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Thanks atomic for your advice. We had another attempt and so far I am 8dpo. However, I am suspecting AF as I had a HUGE temp dip today. I'm still above coverline, but not by much. :/ besides Patience, is there anything else I can do to lengthen my luteal phase? Thanks so much!
That's normal at that point of the cycle angel!! It's a big surge of estrogen that helps maintain your lining a little longer so if a baby is there it can snuggle in safe and sound. It will very likely rebound today!
Atomic,
Looks like AF came... Temps still above cover line and rose a teeny bit (. 2 degrees F) , but that's it. Woke up to dark pink and a little bit of brown blood today. :( Very light, but I'm thinking it's AF. I guess I'm the bright side, my luteal phase was a little longer, 8 days. Last month, it was 4 days.
Oh shoot I'm so sorry!! 8 days is definitely better than 4 but I am hoping and praying we see a nice long one next month.
Thank you atomic,
Besides weaning, is there anything at all I can do to promote ovulating sooner or to lengthen my luteal phase? My body gears up to ovulate several times and on time (CD 14), but stops, then doesn't O until 24-26 CD and my LP is super short. :/ Sorry, a bit deflated today.it's frustrating because it seems I'm delayed by 10 days. :/
Also, would the intensity of periods have anything to do with fertility returning? I was reading it can take a while for your uterine lining to be competent enough for implantation when nursing. Last month, my period was basically spotting with a 4 day luteal phase. This month, AF came with thunder and lightning. This bleeding is worse than my first cycle after my son. It's even too heavy for tampons. Could this indicate something is wrong or that perhaps my body is trying to normalize my cycles since my luteal phase was 8 days instead of 4? I am the only person in my family who ever breastfed, so I'm not sure what's normal and what's not. Thank you, atomic. You've been a life saver.
Just keep eating a lot of healthy fat, get sleep when you can, and have patience because most people's cycles WILL normalize over time.
Do you think you could be anemic? That makes your period come in like a blaze of glory like that. I would try adding in iron 30-60 mg daily for 2 weeks and see if you feel more energy or better in any way (it is usually quite obvious) in which case you should continue for 6 weeks before reducing. If you don't notice any difference after the first 2 weeks drop down to 3x a week.
Atomic,
Thank you for your response. I am borderline anemic, my fiance is anemic and my son will be tested in the near future.
I know you mentioned a while ago, that things usually work out within 3 months, what is the reasoning behind this specific time line? Would it still apply to nursing mothers?) I have noticed my past two cycles have been shorter than usual (by almost a week). I am thinking perhaps I ovulated per usual and maybe the Vitex I took for 12 days messed up my LP? I have added a serving of full fat from dairy (butter, cheese, etc.). Even though I have been ovulating at around 24-26, I gear up right on time at around 14-16 and the past couple cycles I have noticed I also gear up around CD 5-9 (watery, ewcm, with almost positive OPKs). What would be the reasoning for my body trying to ovulate so soon? Last cycle and this cycle it started gearing this early. Seems every 10 days it tends to until I finally do at the end of my cycle. If say, I did O around CD 5-9, would the eggs even be mature enough? Someone mentioned I should take Royal Jelly, Maca Root, and B6 to help me ovulate on time or the first time my body tries to and to lengthen my LP. I have never heard of Royal Jelly or Maca. I have been holding off to see what you think of them. I know I haven't been trying for too long, but I can't help but to be a bit deflated. Thanks, atomic.
Let's get some iron going - only 2 months instead of 6 weeks before reducing. :agree:
It's just what I tend to see and yes, even for nursing moms. Your body is working to fix stuff and once it gets into a place where it feels like "ok this is a good place to get pregnant" it will happen.
I think you are overthinking "gearing up to ovulate" Just because you have symptoms this does not mean your body is gearing up to do anything and it is not unusual to have EWCM and even dark OPK at that point. It's because your body is making hormones but they aren't concentrated enough to trigger ovulation.
