Trying to conceive with ME, advice for pregnancy and postpartum?

[MEandPregnancy]

Finally feeling brave enough to start ttc - I have ME.

Does anyone have this and has any advice they can offer for pregnancy and postpartum?
If I’m lucky enough to get pregnant I will formula feed so that my mum and dh can help. I have a few things in place already and I’ve just started having a cleaner come twice a week, but is there anything else ? I’m really hoping to find others who have been through this to share coping strategies and for support!

My children are grown up now and I've had ME for nearly 40 years. I found breast feeding really convenient because I didn't have to faff about with making bottles, I could co-sleep, baby never had to wait while I warmed a bottle so they never cried for more than a few seconds and when I was exhausted I could lie on my side and feed, also I could give them comfort when we were both frazzled.

I'm sure bottle technology has come on a lot since then with sterilisers and bottle warmers, I'm absolutely not trying to change your mind on how to feed your baby, I'm just telling you how breastfeeding benefited me, when I was so fatigued and by myself a lot of the time because my husband had to work away.

I would say, if you can afford to buy something that will make your life easier, do it.

Currently pregnant with my second, eldest is nearly 2, and have ME and fibro, along with some other bits and bobs.
Pregnancy wise, honestly it just sucks and you’re going to feel way worse exhaustion wise. Try and nap when you can and also restart any pacing you have done to find a new baseline if you need to.

postpartum wise
support system is obvs a huge help, we don’t have anyone local so my husband has to step up a lot. Things like a prep machine or nuby rapid cool if formula feeding really help. Have nappy caddy type thing in any main rooms, so you don’t have to go hunting for things when you have nothing to give. Research safe sleeping 7, you will ultimately find you are exhausted and baby won’t go in cot. Better to be as safe as you can with co-sleeping and know what to do if you need to! Prep some food/freezer food for those really bad flare days. But most importantly give yourself some grace, it’s bloody hard time for anybody and doing it with ME is its own challenge. You will have good days and bad days, but you will be a great mum no matter what!

Yes I was thinking about co sleeping and maybe using one of the bedside cribs with an open side.

Everytime I’ve been googling about ME and pregnancy it just says some feel better some feel the same some worse so it doesn’t really help so it’s good to hear from people with real life experience.
I’m just hoping it hadn’t affected my fertility I know it’s not meant to but I keep thinking how can I feel like this and my body still have enough energy to get pregnant, I know I ovulate as I’ve been using the tests for the last 3 months in preparation as we started taking vitamins and they apparently take 90 days to work so 🤞

I have ME.
Pregnancy was really hard, i was so exhausted. Im pregnant now again and this time is even harder.
Ive struggled for the best past of maybe 25 years. I had my first child 2 years ago and ill admit, its been challenging. Im really exhausted but thankfully when my partner comes home from work he takes over. I dont think i could manage without that support. I think it depends on the extent of how ME is affecting your life .
Im going to be honest and say in my case, theres no way i could cope on my own 24/7 with a child.
Is dh able to support you lookint after your child if you need it during night?
I found breastfeeding too exhausting personally, especially waking in middle of night . I tried to pump during day but formula feeding was more convenient at night as it was quicker. When im struggling with ME and a newborn, i need all the sleep i can get. I had a kettle and rapid cool bottle in the room which made the bottle ready in minutes. Baby slept in our room.
When baby napped, i tried to rest aswell.
Resting and sleeping as much as possible is what helped me get through that first year. When my partner took over , i would do some light chores then go to bed early and get my sleep. I found in the early days , waking up in night was so hard. I was rock bottom. I managed maybe 2 months of night feeds and comforting baby back to sleep when theyd cry , which was alot but im very blessed to have a partner who got up with baby in the night and did the feeds and did all that until baby sleeping was more established and slept through the night.
Again like i said, i definitely think support is pivotal and id make sure you have that support in place before having a child.
Im sure some people manage great and it all depends how ME affects you