw, LittleSilver

Well, I've eaten two Fry's Choc Creams today, in quick succession . Cravings for dark choc are usually a precursor to AF Prob caused by the increase in progesterone, but I guess that could go either way ???

PS. I'm a little bit in love with Lily Allen!

Thanks Bird.

I like Lily Allen too. Weirdly enough "It's Not Fair" was going on in my head non-stop during my labour with dd3 (must have been the GandA). And probably somthign about "lying in the wet patch", as my waters had gone. I remember thinking how very inappropriate that I had that song going round in my head when my mumw as in the room!

As I posted on Nov bus thread, my tww has now been extended til March 22 as FF has re-calculated my O date. Which means I'm alomost def out this month I think. Was telling DH this am and he just said very grumpily, well, you're still bf, that's not exactly helping is it? Bles shim, this is actually the first time we've been "trying for a baby"; the other 3 just tipped up either as happy surprises or "gosh that was quick" moments. I think he feels the pressure, so I am so glad I have you ladies to chat to otherwise I would go mad! It's so nice to talk to others who take their pg tests outside to get a better look at the non-existent line! DH is going to Helmand next year so we're on a bit of a deadline as well. He wants a boy so much.

Sorry, I've rambled. Like I say, no-one else I can talk to about it. I never want to tell people that we're trying, just invites unwelcome questions.

bird I like the sound of your BBT thermometer!

dita thanks for the offer, but I've got 3 in my drawer at the moment.

littlesilver FF can be great, but also confusing - I knew when I ovulated last month, but FF really didn't agree as my LP was shorter the 2 previous cycles, and I don't think it expects LP to vary.

I've just had 2 days of slightly raised temps, am pretty certain that I haven't yet ovulated, but worried in case I have, as didn't start SWI until 2 days ago..fingers crossed for a lower temp tomorrow as more SWI planned for this evening

Well, its friday night and I'm cracking open the home brewed ginger ale. Am stopping my wine consumption for the TTC cause, but a friday night glass of ginger beer can only be described as medicinal! You are all welcome to partake - it is very good if I say so myself!

Ooh, yes please!

Well today is CD16 and my opk showed a faint line but unfortunately DH is out at football today and won't stagger in til gone midnight. So our SWIing shall have to wait til tomorrow .
I currently do just the 2 feeds a day but tbh he barely seems to take any milk so think if this month is unsucessful then I might consider cutting out the feed first thing sob, sob.

Oh, I don't know lpsmum, you could always wait up!

OK, feel free to tell me I am pathetic obsessed, but does anyone esle really like looking at those hpt series some people post on FF and you can see the line getting darker? Though my jaw nearly hit the floor when someone had done something like twelve FR in a row; that must be at least seventy pounds!

A positive OPK for me here today too on CD17, and lots of lovely EWCM too, so more SWI tonight here

lpsmum I second the waiting up (or set your alarm for early tomorrow morning)!

littlesilver I've not looked at much more than my chart on FF (I look at that quite obsessively though), and am not an obsessive HPTer, as my feeling is 'if you are, you are', but I did test 4 times at the start of my last pg, which I thought was quite a lot at the time, but obviously not!

Had a feeding regression today, DD poorly for the first time ever, was sick in her cot in the night, and in our bed this morning. All she wanted to do all day was suckle. Poor little mite. Fingers crossed it won't delay ovulation for me, as things are looking good for that at the moment.

Happy Mum's Day!

I had been thinking it would be nice to get a BFP on Mother's Day... but decided against testing today as still not 100% sure when I ovulated, have had no signs of implantation/early pregnancy symptoms AND only have one of my (Internet cheapy) HPTs left! You have to laugh at yourself - it's faintly ridiculous sitting on the loo, holding back the flow, and trying to decide whether to POAS or not to POAS...

Must order some more tomorrow. I said in an earlier posting that I was unconvinced of their quality/reliability, but I now reckon they're ok. Apparently they're cheap because they're the "no frills" variety used in hospitals/GP surgeries. I got them from Amazon (pack of 10) along with 10 OPKs and my BBT (see this page). You can also get them directly from Home Health Ltd (check out this link).

My DD (15 months) has just handed me a card (DH is hiding behind door) and wandered off nonchalantly .

LittleSilver - loved the Lily Allen story. I hooked my iPod up to a stereo in the labour room and had a bit of a playlist going on. As things started to kick off DH thought it would be a good idea to opt for a classical megamix. Just as events were approaching a real crescendo on came "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana (as most will know it's more popularly renowned as music from "The Omen"). I don't remember much but I DO recall dissolving into hysterics at that point as DH legged it across the room to find something "more appropriate"!

Oh, so funny, DD's just come back and handed me a bunch of onions from the larder (for some strange reason she loves to carry these about the kitchen and deposit them in different places!). I had better go and be Mum. Have a lovely day all.

Happy Mum's Day everyone! Littlesilver re Lily Allen, I seem to cry at everything ever since I got pregnant (4 years ago now!)

I'm a bit freaked out because I am bleeding (CD 23 and exactly 7 after I think ovulation occurred) So either its implantation or my cycle is now well and truly f*ed! The thing is it's quite red and more than just a spot, but not as much as period 'flow' (yet). I did have what I think was implantation bleeding with DD but it was just a quick flash of red. This is heavier. Not sure what to think! And nothing to do except wait .

lilysma how have you got on? Hoping the bleeding stopped now the bean has implanted itself .

Anyone testing soon? Specifically early next week? I am on CD 30 and don't have a clue how long cycle is so was going to wait til CD 36 (mon) to test. IF BFN I will kickthecat and consider herbalist.

Oh yeah, Bird just bought pack of 10!