DO NOT take that stuff. I would much rather see you take a prenatal vitamin then any of them. They are dangerous (except the b6) and all three of them really mess up people's cycles. I know it's really hard to wrap a head around but I see SO many people who get into a weird few cycles and then start taking herbs that are like throwing gas on a fire. They only make things worse, by far worse so if you want to take some B6 let's just do a prenatal or multi 3x a week
Hi, atomic!
It's me again. Well, I am cd41. The longest cycle I have ever had and 15dpo (per my temps). My temps are still very elevated, yet I keep on getting BFN ( I got a vvf line yesterday, but the line disappeared and I am thinking it was more of an indent. :(. Negative on a digital. ) 11dpo I had twinges on my right side and 12DPO I had huge AF like cramps, I was 99% sure I was getting AF. She never came. I took a First Response yesterday (14dpo) and it came back negative. :/ I know someone told me their periods came back like mine at 6 weeks pp, then just stopped randomly. Could that be the case for me? I am confused since I had a temp rise 2 weeks ago. My LP has never been more than 8 days since I'm still nursing my 1 year old, so I have been testing every other day and keep coming back with negatives. :/ Could it be possible I never O'd and it's just the stairstep pattern you were talking about before? How would I know? Also, when would you say would be the time to stop testing? I am planning on testing tomorrow at 16dpo, but after that, I guessI'll be convinced I won't get a bfp as we haven't BD in a while (hubby is away). Also, I read that any egg that implants late (around 12dpo) will most likely end in a mc and the later your BFP, the higher chance of losing the pregnancy. Do you have any personal experience with this? Thank you.
with most of my babies i have had negative pregnancy tests for up to a week-10 days after af was due, i was pregnant and the pregnancies went to full term, fingers crossed this is your month and its just taking a while to show up on the tests, i know how frustrating it is to keep getting bfn and not know what on earth is going on xx
Thank you! I am so confused as my temp is still up. Everyone is getting bfp at 10-12dpo. I'm 15dpo and no sign of AF. I have no clue when AF is due as my LP varies so much, all I know is when I O'd.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4blue2pink
the most likely explanation is that you ovulated later than you think. yes, it's entirely possible this is a stairstep month for you and you oed later than you think or haven't Oed yet. And the bummer deal is that you won't know until AF arrives.Quote:
Originally Posted by angelmamma
Just because you haven't gotten AF or a positive pregnancy test yet does not mean that a pregnancy is implanting late. You most likely just ovulated past when you think (or haven't yet at all)
Well, as soon as I hit send on my last response, AF came. Ha, like a cruel joke. I wish there was a way to ovulate sooner, closer to 14dpo then closer to 30+ dpo. :( I am making sure to eat a full serving of fat a day and have been eating fairly well. Don't know what I am doing wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush
Oh angel I'm sorry. :(
Any way to get Clomid?
Can you think back 10-14 days or so? Did it seem like you were ovulating then??
I would definitely be having attempts every 4 days if you're not. (sorry if I'm repeating myself, I just like to be really sure!)
Its okay, atomic. :( I think this time around I just got my hopes up too much. I have to try to stop doing that.Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush
How would I get my hands in Clomid? Would I ask my obgyn? Or can I get it online? I mentioned to my GP that we were trying and he told me I was ridiculous since I was nursing my son. I'm guessing if I ask my GP, he'll tell me to wean before he gives me Clomid.
Well, looking back at my chart, I had EWCM 12 days before AF came, and watery about 3 days before AF came. That's my only inkling. I do tend to have EWCM stick around for a day or two after I get a temp rise.
Yes, we baby dance every 4 days. This month we were off a little since my husband has been working a lot due to the holidays. :(
I will continue to have a full serving of dairy a day. I started taking some iron per your recommendation last time we communicated as my last cycle was pretty heavy.
Ah yes, one of those doctors. They LOVE to make people wean even though tons of women do wean and still have the exact same problem anyway. I do not recommend weaning and it's possible for most people to get pregnant eventually while nursing, you just have to wait a little while longer.
I'd go to my OB and forget to mention that you're still nursing.
