A little weaning may be in order?!?!?

[Edensmumma]

ok, i know this isnt the exact place for this, but it wasnt getting any notice taken to it over in the TTC threads
it is to do with infant led BF and weaning...
hey all...
i was chatting in the ttc 1-6 months, but i think i'll jump in here instead...
i am desperate for another baby.. and am pretty sure booby feeding is the cause of it not happening
Eden is 13 months and still up to 7/8 feeds a day mostly its 4-6.
Doc said i am estrogen deficient which is making me very tired and scatty!! tell me something i dont know...
So, with all that said i feel a bit stuck. I love booby time with Eden, especailly the 1 or 2(0r 3 0r 4) night feeds... yet we are really wanting number two...i feel not at all convinced about weaning her as i spose the rush is only my own selfish want for another bub NOW!!!
Does anyone know if you can get a blood test to see if you are actually ovultaing?Barb, you might have some wisdom here?!?! i've had 4 periods, 1 random one, 3 months later another, 2 months later another and last cycle was 29 days... so i am hoping maybe some regularity soon??? its so damn frustrating!!!
hopefully some of you can share some similiar stories and answer my blood test question.
How connected is breast feeding to ovulating? Barb please tell me all you know about this or show me somewhere i can find some information... thanku

[MantaRay]

IF you have AF back, you will be ovulating, but it sounds like your cycles are irregular atm which will obviously make TTC more difficult. It can happen though - I fell pg with DS2 after just 3 irregular AFs. So don't give up hope - it's really a matter of BD at all times of the months, not just around when you used to ovulate. You can definitely get BT to show if you are ovulating, but you will probably have the same problem - if you are irregular, when will the levels be in your blood IYKWIM?

I was lucky that I conceived before having to make the decision about whether or not to wean, and I don't envy your decision. All I can say is that you are most likely fertile. If you are good at charting, perhaps that could help you to know when to BD? Best of luck hun, I hope it works out for you.

[Edensmumma]

i honestly, in my heart, dont think i could wean her... it just plays on hubby's mind that he is 42 this year... and if i have any hope of convincing him on three kids not two i need to feel like time isnt flying away from us..
I dont know how it got in my head that having periods doesnt necessarily mean ovultaion is occurring, although im sure someone told me, hmmm, there goes my scattiness again...
that does make sense with the BT, ill see if the GP has any idea... Thanks MR for replying

[~Kim~]

Gill I was exactly the same with Darcy, my AF was all over the place. So I went to see a naturopath. I told her in no uncertain terms that I did not want to give up feeding, but needed to get my body back into line. She gave me some foul tasting stuff, but it worked. Or maybe it was my mindset I felt like it was working.

[MeredithD]

Gill, Having similar dilema myself although i don't ovulate even without BFing so needed AC to concieve my son. I have tried 2 cycles of fertility meds (whilst still doing a very little BFing) which has induced ovuulation but still not great oestrogen levels and still BFN.Not sure if totally weaning will fix my problem or not but is a really, really heartbreaking desicion
In regards to your cycles, It IS possible to get periods without ovulating especially the first one or two on returning from BFing. With increasing regularity, however, it does seem more than likely that you are now ovulating. You can get a progesterone level done around 7 days after you think you ovulated to check. From what I gather, despite ovulation, the first few cycles may also not be that fertile until your body gets back into the swing of things but once really regular, your chances of pregnancy should not be affected greatly by BFing
The return of fertile cycles seems to be linked to frequency and duration of breast feeds so is it possible to drop a few? Spacing the feeds out should really help. Some say cutting back the night feeds is the most important but I've read elsewhere that this is not necessarily true and the main issue is to have at least 6hrs between feeds.
Wishing you all the luck with your TTC journey. I hope we both get our wish very soon

[Edensmumma]

thanks Meredith... that was kinda what i thought... the six hourly thing is interesting. Its highly unlikely Eden would go 6 hours between feeds, esp overnight. I dont think i could refuse her booby, or know i am replacing it and deterring her by offering something else if you know what i mean... it would break my heart too much. I will wait a few more months before i make any big descisions.. Its just too important to me and today she is getting her 12 month needles so i dont think its fair if i do it now.
In happier news, im pretty sure i O'd this cycle, still gonna chat to the GP today tho.. have to get my estrogen checked again, both doctors are worried i may get GF again, as i've had it 3 times in my life and my body seems to love to slip into GF mode whenever the going gets tough, LOL.
I've also started charting my temps, so if nothing else i feel like i am trying as hard as we can and i am getting to know my body through other ways...
You're right, it is such a heart breaking thing, i find esp now as Eden is a bit over 13 months and says .."boo, boo" and smiles when its time for booby and snuggles in so warm and close and KNOWS that it comforts her, and KNOWS that its special mummy time...Plus having worked so hard at something, it seems crazy to get rid of it... I know people say its not, its just reducing it, but still...
Ok i'm waffling now... I hope you are up the duff lol soon too Meredith, thanks so much for your reply.