When did you start trying for #2

I know I should just wait for bubs #1 to be born to make a decision but DH and I have been discussing whether to start trying for #2 right away. DH thinks that we should (well as soon as we physically can anyway!) as it took us 18 months and an injectable ovulation induction cycle to get pregnant this time. We just cant bear the thought of having to go through the LT TTC heartache again!

For those who had treatment the first time did you find that it was necessary for subsequent pregnancies?? I have PCOS, Endo & a Pituatry Micro-adenoma but some ppl have told me that my probs may correct themselves after I give birth. As much as I'd like to think this is true I doubt that after having so much difficulty the first time that things will just happen on their own next time round.

Any advice?????

Hi Tina,

Good question!!!!!
My DS was born almost 9yrs ago now (to my first DH), and because we had such a problem having him (I was told when they discovered endo when I was 9yrs old that I would prob never have children) we had planned to start TTC no 2 after I got myself together from giving birth (!!!) - We were thinking when DS was about 3 months old.
I had an emergency ceasar and caught a major infection from this surgery... and then had multiple complications afterwards for up to about a year (the surgeon didn't sew me back up correctly, etc etc) and even now I still need surgery to fix my scar....
We realistically couldn't look at trying for the next one until my body was ok again - and then shortly after that I had a lap to find out both of my tubes had been damaged from the infection - almost irrepairable - and we would need IVF for any more children.
After going through all of this, my marriage fell apart shortly after, and I ended up getting a divorce.

SO! Now that you have my life story (and you are prob thinking why did she tell me all of this???!!!) - I wanted to say that I was told, too that my body might very well correct itself and TTC no 2 may not be a problem.... Don't think I would take that risk, though!!!

If it was me, I would start ttc as soon as I felt like my body had recovered from birth (especially if you have to have a ceasar because its just that little bit slower to heal!), but everyone is different and its good to know different opinions and reasons why!!!

I am probably a little more bias about it too, because my current DH & I have been TTC our first baby together for almost 6 yrs and just haven't been lucky enough yet.

My circumstances are the extreme, though (how many doctors do you know that sew people up the wrong way:rolleyes:), but before everything went wrong, ex DH and I were keen to try again as soon as we could.

Sorry for all of my (possibly unnecessary and self indulged) rambling, but thats my thinking!!!

Good Luck with TTC no 2 - I hope it happens without even needing to think about it;)

Love Holly
xxx

We are looking to ttc from October 2007. Some people say this is really quick but we want children close together and i dont want to be bare foot and pregnant for the next 10 years!.

My OB has suggested that we wait until DS has weaned before TTC #2, as we will be having a frozen embryo transfer. So we're not really certain of the exact timeframe. It will be ASAP, but at the same time, I won't be rushing DS into weaning for that reason alone.

Having said that, we're not using any contraception at the moment (except b/feeding), so I'm secretly hoping that we fall pg naturally in the meantime, even though I think it's extremely unlikely as we have his'n'hers fertility problems.

we will start trying when bubs is about 6months i suppose. But, i am not planning on taking the mini pill, or using any other form of contraceptive, so, technically, i guess it will be straight away - not that i will feel like it straight away.
It took as 14months to fall preg - but, i never got as far as seeing if it was due to any 'medical' type issues, or just timing.
We also want our kids close together.

You could do what Cherie is and not actively trying to prevent it from happening on it's own but choose a time when you think you would like to start because you have to be prepared for it to work first time too kwim? I can guarantee that if you try, thinking that it will take ages you will fall first go LOL. Then after a while if it doesn't work on its own you could do what you did before?

We are planning on doing the same as Cherie next time. We've had issues falling pregnant the first time & now this time, so we'll basically no try to prevent a pregnancy, then when bub #2 is weaned we'll go again.

Thanks Ladies

We have discussed not using any contraception which I think is our best option to start with. Sherie I hope your right and things will happen when we least expect it :D otherwise I suppose it will be back to the FS. We'll probably give it 6 months or so before starting any treatment. I didnt think about having to wean before fertility treatment so I guess that will be a deciding factor too.

Thanks again!!

Tina, my OB was saying that the reason they suggest weaning before IVF treatment is because b/feeding can prevent the embryos implanting into the uterus.

I'm not sure if it is the same for other forms of fertility treatment, and if that is the same reason why breastfeeding has a contraceptive effect, even in fully fertile women.

we have just started trying for no 2. it took us 14 months to concieve Archie, we got positive test 2 weeks before our fertility tests so we we don't know if we do have a fertility problem or not. We would have stared trying at 5 months, cause we really wanted them close in age and were worried about how long it would take, but due to DS having servere reflux we decided to wait til that settled down a bit first.

