Weaning and swaying

[Chocolatina]

Hi again, I am planning to wean my 21 month toddler as my period has been really funky the last several months and I want to cut all the factors apart from swaying that could possibly cause it, it has been like this- double bleeding (one period straight after the other), ovulation on CD 36 (my normal is CD 14), period on CD 47... it is making it really difficult for me to ttc (gone to my OB after the first abnormal cycle, she said no visible problems, possible early miscarriage ). The second period after that seems to be the same, it just can’t stop... so I decided to wean my toddler, will the weaning itself affect my TTC a girl? Any change of hormones, etc? He is currently breastfeeding once a day only. I wanted to keep the nursing as a part of the sway, but decided against it with such unpredictable and long cycles. Thank you so much in advance!

[atomic sagebrush]

Well, it's not very common for breastfeeding once a day to be causing that much trouble at 21 months but it's your prerogative. Just don't be horrified if the problem continues and if it does we will need to tweak your diet some more.

While I do think breastfeeding may sway somewhat pink, the good news is that the effects may last a bit after stopping. So if it's time to let that go then go ahead and with any luck you'll still see the benefits.

[Chocolatina]

As a matter of fact I don’t want to wean him just yet... but if the problematic period tendency persists and I need to visit my OB again she will most probably relay it all to the breastfeeding which can generally cause such issues (although I did not have them the first five months after I got my period after giving birth). Could it happen that weaning itself may sway blue?

[atomic sagebrush]

Even if it was from breastfeeding (it is very, very unlikely that 21 months postpartum and nursing 1 time a day that this is the issue)) the solution is not weaning but simply waiting. It is entirely likely that you could wean and in 3 months everything would normalize, but if you kept nursing in 3 months it would also have been ok. Furthermore, it's entirely possible you wean and still have this issue, and then what?

But we need to make sure you're eating enough.

[Chocolatina]

Thank you, I decided against weaning for the time being. Regarding eating enough- I eat two times a day - around 1 pm and 7-8 pm, I make sure both meals are ok, around 1800 cal a day, no less than 60 g fat. I added some sugary stuff (cookies, chocolate, ice cream ) every day to make sure the cals don’t go under 1800. My weight has been plateauing so I assume I am doing fine. For lunch I usually have some dough stuff (bread, pastry,), rice cakes with cheese, potatoes and some sugary things, for dinner is whatever I cook for my family minus the meat - usually a salad and some bread, potatoes, rice, various veggies. I even feel that recently I’ve gone over the LE limits, not by much but still, I’ve been on LE veggie 2 meals a day since mid Aug so I guess it is normal to not be super strict anymore. I hope my body is getting the general idea :) I only hope that having sugar/chocolate every day (which I love and enjoy :) ) isn’t ruining the whole swaying process (no PCOS or special conditions). Because the blood sugar levels go initially high but then abruptly drop, am I correct? They do not stay high after a small bar of chocolate (30 grams) or a few cookies?

[atomic sagebrush]

For anyone who doesn't have PCO or similar conditions you can have sugar and yes your blood sugar will drop in the acceptable time frame.

What is your BMI?

[Chocolatina]

My BMI is 19,4 (I am 36 years old), it dropped the first several months after I started with LE but I managed not to lose more weight the last 2-3 months thanks to added sugars each day. I have been on LE for 7 months, 4 months of unsuccessful conception attempts. I stick to one attempt on first positive opk and 1 h of brisk walking 5-6 days a week. Nothing more, no supps, no Clomid. The last routine blood tests I did were ok, only my hemoglobin levels were a bit on the low side, but still within limits, I am not sure if it is important

[atomic sagebrush]

I am still concerned your BMI is low and that coupled with the exercise is really at the root of this issue. My advice is to regain a couple pounds and see what happens.

[Chocolatina]

I just measured myself and have actually gained 1 kg for the last month so my new BMI is 19,7. Is this ok? I am actually concerned I am ruining my sway, what if I conceive exactly the month when I gained weight, does it lower the chances for a girl? Does it sway blue?

[atomic sagebrush]

We have not found tiny fluctuations in weight to be super predictive of whose sways work and whose don't. We have had many many people who regained a bit of weight and got girls, and even more who had lost weight and got boys anyway. The thing is that if your cycle isn't working properly due to low weight you'd not be able to conceive anyway.