I don't love you guys buying online and I can't recommend any sites or anything like that, sorry. People do it all the time, I just can't encourage it.
yep I suspect that's probably around when it happened, I'd be sure to have attempt any time you see EWCM (altho with hubby working a lot that has a pretty big element of luck involved) Watery discharge right before AF comes is totally normal.
What do you mean by, Doctors have women wean, women wean and still have problems anyway? Could nursing have a long term affect on my fertility? Both of my pregnancies were surprises. I conceived my rainbow son (who was a surprise) 7 months after I gave birth to my angel daughter.Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush
I spoke with a family member today who is currently going through IVF and she told me a doc won't prescribe any clomid unless you have been trying a year and are a certain age (I'm turning 22 soon). She said most likely he'll have me wean and come back in a year! I will leave out weaning to the doctor, should I also say we've been trying for almost a year despite my son just turning 1? lol
No no no, I am saying that the women had something else going on all along. It wasn't the nursing, it was never the nursing, it was some other thing, but the doctors just immediately seize upon the most obvious solution which is having people wean. But if it's something else going on, then that's not going to help.
NO nursing does NOT have a long term effect on your fertility. Please continue to nurse as long as it is working for you and your little guy. I nursed for 11 years over the course of my life and still was able to get pregnant easily at 39 and 41!
I didn't realize you were only 22. Yes the odds that you're going to get Clomid in this scenario are slim to none and I'd not even bother going to the doctor. They're not going to help you yet. The "year of trying" does not start until you can reasonably get pregnant and that's not till your baby is 6-12 months old anyway even if you WEREN"T breastfeeding. I think you need to just be patient, even though I know it sucks, and your body will slowly regain full fertility over time.
Hello there, atomic! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush
I also (if you don't mind) come bearing a couple questions! -
Well, hubby and I took a small break for a couple of weeks (no temping, no testing, no timed BD) and just decided to have fun. Well, my little love bug turned 1 yesterday (yay!), so we have decided to start trying again! I started to temp as of yesterday again and I ended up springing for the more expensive OPKs- clear blue digital advanced. I decided to test since I've been having lots of EWCM, and got a solid smiley! My question is - hubby and I have been BD every day for the past 3-4 days for fun....would he basically be "shooting blanks" by now? If not, would it sway blue?
Would you suggest we attempt again today?
Also, I know we discussed this earlier, but I know we spoke of basically our bodies can gear up to O, then doesn't hit the right amount of hormones to trigger ovulation. Would getting a "peak" non flashing smiley usually be enough to trigger O, or would it also have very good chances of failing to O again? I am excited since per my charts, I usually don't O until CD 26... today is CD 19. HOWEVER, I tend to have a pattern where I see fertile cm (not quite positive OPK, but darker), then I don't O and O instead about 10 days later. The difference this month, is I got a "peak" solid smiley OPK....usually, I use easy@home online tests and don't get positive OPKs till later (I get almost positive, but not quite).
I also have been on a course of antibiotics (amoxicillin). I am mid course. I am also on my last day of prednisone.
Would any of these change my cycle (cause me to O earlier or later)?
Thanks again, atomic! Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Also, want to mention our nursing schedules and frequencies have been a bit off the past several weeks (since Thanksgiving). We are now just starting to get back into our frequent nursing session. My son has had the stomach bugs, cold, flu, etc. this month (it's been a tough season illness wise), so his breastmilk intake has fluctuated A LOT the past month. He still nurses a lot, but our schedules have changed numerous times the past few weeks.
Edit to add: We just had an attempt today (12/23/17) due to the blazing positive OPK...I really hope we didn't screw ourselves over by BD all week!
Uodate: 12/24/17/ - No rise in BBT today. :/ Still a superfluous amount of fertile cm though.
I GOT MY BFP at 9dpo! MY EGGO IS PREGGO! I'm over the moon! Thank you all!
Huge congrats, I'm so sorry I missed your post on the 23rd, I read it and then must have closed without replying, so sorry!!