You will 'just know' when you are both ready to try again, goodluck with everything!

Cherie and I have the same FS and he told me the same thing so I have not actively prevented pg from the get go. DD has weanes herself as I have run out of milk so I have an appt to discuss FET on 18/7/7 DD will be 7 months!!

I'm kind of a mix between Holly and Cherie - after my first pregnancy I actually had some gynae problems which required surgery, we ended up falling prg in the midst of this anyway but sadly lost our angel. 12 months later, two surgeries, lots of heartache etc etc we ended up going down the IVF path and were very lucky on our first cycle.

While #3 isn't a definate for us yet (will be if I get my way!!) we have 10 frozen embryos and i just feel I have to at least try to give one or some of them a chance. BUT I am very keen to b/feed this baby too and don't really want to wean soley to do a FET. I am planning on going back to have a chat to my FS next year some time about our options.

I definately won't be trying to prevent a pregnancy after this birth, put it that way.

We waited until Oscar was 6 months then started trying for number 2. I was desperate for him not to be an only child (as i am and don't enjoy being) and also wanted them close together. Managed it when DS#1 was just under 10 months. We are TTC #3 at the mo although not properly as i don't have a cylcle yet as still bf DS#2 but certainly hoping soon. i guess if you are having to go the AC route then sooner is better than later.

All the best for your birth of #1 very soon and good luck for #2 in the future

Julie x

hi teepee2,

i just came across this thread and thought i would reply to you. i also have pcos and have high prolactin which i had to take medication for (along with clomid to conceive our DD who is now 18 months) i unfortunately devoloped a pituitary tumour in my pregnancy at 27 weeks but it is gone for now. i breastfed my DD for 15 months and did not get a period in that whole time, it was probably due to the pcos rather than the breastfeeding or combination of both. i then started clomid again just after i weaned without success (2 cycles) so i again took medication to lower my prolactin and fell pregnant on the 3rd cycle, i am now 8 weeks pregnant with number 2. i have heard though you have a higher chance of falling pregnant within 6 months of giving birth however its probably not the case for those of us with pcos and irregular periods anyway. i guess you have to decide do you want to wean number 1 just so you can start trying on number 2 as most specialists won't allow you to take medication to ttc while still breastfeeding

Melbell,

Yes, you do have an increased chance of getting preg while b/f'ding if you have PCOS, because b/f'ding makes your body more sensitive to insulin (like taking Metformin). But if you also have high prolactin, then I doubt that that would be the case for you - since b/f'ding would just increase your already high levels. I suppose it is different for everyone, depending on what their probs are. But certainly, if the issue is elevated insulin levels, than b/f'ding helps reduce them.

We started trying as soon as AF returned (at 7 months as I was bfing). It took 3 cycles (they were irregular) to conceive 2nd time, and it took 9 cycles (regular) first time around. We had no specific fertility problems, but it was definitely quicker second time for us. Now we have a 19 month gap (Jack was 11 months when Tom was conceived but Tom was a month early!). We wanted between 18 months and 2 years so we were very lucky.

I have found that up until about the first birthday, I was hoping not to be pregnant yet, and then as soon as baby was 1, I couldn't wait to be pregnant again. :) But, that's just me.
It took us quite a while to conceive our babies. (15 months of trying for DD1, 19 months with no birth control until DD2, and 14 months with no birth control for this baby.) The wait was really stressful when TTC DD1. Now I am thankful for that, I think, because we don't worry about birth control - it just seems like God sends us the next one when we are ready!

I didn't have long long term ttc.. but did have issues with PCOS and needed medication to get my cycle back.

My AF returned 3 months after DS was born, but we had already decided to wait until he was 1 to TTC again, coz we didn't want a pregnancy interfering with the first year of breastfeeding. Even tho I've continued breastfeeding through this pregnancy.. I doubt the milk supply would be sufficient for the pre-12 months need for milk iykwim.

This was actually the ONLY time I've ever had regular cycles - so we were fortunate that way - the pg & breastfeeding must have fixed up my screwy hormones! We actually started TTCing when DS was 11 months.. our attempt at trying to accomodate a family wedding at the end of the year LOL. But it wasn't to happen (now my due date is the actual day of the wedding!) So we fell 2nd cycle this time.. made a nice change from the problems before.

Good luck with whatever you decide!