Okay so here's the thing.......................

[LoveGigi]

I have BF my DD for 2 years now, she is still demand fed, I seriously couldn't tell you how much I feed her, it's still day and night and very frequent. I work part time so she is totally fine when I'm at work. Anyway, the reason for my post is that I haven't had a period since Oct 2005 and will some time in the near future be thinking about a 2nd DC. I don't want to change the way things are with my DD, I want her to wean herself as and when she is ready. What I want to know is that if we are to continue the way we are going, will I just eventually get my periods back or will I need to cut down/give up feeding? Are there people out there still demand feeding a 3 or 4 year old and still don't have their periods back???? I have read a lot of articles on fertility and BF on LLL and Kellymom, so just looking for people's actual experiences.

[toddlerhip]

I stopped bf between 3 and 8 weeks and had a period then started bf again (from dry) and periods stopped. Then at 9 months cut down to about 2 feeds a day (and maybe 2 at night) and periods restarted. I now (17mo) feed 4 times a day and not at night and have periods again.

[LoveGigi]

Thanks for your msg toddlerhip, I'm really impressed that you started up your milk supply again from dry, I didn't know you could do that.

Are there any other folks out there with a toddler addicted to BFing and still don't have their periods!!???

[onwardandupward]

Mine returned at when my similarly snacky child was 30 months. And we were still feeding a lot then. So yes, they will return. I've never heard of anyone else as late as me TBH.

[chipmonkey]

LoveGigi, I had periods from 4 months with all my ds's but still couldn't conceive ds4 till I totally gave up bfing ds3. He was 2.8 by then.

[Notanexcitingname]

I suspect the amswer is that it's frequency and intensity of feeding that's the determining factor, not age. So you'll probably get them back when she cuts down a little (or maybe a lot ;))

Not that menstruating is a guaruntee of fertility; bf'ing can still delay ovulation until too late in the cycle, resulting in a short luteal phase and insufficient progesterone to sustain a pregnancy (even though you can conceive). I think you need a LP of at least 10 days, but I'm not entirely sure, and I'm sure t varies person to person, anyway

[JamInMyWellies]

You dont necessarily need to stop feeding to get periods back or to get pregnant. I was demand feeding my DS and got pregnant when he was 8mth old and I had had no periods

[LoveGigi]

Onwardandupward; I reckon I'm going to follow in your footsteps, DD is showing no signs of easing up on the BFing! Were you anxious about AFs failure to return? Have you since weaned your DC, if so how?

Notanexcitingname; I agree re frequency and intensity, I think I'll have to start attempting to reduce her intake. I just don't want to think about it, it's easier just being a human udder rather than say no!!!!!!

Chipmonkey; As mentioned by notanexcitingname do you think it was a problem with the luteal phase when conceiving DS4?

JamInMyWellies; You must have caught your first ovulation, I don't even think I'm close to starting to ovulate, but who knows.

Many thanks for your replies