First PPAF- suggestions?

[Thing1Thing2]

Hello,

I've been lurking here for a while, but am still a novice when it comes to charting and ovulation and TTC.

I finally got my FPPAF this week! And we want to start TTC.

What would you do were you in my situation (besides the obvious)? I'm still nursing a 25 month old about 5 times during the day.

When would be the best time to do BD and should I keep nursing at the same rate? I want to make sure I ovulate next month so I can catch the egg - and I want to avoid having to BD every day, but I will do it if I have to! I'm sure DH won't mind

[GolfAddict]

Well, I don't know anything about TTCing and BFing. But I just read a stat on FF that said 94%, 96% (or something like that) pg's happen when the couple bd'd at least once within the previous 3 days before O. And I believe the best day is the day before O.

And if DH has no issues, everyday is fine. If their are known issues, then every other day. We usually do every other day even though DH has never been diagnosed with any issues (actually never been tested).

So if you aren't charting...start now, so you can see when you O. I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility that explained just about everything you will need to know. And I still go back and reference it when I have a question.

Good luck!!

[Thing1Thing2]

Thanks. I started charting on TCYF and I think Im about to O!

I haven't been temping because I don't wake up the same time every morning, but EWCM was abundant today.

Hormones are wierd with nursing, so not sure how this is going to go

[karmab]

well, it may not be this way for you, but when i was bf'ing, i only o'd about every 3-4 months.

[Thing1Thing2]

Karmab how often were you nursing? DS was nightweaned, but is now teething again and wants to nurse all night. I decided to keep him really busy during the day and then let him nurse on demand at night. Yesterday he nursed about 3 times at night and 2 times during the day.

I definitely feel like I am o'ing. Or something is going on... Since Monday I have had these wierd cramps and twinges. Thursday my boobs started hurting while nursing DS and then last night, I got lots of EWCM!

Tried to BD last night but DH was tired That could have been my 12 hours to concieve...

If AF doesn't come on Monday (like TCOYF predicts), then I know I am prob ovulating. All these wierd pains have to mean something.

I want to take an ovulation test... but would it be too late if I've already ovulated? Still have lots of CM but it's more creamy...

[karmab]

well, it was a long time ago so i have to think, but all my kids were nightweaned between 9 mths - 1 year, with occasional return to a night feeding once in a while if they got sick or after traveling if their schedules got mixed up, but that would only have been rare. with all of them, af came back right around their first birthdays. then from then until they weaned (my twins were 22 mths and 20 mths, #3 was 17 mths, and #4 was 19 mths) i would get af every 3-4+ mths. i did get pg with #4 while nursing #3 - he was about 15 mths old (they are 2 yrs and 5 days apart.) i had had just the one ppaf the week of his first birthday. i wasnt really expecting af of course, wasnt trying, and barely ever dtd, so i didnt suspect anything about #4 until #3 was around 17 mths, when i started fainting, and i had lost weight but noticed lil fat pads on top of my hips that weren't normally there (but were when i was pg before.) i had to wean #3 then, i couldnt keep up with nursing and being pg at the same time.

oh, and yes, opk should be neg if you o'd already. if af doesnt come, maybe just keep checking cm and cp and take an opk anytime it's looking fertile.

[Thing1Thing2]

Wow - about not knowing you were preg with number 4!! What a nice surprise.

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna pick up some OPKs for next month at the dollar store.

[echospiritwarrior]

I highly suggest charting. When I got pg between #1 and #2 I'd only had two PPAF. My edd was then pushed back 6 weeks when we got to the dating u/s, and then I went OVER that edd. I would have saved myself a LOT of stress had I just been able to pinpoint my O day a little better through charting.

This time my edd would be 15 Feb but I count it as 22 Feb by charting. It's really really nice knowing your O!

Good luck

[karmab]

yeah my twins were another 8 wk surprise, but that's just because i was not paying attention!

re: opks, i like the $tree ones, and used those when i started, but you can get internet cheapies for like 30 cents each, including shipping, on amazon.com and ebay. look for wondfos, they have good reputation and their hpts- same price- picked up my beta of 12 at 9 dpo, so i personally have to endorse that!

