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Introduction
I am a healthy 37 yr old with one 2 yr old DD. I EBF until approx 6 months, and continued to nurse up to 4 times a day until she was about 18 months. Then twice a day until 2o months, then just at bed time until 21 months. No AF the entire time. Once I weaned her completely I started charting again to TTC. It took approx six weeks to O, then I had an LP of only 6 days. We were so disappointed because we had perfectly timed our BDing and had plenty of it, so we were really hoping to catch that first eggie.

Tests, Procedures, Medical consultations
I was a bit concerned about AF being absent for so long, so about 15 months postpartum I went to the OB. She tested my prolactin then and then again 3 months later. She said that although levels were high, since I was still nursing everything looked normal.

Once I stopped nursing, I had multiple patches of EWCM, so it was nearly impossible for me to tell when O would actually happen, if at all. So I started using OPKs testing once a day, which worked like a charm.

Trying-to-Conceive (TTC) experience
That first "cycle 0" was rough. I thought it would be much quicker and easier... but I really became obsessed with my fertility signs. I think I stressed myself out and thought about it way too much. Going into this second time TTC, I already knew a lot about the human reproductive process. What I didn't know were the many postpartum factors that can make TTC different and more challenging the second time around. For example, I was really heartbroken when AF came just 6 DPO. I was so concerned I had LPD (luteal phase defect)!! Come to find out, short LPs during first postpartum cycles are quite common and usually (hopefully) correct themselves in just a few cycles postpartum.

Charting Experience
I LOVE charting and will probably do it well into menopause, but I have mixed feelings about whether it helped me emotionally during this first "cycle 0". It's like they say - ignorance is bliss. I think postpartum women like me, who tend to be a bit obsessive, may have less stress if they just wait for AF to come once or even twice before they attempt charting or TTC again. It just takes the body time to get the hormones back in shape, and trying to work around that can be very frustrating. But once my cycle normalizes again I have no doubt that charting will be the most valuable tool I will use in TTC #2!

The Internet
The Internet was HUGE for me - especially after I experienced my short LP in cycle 0. As I mentioned, I was distraught thinking I had LPD until I researched online and found my experience to be a normal postpartum occurrence. Also, the FF community was very helpful and supportive. I also found the FF Chart and OPK / HPT galleries particularly helpful.

Other Thoughts?
For me it has been really hard not to obsess. I think the biggest challenge is to relax and let nature and science work for you - instead of always thinking about how time is working against you.

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