Hi all ,
lilysma let us know how you are getting on

littlesilver think I may be ovulating now(ish), so will be testing in a couple of weeks.
Are your cycles back to normal? I can't remember if you said they were, or if you are self medicating (like I am), or just waiting patiently

Thanks for the interest ! Well, have only the faintest of faint spotting today (definitely less than yesterday) but it is still basically a waiting game, I think .

The earliest I can test is Friday I think, but of course events may overtake me if spotting gets heavier (i.e. more likely to be AF on its way). Is that too early for you littlesilver?!

It's wierd as it is either good news or quite bad news .

I am also planning to kick the cat consider acupuncture, herbalist, nutritionist etc, etc!

The latter only if BFN, obviously

Hi all
sorry been a bit busy round here recently!
I usually test around the 25th.

I have to say this thread is great as I feel a bit of an outsider on the normal busses! I mean how can I talk about AF when the last time I saw her for any great length of time was over 6 years ago

Lilysma, sorry to hear about the bleeding. It's so hard to know what's going on in there sometimes. Glad it's eased off now. Here's hoping the end of the week brings some good news for you - and provides some encouragement for the rest of us

Well, I caved in yesterday and used up my last cheapy Internet test (BFN). I've ordered some new ones but they won't arrive until Wed at the earliest, so I begged DH to buy a not-so-cheap one on the way home from work. My plan was to POAS with FMU tomorrow, but my impulsiveness/obsessiveness got the better of me and I POAS about an hour ago. I could swear there was a very faint positive, but I'm not 100% sure - it's probably my mind playing tricks on me. Took it apart, held it up to the light, showed it to DH (he thought he could see something) - but it really was open to interpretation...

...So, I have a restless night ahead waiting for morning to arrive so I can go and waste money on another not-so-cheap test, this time digital I think. Just to eliminate this horrible uncertainty. Fingers crossed (for all of us over the coming weeks).

Ooh bugger my premenstrual symptoms are kicking in (pressure/cramping in lower back and vagina - sorry if TMI , general anxiety and lack of concentration)).

So I guess the bleeding was just my cycle being well and truly screwed . Although ironically that has slowed to an 'is it/isn't it?' level.

Feeling very fed up, can't concentrate at work. Had baby/pregnancy dreams last night so obviously had started to hope subconsciously...

I bloody hate the two week wait . I know this must be a bit wierd for those of you who don't have anything so regular and nicely defined as a two-week wait, but that's where I am....maybe I should be on one of the other buses...

Oh dear lilysma Bird how exciting, any news? You haven't posted yet!

sbf I very rudely ignored a question from you, sorry, I didn't mean to! DD1 is 4, DD2 is 2 and DD3 10 months. I am determined to stop bf this week. AF got me this am, making this cycle 30 days long. Actually I'm reasonably OK about it, we didn't SWI on anyhwere near the right days due to FF telling me I Ov'd on CD9, so I gave things a rest between CD 15-20 (D'oh! emoticon) At least my cycle seems reasonably OK, FF re-calculated my Ov date to CD 18, which gives me a 12 day lp which seems reasonable.

Toni Weschler's fertility book came through the post today and I had a longread skim whilst DDs were watchingCbeebies reading Proust. I startled them horribly by laughing like a loon over a photo of a woman proudly demonstrating the length of her cervical mucus hanging off her finger *a most impressive ten inches) Said photo is juxtapositioned next to one of her son that was conceived that cycle.

Sorry haven't posted sooner.

Tested this afternoon with a digital Clearblue...

......BFP !

Didn't post earlier as was feeling really for you, Lilysma and didn't quite know what to say to make it feel better. Felt that anything that came from me was going to sound smug or self-satisfied (which, incidentally I'm not - so I hope I don't come across that way).

Genuinely in shock. Very happy, of course, and immensely grateful for all the support I've received here (the introduction to FF definitely made a world of difference to the accuracy of my timing and efforts), but it's amazing how clearing one hurdle makes way for a whole new world of obsessions and anxieties (once the initial elation dies down). Have miscarried before, and bled fairly substantially through last (successful) pregnancy. All very precarious at this early, early stage - but I know that you've all been there (and will be again I'm sure) so you don't need me to tell you what it's like on this particular rollercoaster!

Congratulations birdonthewing! Don't worry about smugness/self satisfaction, it's great news. Keeping everything crossed for you!

Bird that's wonderful news....our first graduate! What is your EDD?

Thought I'd repost our stats list in order to move you to a new 'graduates' section!

smallblackflowers; TTC#2; Cycle 3; BF 12 mo DD; age 34
DitaVonCheese; TTC#2; Cycle 5; BF 17 mo DD; age 33
Alibaba; TTC#2 iminently; BF 19 mo DS; age 32
LPsmum; TTC #2: cycle 2; BF 15 mo ds; age 32
QueenFee TTC#4 No AF yet BF 8 mo DS; age 28
iloveholidays; TTC #2; No AF yet; BF 11mo DD; age 29

graduates

Birdonthewing: TTC#2; Cycle 6; BF 15 mo DD; age 34; BFP 16/3/10

littlesilver I re read TCOYF last night (yes, all of it), and had to smile at the EWCM photo too.
It led me to order some natural progesterone cream from the internet. I think I ovulated today, had a crampy feeling that I think may have been ov, so will instigate night 7 of SWI tonight.
Fingers crossed it is as DD is still poorly, no appetite for anything but BM, so feeding has gone through the roof.

littlesilver (again ), thanks for telling me about your DDs - and good luck with stopping BF too. I don't know when I'll be ready to take that step as DD is still very dependant on it (even though usually only 3 feeds per 24 hrs)