Not a problem, atomic! I know you are busy running this site! I had a gorgeous temp dip at 6dpo. Since I have zero self control, I tested today at 9dpo and was shocked when I got a strong second line! I will sure be back in a couple months when I start getting ultrasound pics (I am high risk). What are your thoughts on Sneak Peak? The company claims to be able to tell you the gender at 9 weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush
Is there anything I can do to help you out (write an outstanding review, etc.)? You have helped me so much and I really appreciate that!
Edit to add: Also, quick question: I've been having very dull cramps and aches on my right side (kinda like O cramps). Wouldn't say hurts, but noticable. Is this common from what you have observed? A friend told me to go to the doctor right away since it could be an ectopic pregnancy and I could lose my whole fallopian tube? I usually don't go until around 8 weeks. If I had an implantation dip at 6dpo, could it still be the embryo still attaching? I am high risk, so anything and everything makes me paranoid.
I do try to answer every question though, I think the holidays got me that time. :)
Sneak Peek is too unreliable. I suggest having a Nipty or Nifty test such as Harmony, Materniti-21, etc instead.
It is totally normal to have cramps and stretching pains in early pregnancy. It has nothing to do with where your baby implants (if our uteruses were that sensitive we could never survive pregnancy and childbirth!) and you cannot feel that happening. It is because in early pregnancy you have a huge surge of hormones that can cause cramps and achiness. We have more blood flow and nerve endings on the right side so it's more often on the right, but it can also switch around depending on what part is stretching or swelling at any given point in time. It is highly unlikely that you are having an ectopic pregnancy and much more likely that you are just having some normal early pregnancy cramps. The issue with running in to the doctor at this stage is they're likely to probably just blow you off without checking (and honestly cannot see much of anything at this point of gestation) but if you're really worried about it it may give you peace of mind to have it checked.
I'm happy to help, if you want to tell a friend or whatever that's great! We should probably add a testimonials section but we haven't thus far. Good luck and pink dust!
Thanks atomic, one more question, promise! Yes, if you have a page for testimonials, I will gladly write one!!! :)
So with my last pregnancy, I was put on progesterone oral supplements right away, then given Makena progesterone injections from 16 weeks to 34 weeks gestation. Do you know anyone who had breastfed with progesterone supplements, or even the Makena injections? I am being told different things - 1. Progesterone prohibits prolactin levels and will dry up your milk (will the supplements or injections dry my supply up?) 2. I can't breastfeed while pregnant and high risk for pre term labor 2. Contradictory, I CAN because my body will be used to the nipple stimulation. 4. I CAN breastfeed, but only as long as I am not on pelvic rest
I've seen two nurses at my OB and they've said contradictory things. Do you have any data regarding this? I am thinking I will dry up fairly quickly as I took Vitex for a cycle and it seemed to decrease my milk supply. I saw a pretty significant decrease.
The doc has already called a prescription in for oral progesterone supplements I'm picking up tomorrow.
I think there is so much conflicting info out there because everyone responds differently. I think it's a "your mileage may vary" kind of thing and so every nurse has seen a different set of things happen and has a different set of guidelines.
Personally I was allowed to continue breastfeeding on pelvic rest but I was not on it for preterm labor but instead for placenta previa. I did find it made some Braxton Hicks, but I know literally hundreds of women who nursed all through pregnancy and did not have premature labor. I suspect you'll know pretty quick how your body will respond and can make a decision - if you're like "OMGosh owie!" the first few times you will probably want to wean and if the prog. supps dry up your milk, it will be that much easier since your nursing baby will soon realize there's less milk available.
No matter what, wishing you the very best for a happy and healthy 9 months!
Update: 13 weeks with a....
BABY BOY.
I think we screwed up by BDing twice during my fertile window... I'm just happy that so far, it's a healthy baby. We found out via the panorama test. Better luck next time, and we will try a diet change to sway girl next time and will only BD once, lol. We will be returning in the future! Thanks again, especially atomic!
Aww, I'm sorry it didn't go your way but huge congrats on your new addition!!