Period after birth?

[Albamahanna]

I had my baby just over 6 months ago. I stopped breast feeding 5 weeks ago. I haven't had a period yet. Today I am having lower stomach pains that are making it difficult to stand straight. It's uncomfortable constantly and very painful occasionally. However there is no sign of my period.
Any advice or experience on when periods return after stopping breastfeeding? Could these pains be a sign things are working again?

Hope you don’t mind me following, I also have a 6 month old and will be stopping bf at some point, I have a 6 year old too but I can’t remember when my periods returned with him.

It’s impossible to say. After my first, it took about 3 months after I stopped bf but I went back on the pill so I think that’s why it came. My 2nd period came back 3 months pp despite ebf. He’s 14 months now and still bf and it’s been every 28 days on the dot since!

The first one or two are usually pretty awful though, crampy and heavy.

I had monthly period symptoms, but didn’t bleed, for a few months.

Could it be ovulation? Since having kids I get really painful ovulation each month

I didn't have one for around 6 weeks (over a year after giving birth), then didn't get another for 6 weeks and realised I was pregnant

Mine came back a month after I stopped expressing / feeding. They are more painful and heavier than before I'm afraid to say.

Also in the same boat. Breastfeeding 8 month old, awful pains for the past 5 days or so, no period yet though..
What going on :(
(also done a pregnancy test that's negative)

Mine came back at around 5 months postpartum (while I was still exclusively breastfeeding -- I was a little annoyed that the continuing multiple night feeds hasn't kept it at bay longer). I did have exceptionally terrible cramps before my first cycle (having never had period cramps before), so maybe the pain you've got is a sign that your period will start soon.

Then I had really long gaps between cycles. Before pregnancy, my cycles were always exactly 28 days. Post baby, my cycles started at about 60 days and seemed to get a few days shorter each time. I kept breastfeeding a few times a day until my daughter was 18 months. After I'd stopped completely, my cycles got to around 35 days.

Basically, it can take a really long time for things to get back to how they were before (and it's possible they'll always be different).