[Chocolatina]

Well I suppose that this shouldn’t ruin my sway, as all I did was adding some empty cals (sugars), I haven’t actually stopped to follow the LE principles, am I right? I am expecting the ovulation any day now and will see it will be significantly delayed or not, see if it all has an effect. Another thing- should I be concerned that 4 months of attempts have been unsuccessful so far? I prepared myself to be patient, but I saw that the average is 3 months... Thanks so much again for your prompt counselling!

[atomic sagebrush]

Like I said, small amounts of weight gain have not predicted failed sways.

An average of 3 months means that there are definitely people who take 4,5,6 months instead!! It's very normal to take 3-6 months to conceive even without swaying.

[Chocolatina]

My period has really been messed up. Today, on CD 17 instead of ovulation I got my period again :( anovulatory- I have been measuring since the end of the last one, no O. So it has been like this- two periods one immediately after the other, then ovulation on CD 39 counting from the second bleeding, then a period 12 days after this ovulation and a new period 17 days after the first day of the last bleeding, no ovulation between them. I am totally angry at my stupid period, I am ttc and it’s literally broken. Whatever could I do? I am weaning my toddler, that’a for sure, but what else? I am eating enough cals and fats, after all I gained weight... I am at total loss. I will visit my gynaecologist, but she will probably say it is all due to breastfeeding hormones, we’ve already had similar conversation

[atomic sagebrush]

I suspect you cut back too far for a minute there and it's still working itself out. This is not caused by weaning a toddler once a day that's for sure.

I know it's not fun but it will fix itself over time if you eat more.

[Chocolatina]

Ok, so I took a pregnancy test and it is positive, due to the bleeding (and previous period-like one) I went to the doctor for an emergency check, there is an embryonic sac and it is 50/50 per cent chance to stick due to the bleeding (there is a mild rupture or I don’t know the exact English word). I will have some medication to support it and we will see... how weird, huh. It seems that it wasn’t a period, but a heavy implantation bleeding. Now the second one is due to the mild rupture. I really do hope it sticks...

[atomic sagebrush]

OH WOW!

FWIW I had a full five day "period" with one of my kiddos and ended up with a healthy 8 lb baby at the end of it. This actually happens quite frequently. FXFXFX!!!

[Chocolatina]

It is really weird, I don’t know what made me take the test at all but I am grateful I did as now I will give a chance to the baby to stick with the hormonal medication. I swear I had a period with all the PMS symptoms- pimples, nervousness and all :) and it wasn’t light bleeding, either. Anyway, now I sit tight and wait. I have a swaying related question- the ovulation when I conceived was really pronounced- very painful, with lots and lots of CM (it was a restart after a chemical pregnancy and early miscarriage). Does it matter in terms of swaying pink? I know that it in not very appropriate to discuss gender possibilities after conception but I was just wondering... we did one attempt on positive opk, LE veggie for 7 months for me with 16 h fasting, 1 h daily walks and breastfeeding....in the end I only hope the baby sticks :) but I am curious :)

[atomic sagebrush]

Yep, my "period" was heavier than a lot of my actual periods are.

Ovulation symptoms do not predict gender. We haven't seen any correlation. In fact it's very common for both pink and blue swayers to notice more symptoms around O (perhaps something with changing hormones?? We don't know).

[Chocolatina]

Thanks so much, Atomic! One last thing- for you was it only a one time bleeding when you were pregnant and had it or did it happen for several consecutive months. My gynaecologist said she had pregnant women that got a “period” for the first 2-3 months of the pregnancy around the date the actual period would have happened... if it happens to me again the next month I will totally freak out.
Also- if it is ok to ask because it is not swaying related, but more like general help- what are the recommendations in the USA for vaccinating pregnant women against COVID-19? In my country everything is so old school (they advice against it) and I want to know the official guidelines. I am in between two doses of the vaccine (Pfizer) and have to decide for myself whether to have the second dose administered with the new knowledge of my pregnancy (I was already pregnant with the first dose but did not know back then)... I would appreciate the info very much! I am just asking you as an American with access to your health organisations’ recommendations :) if it is not ok to discuss it here I will understand :)

[atomic sagebrush]

I personally had heavy bleeding that one occasion and then a few incidents of light spotting that did not coincide with a monthly cycle.

But I have seen a few cases of people who had some things that seemed regular like periods. Not common, but possible.

In the US guidelines are varying wildly by the state and by individual doctors. Some people are being told to wait, others are being told to go ahead. At this stage of the game we really just don't know what is safe and what isn't (and this may vary by person anyway, like if a person was at low risk of contracting the disease - stays at home, etc) so I would discuss with your doctor and then follow your gut instinct on that. :heart: