Anyone Breastfeeding and TTC or NTNP?

[Mork]

Thanks Polaris! See it took us 8 months of proper ttc last time so we are hoping it will be quicker this time - now my periods have returned. I remember you from ttc last time!! eeekkk!! xx

 

[Tacey]

I've not been supplementing yet (other than with prepregnancy vitamins!). It sounds like it's done a good job for you polaris! Fingers crossed this is your month!

I'm in two minds about it. I sort of don't want to hurry my body along too much. I'm only 27, and I had a truly awful pregnancy health wise with Alice, and it does worry me how I'll cope if the same happens again. I feel like I need my body to get on with it on its own. On the other hand, sometimes I think I WANT A BABY RIGHT NOW! and feel like supplements may be a good solution. I've been looking into acupuncture too, as I have a couple of friends who were nursing with a short LP who got pregnant very shortly after having it done. I don't think the hormones make decision making any easier!

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

Hello Tacey and Mork! I have also noticed a difference and taking herbal supplements and I feel like it's WAY better then taking something that may or may not damage my body. Besides still BF, don't want to take something that effects breast milk. You know? But I know plenty of people who bf who get pregnant so I have faith. Every cycle I track I feel like my body is getting more back to normal. Yay. lol

I just wish it wouldn't take forever!

 

[silver_penny]

Hmmm... just came across a product called Fertilaid for Women. It has vitex in it as well as red clover, siberian ginseng, and ginko biloba. Not to mention, a plethora of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid. Maybe worth a shot? It is over $25 for a month supply, though...

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

If you try it let me know how it goes.. My husband keeps getting annoyed because I buy all kinds of "herbals" and stuff for my cycles and he's like just leave it alone! I think he might kill me if I bought something over like 10 dollars a bottle! lol (obviously not literally)

 

[silver_penny]

I think if I try anything, I will try the Vitex first, then move onto the heavier guns if need be. I think my MIL will kill me as is if I get pregnant within the next year or two

 

[lalitas charm]

Thanks ladies

Polaris - Thanks for the encouragement, I really hope it is easier this time but I'm not going to hold my breath, the MWs told me it would probably be worse if I was pregnant again. The difference this time will be that my DH will be here with me so I wont struggle as much.

I'm temping this month so see if I actually Ov as we BD'd at the right time last cycle and had no luck so I'd like to make sure that things are working the way they should.

Fingers crossed for us all and hopefully the BFing wont cause us any trouble!! Certainly I feel so fortunate to be BFing my little girl and I'm not quite ready to give it up yet (and neither is she lol).

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

So I have been very interested in what effects I might have taking Vitex. Started taking it (Vitex) on CD 9 in the first phase your temperature should get lower as your estrogen kicks in and then higher after ovulation because of progesterone.

So CD 6 it seemed to begin to get lower then CD 7, 8, 9, & 10 it started to climb. I started taking Vitex and with in 3 days it started to drop. Check this out: My Ovulation Chart

And my progesterone (I'm assuming by the higher temps) is the highest it's been since October! Good sign. So far I have been impressed. The only crappy part which I don't think is the Vitex because I had this last month. The day of Ov has been HORRIBLE! Super bad cramps, back pain, nausea and uterine sensitivity to the MAX! Oh and then Ov spotting. So I am really happy with it so far!

 

[bky]

Ooh another BF and TTC thread. I'm in another one in I think the TTC group section.

Me: TTC #2, no AF, no ovulation as evidenced by lots of 1 line OPKs and erratic if low temperatures. Lots of cramping, random patches of wet CM, moodiness for the last 3-4 months...just no eggs!
I've tried Vitex for the past 3 months or so (running out of my bottle), day weaning (we did 2 weeks fully day weaned, then LO got sick, now it's sporadic but at least 3 days a week without BF during the day), using EPO now, and running out of ideas.

I did find this interesting thing I thought I'd share:TTC while BF fact sheet

 

[polaris]

Hi bky! I've posted in that other thread in groups too, but it seems that quite a lot of the girls in that thread aren't breastfeeding anymore so I'm liking this thread more for now as I'm not planning to stop soon. It's a good sign that you are getting patches of wet CM, that was what was happening to me for about two months before AF came back. I didn't get AF back until 16 months but hopefully you won't have to wait so long.

Syllypoohbear - that is very interesting about your temperatures and Vitex. Something that I have noticed is that I have a much less obvious thermal shift than I did before having Thomas. I am wondering now whether that is due to breastfeeding/hormone levels.

