[TaraJo827]

First off, I haven't been on JM for a loooong time... about 5 months, I'd say (since my newest babe was born). My name is Tara. I'm 28, married, with 4 kids.

So my DH & I just took our first NFP class about a week ago. I'm also exclusively BFing. I've had a couple seeming "periods" (more like withdrawal bleeding, I'm guessing). My temps so far tend to be low (like 96.8 a couple times - eek!). I googled it and it looks like that's probably due to BFing and would be indicative of infertility. This is a good thing for now since I would like some space before getting pregnant again, if we do.

ANYway, as for my question... we haven't been too awful "careful," you might say (both with charting & relations) , since I thought I am probably still infertile anyway. However, tonight when I checked my mucus and cervical position, I came out with a BIG glob of what looked exactly like EWCM . And I noticed my cervix seemed very closed, yet softish (but maybe it seemed soft due to the gooeyness). However... and this is the even more TMI part... is it possible that semen can "coagulate" or something to look exactly like EWCM? Because we did have sex earlier today... I'm hoping that's it.

I also heard from our NFP teachers that the cervix closes pretty rapidly and obviously right after ovulation. I have been thinking it was closed even though there was a little gap every day since I've been checking because I thought it was probably just from having previous vaginal births. But today I was like Woah.. that's closed. So I wonder if I could have ovulated for the first time yesterday? yipes! Hopefully I'm paranoid. (Although I get pregnant easily and have gotten BFP at 7 months PP, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility).

Does this make ANY sense? Any opinions on the coagulation theory?

Thanks!

[sjkduke]

It's possible that it was semen....but I can't say for sure! I hope it works out for you!!! Good luck!

[ShawnaCAN]

BF infertility is only reliable if certain conditions are met:

1. Baby is under 6 months of age
2. Baby gets all nutrition at the breast (no pumping, bottles, solids, etc).
3. There is no bleeding or spotting after 56 days post partum

Your charting would reveal whether the episodes of spotting are withdrawal bleeds (dropping estrogen), or if they are breakthrough bleeds (rising estrogen). Breakthrough bleeding/spotting is potentially fertile as it can be related to ovulation, not infertility. The presence of any spotting or bleeding at all does not indicate infertility, it reflects fluctuating hormones...which means your fertility is trying to make a come back!

You can no longer consider yourself covered by breastfeeding infertility and would need to follow all the rules of whichever form of NFP you are learning in order to avoid pregnancy successfully...or consider yourself TTC.

While breastfeeding, your body can gear up for ovulation multiple times before it finally goes through with it. So it's very possible that this recent episode of EWCM was part of a warm-up, or it could have been the real thing. All you can really do is keep charting for the next few days to see if the signs all confirm ovulation or not. The cervix can close very quickly after ovulation, but it can also close somewhat after those false starts I mentioned. Of all the signs, it's the most difficult to interpret and several forms of NFP don't actually teach the cervix sign anymore.

Hope that helps! If you have any other questions, you're also welcome over at the NFP/FAM board!