[Thing1Thing2]

Originally Posted by echospiritwarrior

I highly suggest charting. When I got pg between #1 and #2 I'd only had two PPAF. My edd was then pushed back 6 weeks when we got to the dating u/s, and then I went OVER that edd. I would have saved myself a LOT of stress had I just been able to pinpoint my O day a little better through charting.

This time my edd would be 15 Feb but I count it as 22 Feb by charting. It's really really nice knowing your O!

Good luck

I have been charting somewhat. I started recording CM and am working on CP. It's just the temping that I don't feel I can do. I don't sleep much and I definitely have a regular schedule (currently working on that...)

This is all so new to me and I'm learning more every day. I just have a habit about becoming obsessive over things... and I'm trying not to do that. Although, I think Im already past becoming obsessive if you happen to see my latest post ...

Originally Posted by karmab

yeah my twins were another 8 wk surprise, but that's just because i was not paying attention!

re: opks, i like the $tree ones, and used those when i started, but you can get internet cheapies for like 30 cents each, including shipping, on amazon.com and ebay. look for wondfos, they have good reputation and their hpts- same price- picked up my beta of 12 at 9 dpo, so i personally have to endorse that!

Ooooh! I'm ordering some right now! And.. so nice to not be paying attention.
Oh sticky wishes for you !

[hilary549]

bonnie, just to say that bf'ing does affect fertility, more for some ladies than others, so don't be stressed if you don't get pg right away. it might happen, of course, but if you take a few cycles to get back to "regular" while still nursing, don't let it drive you crazy. some women have short LP during bf'ing because it lowers progesterone, and that can also make pg less likely. you can try to supplement with b6 or b complex to help lengthen lp. or other supplements. check out the nursing mamas ttc thread...

[Thing1Thing2]

Thanks Hilary. I lurk in the nursing mamas thread all the time, I'm just afraid to join because I have a tendency to become obsessed (or lets call it extremely goal oriented!)

I'm working on re-nightweaning my DS and I'm three days into the process. So its been three nights of no nursing from about 9pm - 6 am. Its going well so far... hope it continues going well!

I was supposed to get AF on Monday, and am still waiting So I think I might be having an irregular cycle like you mentioned. Or I could be preg!!! But how common is that on ones first cycle lol...

I'm going to start supplementing with B complex... Thanks for the advice.

[catccc]

I just got my :BFP: yesterday, 9 DPO! I was going to wait until next Tuesday (14 DPO) because I O'd kinda later than usual (or what I thought was usual) but I couldn't wait and figured it would be a wonderful birthday treat if I tested positive!

This was our first cycle NPP/TTC #2. DD is 22 months now and still nurses 3x/day. But my first PP AF was well over a year ago! I think DD was 6 months at the time, and she was still BF exclusively. I was bummed AF came back so fast!

Anyway, I have to second the cheap internet tests. Got 'em for this first cycle, O'd about 4 days later than I would have guessed (CD 19 of a usual 28 day cycle!) The OPKs were tricky at first because I'd seen varying interpretations of what was a + OPK. I thought I got one, but I continued to test, and the next day was darker still, and then it got lighter again. So I'd advise with OPKs to continue to take until you see a true "peak," if that makes any sense. I blew through 27 OPKs in one cycle trying to get the hang of it. Thank goodness they are so cheap!

Also, don't know if you use any sort of lubrication for BD, but the usual KY isn't sperm friendly, so get some pre-seed. (It comes in a tube so you don't need to mess with applicators and such beforehand.)

Good luck!

[Thing1Thing2]

Yay catccc!!! Congrats on your BFP! That is such wonderful news.

As for the OPK's I have the 20 pack Wondfos in my shopping cart at Amazon. Was going to order them and then I decided to wait until AF comes. They are pretty cheap, but I haven't really researched on how to use them. And I think my cycle might be off. Well, if I don't get a BFP next week, my cycle is definitely off. I might end up going through just as many as you did your first time - maybe I should change my order to the 50 pack!

For lube, we use the Collective Well Being Good Glide made of glycerine and aloe vera.

http://www.collectivewellbeing.com/s...ing/good-glide

It is PH balanced, but I'm not sure if it is sperm friendly.

We hardly needed to use it last cycle... but I will keep the advice in mind. Thanks!