Breastfeeding, CM and Fertility..(TMI).

**Beach Mama** · January 17th, 2008, 08:01 PM

I'm a bit clueless about all of this stuff but have been reading a bit about CM on BB lately (bless it's cotton socks

). I have been breastfeeding for almost 8mths, haven't had AF back but am wondering about CM and what it might mean when you don't get AF?

I noticed the other day that I had quite alot of clear, slimy (sorry

) CM for about one day. The following day it was slightly there but had pretty much gone? Does it mean anything when you are breastfeeding? I know I can ovulate prior to getting AF and at the moment we have been pretty slack with contraception, so I wanted to find out if there were ways I could try to keep tabs on my body?

I hope all this makes some sort of sense!
TIA

**Beach Mama** · January 22nd, 2008, 06:51 AM

**Bump** Does anybody know???

**StrawberryMumma** · January 22nd, 2008, 08:46 AM

Interesting question Tan! I wondered the same thing..but then AF appeared about a month ago for me!

Before AF, I couldn't tell anything by CM. But I'm not sure if that was because of BF or just an after pregnancy/having a baby thing. It's all very confusing isn't it! I have no idea on what is going on!

Hope you get some helpful replies!

**Heaven** · January 22nd, 2008, 08:54 AM

Hey Tan. Sorry no one answered. I'm not breastfeeding but I am TTC so I'll tell u what I know about the CM part.
If it's slimy and stretchy like the consistency of egg whites then you could be ovulating soon so I would be using contraception then. Also if it's watery it might be getting close to O time. If it's kinda creamy then you're probably safe. BUT sometimes you could have fertile cm and not even know because it's up high near your cervix and doesn't come down so I guess if you don't want another baby soon I'd be careful all the time!
Well you prob already knew that but JIC.
Good luck
xx

**SallyJ** · January 22nd, 2008, 11:01 AM

Tan I remember while bf DS that there were a few times I had fertile seeming CM, but nothing happened - could be that your body is trying to gear up to O, but doesn't necessarily get there - it takes a while for the hormones to get themselves together (was around a year before I got AF back).

**Tobily** · January 22nd, 2008, 12:40 PM

Tan I remember while bf DS that there were a few times I had fertile seeming CM, but nothing happened - could be that your body is trying to gear up to O, but doesn't necessarily get there - it takes a while for the hormones to get themselves together (was around a year before I got AF back).

yep this is what happened to me.

DS is 16 months old and I just got my first AF this month.
I had noticed fertile type CM on and off over the last three or four months I guess?
I can take your body a few "tries" to reach the hormone level required to actually release an egg...and each time it tries you will get fertile type CM.
I would be thinking about birth control options now and not relying on breastfeeding because it sounds like your fertility is returning

**Beach Mama** · January 22nd, 2008, 07:21 PM

Oooh ok, thank you so much for the explanations- makes much more sense now Ive never really watched or paid attention to this stuff so it has been quite interesting to see what my body does!

can take your body a few "tries" to reach the hormone level required to actually release an egg...and each time it tries you will get fertile type CM.

This makes sense, Ive also been getting an achy crampy back which I used to get with AF but don't actually get it so its sounds like my body is gearing up but not actually getting there!!
Thanks again all!