BF'ing and TTC - any tricks?

[dory]

Hiya - I am currently BF'ing as required ( on demand just sounds unpleasant) for my 6 month old. I know that lactation affects the hormones that cause ovulation, and it seems to be the case for me.

Just wondering if anyone has any tricks for how to still BF but do things that will promote ovulation - maybe TCM, accupuncture? Just hoping for some ideas. I am super keen to TTC again, but I don't want to put our BF relationship at risk either, and that is the relationship that will come first until self weaning....


Thanks for reading and replying.

[Heaven]

Do you have AF back dory?? I'm not sure there's anything you can do if you don't other than cutting down feeds which it sounds like you don't want to do. I fed DD1 on demand too and didn't get AF back until she was 14 months I think. But then I got pregnant first cycle after that

Acupuncture could help, it helped me get pregnant with DD1! Good luck!!

[OceanPrincess]

Acupuncture helped me get my cycle back. Well what I should say - I had one period, one session of acupuncture, no period when it was due, another session, a period, a session, pregnant. So I think the acupuncture helped regulate it - I think I'd already started having periods...

[dory]

thanks for the replies and so quickly I think I will try accup****ure.... no cycle yet.. keep hoping to catch that egg before I get AF... wishful thinking.

[MrsBexie]

umm.. why did it edit acupuncture? LOL I think your letters got mixed around!

[OceanPrincess]

I know what you mean dory! I haven't had af yet this time... And I half keep hoping I've just gotten lucky... but then I smack myself upside the head and go "don't be ridiculous, you've got enough on your plate as it is!"

Cluck cluck cluck...




Cluck cluck...







Cluck...

[OceanPrincess]

umm.. why did it edit acupuncture? LOL I think your letters got mixed around!

[dory]

Must have ... hehe....

[onthefly]

Have you looked into billings? it can help you identify the return of your fertility. I've read that the earlier it is, the more likely it is you'll have a 'warning' af before you resume ovulating. Usually mums need to cut back a fair bit to get af back... though of course it varies a great deal.

[Catherine]

Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breastfeeding Through Pregnancy and Beyond

we had a talk at our ABA meeting on this last week! Breastfeeding, fertility and pregnancy.

Generally speaking after 6 mths, breastfeeding becomes less affective as a contraception. If AF hasn't returned, I guess you can just moniter your CM. Kelly wrote an article on this: Cervical Mucus, Ovulation and Your Fertile Period.

[jessicakate]

Hey Dory,
I was like you, and in fact am still breastfeeding DD at nearly 3. My AF didn't come back til around 16 months after I had her, but then once it was back I fell pg straight away, and was able to keep bfing throughout the pregnancy. In fact taking maxalon for really bad nausea and vomiting actually helped increase my supply whilst I was taking it. In saying that a girl in my mother's group got her AF after a month and she was bfing. so when it's ready your body will let you fall pg again. Until then I guess just enjoy the feeding with your beautiful little girl... but I know what you mean when you say you are ready now. Sometimes I think it's natures way of letting our bodies recuperate etc after the demands of pg.
Good Luck.

[fuzzy]

Hi Dory

I 'heard' you need to go pretty consistently >6 hours between feeds before AF will return. I don't know if there is any truth to that but it kind of makes sense to me.

xx

[tubbles]

Hi Dory! I'm having the same issues, and my DD is nearly 11 months now. I'm going through HPTs and HOKs like its going out of fashion, and still no luck! Guess I will just have to wait til first AF and then I will know for sure... now just wondering when it will show its ugly head! Never thought I would be wanting AF to come back ahaha

[Artechim]

When I was TTC my second I was still BF DS. I had AF back but the LP was all wonky from the feeding. I ended up using Vitex to help regulate my cycle. I don't know if I would do that with such a young bub though because it can dry up the milk supply. My DS was older (over a year) and I wasn't too fussed if he stopped.
This time round I was still BF, had the wonky LP again and thought I was reasonably safe. Then I cut out night feeds and a month later was staring at an unexpected BFP.
Apparently the BF method of contraception isn't as reliable if you are not feeding overnight.

[dory]

Tubbles - LOl indeed, hope you get a O surge and then a BFP soon!

Artechim - hmm, still night feeding here, usually only once but for the past week it's been more than that as HB has been sick. Congrats too on your sneaky bfp.... a september bubs - actually WOW, you have two september bubs already - that is amazing, and 2 years apart. Here's a quick question - how did you stop the night needs? It's just such an easy way to sooth a baby, and she eats like a someone possessed during the night, so I am thinking she needs it. But I have been wondering how to cut them out? Spose I could express during the day and use EBM at night?

[onthefly]

It's tricky to cut night feeds this early, I reckon. Most babies still need to feed during the night and, as you say, it's certainly a lot easier for you to just feed rather than using a bottle. I guess you could try that though. Or would you feel ok about waiting a few more months and seeing where you are then?

[WannabeMum]

dory, I'm probably just going to say what I said somewhere else - but I reckon just enjoy your time with HB. AF will return (I was feeding only x1/day and had to have mine triggered though, everyone's different) and pg will follow that, but nothing can replace the beautiful time with HB I think DS gave up his night feeds not long after 6 months - I expected AF to come back then!

You could wind up like a woman in my mothers' group - while training to be a midwife, she was like, there's something wrong with my tummy. I'm bf-ing a 5 month old, No AF back... what's going on? She talked her GP (who said her belly felt normal) into letting her have an ultrasound, only to find out she was 21 weeks pg! Made us all laugh after we got over the shock!! GP - feels normal. for goodness sake - maybe normal if you have a massive uterus with a BABY in there!!

[tubbles]

I have been told of stories where mum's had stopped bfing all together and AF didn't return until 6 months later!! Everyone is different, and apparently we just have to wait for our hormone levels to drop to start ovulating again, and that could happen at any time.
Not really the news I wanted to hear, but I guess I will just have to wait til it can happen.