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

Polaris that's really interesting! I wonder if it is because of breastfeeding.. All I know is breast feeding makes your hormones WACKY! lol But it would be interesting to see if there are any studies on that. I'll do some research. I am on the understanding that it's the estrogen that gets messed up from breastfeeding. (which helps proper ovulation) You can ovulate and not get good cm from low estrogen. It's a time waiting game. Breastfeeding has it's joys but also it's let downs. (not meaning it as a pun) lol But I my belief is that when my body is ready it's ready. Just got to be patient.

 

[bky]

I have done some reading that BF makes temperatures lower. I've been noticing it in my own chart as well. Some of my temps are close to 96F and the temps actually seem lower the more my baby nurses during the previous day. Mine are ranging from 96.1 to 97.4 though not staying in any range for more than 3 days. I wonder if I can get more than 3 temperatures in a similar range in a row I might actually ovulate. My old coverline was 97.5 at it's lowest, and generally above 98 after ovulation. But it makes sense that the thermal shift would be lower because all the hormones are fighting and luteal phase defect, signs of which are low thermal shifts and short luteal phases, is common in BF mothers.

I thought this was interesting
https://www.bellytales.com/2006/03/06/ovulation-duing-lactation/

 

[polaris]

I have done some reading that BF makes temperatures lower. I've been noticing it in my own chart as well. Some of my temps are close to 96F and the temps actually seem lower the more my baby nurses during the previous day. Mine are ranging from 96.1 to 97.4 though not staying in any range for more than 3 days. I wonder if I can get more than 3 temperatures in a similar range in a row I might actually ovulate. My old coverline was 97.5 at it's lowest, and generally above 98 after ovulation. But it makes sense that the thermal shift would be lower because all the hormones are fighting and luteal phase defect, signs of which are low thermal shifts and short luteal phases, is common in BF mothers.

I thought this was interesting
https://www.bellytales.com/2006/03/06/ovulation-duing-lactation/

Interesting article. Has anyone read the book mentioned in the comments, Taking Charge of your Fertility? If so, how much detail does the book go into? I was looking at it online last night and trying to figure out if it would be worth the money. I'm really tempted to get it as I find the whole area fascinating and would love to find out more. However I am reasonably clued in with the basics of charting and fertility signs and I don't want to buy the book and find that there's not much new in it.

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

I haven't read it..

 

[bky]

I have heard good things about it and have considered getting it. Someone in the other BF TTC thread had it and I guess it shows what an anovulatory BF chart looks like and so on, has a whole chapter on BF and TTC. I feel like I'm fairly clued up on charting (charted for 8 months for current baby) so have put off buying it. They have a forum as well, though every time I try to look at it it's down.

 

[Laughing Girl]

Hi everyone, mind if I join you all?

Isla and I are still breastfeeding - she's 14 months now, and my milk is def still her main source of nutrition and comfort.
My periods began to come back about 6 months ago, but my LP was very short, beginning 3 days and then gradually lengthening......last month it was 17 days!!
This month is the first month we've had sex at the right time for possible conception whilst having a LP of fertile length.......at 41 I am knocking on a bit but still think I can squeeze out another if we get a bend on.......
So, currently on 3DPO and trying not to obsess but of course I am googling like a mad woman about every early preg symptom under the sun - what a crazy woman!
Good to see Tacey and Polaris on this thread who I kind of know from BF and Baby Club. BTW, love your blog Tacey and follow regularly now!

 

[SyllyPoohBear]

Hello and welcome! I am 9DPO and I know what you mean. Trying not to read anything into anything but it's hard. How long do you plan on breast feeding till?

 

[Laughing Girl]

Hello and welcome! I am 9DPO and I know what you mean. Trying not to read anything into anything but it's hard. How long do you plan on breast feeding till?

I can't see myself doing any form of weaning - in my mind, Isla will happily nurse and I will produce oodles of milk right the way through my pregnancy (which I have decided will def happen soon!) and I will tandem nurse happily ever after..............perhaps I have rose tinted specs but that's my dream anyway!

 

[Tacey]

Welcome to the thread Laughing Girl! Your long LP sounds very encouraging. Fingers crossed this will be your month!

Glad you like the blog. I've been very remiss lately about posting. Will have to get round to it soon!

Update on my cycle is that I'm on CD15, and no positive opk, but they're gradually getting darker. Last month I didn't ov until CD25, so I'm not holding my breath. I don't know why, but I'm feeling positive this month. A close friend is 20 weeks pregnant, and I was talking to Alice about the baby in her womb. She's really taken with the idea and keeps patting my stomach saying 'Mummy baby?' I can't wait to tell her yes!

 

[Laughing Girl]

She's really taken with the idea and keeps patting my stomach saying 'Mummy baby?' I can't wait to tell her yes!

Aaaah, gorgeous!!