To be panicking in this situation?

[panickingpleasehelp]

NC for this but regular poster.

I have an 8 month old who I recently stopped BF at around 7 months. I combination fed the baby from birth so never EBF. My period returned around 3 months pp if I recall. My cycles were initially very long (30-40 days), later settling into my usual pre pregnancy pattern of 28/29 days for the last 3 months. I was still occasionally BF during the time I was having these regular periods.

I stopped BF just under 4 weeks ago and my period is late this month - I'm currently on day 33 of my cycle so it's around 4 days late. I have had sex with my partner a number of times and we have used condoms, however I know this isn't 100% reliable.

What are the chances the delay in my period this month is related to stopping BF, as opposed to a pregnancy? For many reasons another pregnancy isn't something we want and I would have to terminate, which fills me with dread and upset. So I want to ask if anyone has experience of this, and what are the chances it's just my hormones going a bit crazy after stopping BF? Has anyone experienced a late period after stopping BF?

Thank you for any thoughts or experiences.

Well it's a pity you're "feeling judged", OP, but you asked if you were being unreasonable to be panicking, and given this is one of those "am I pregnant" threads, the only useful thing that can be done is to take a test.

Plus, you didn't say you just needed to talk it out until you can get a test (is the Internet a better place for that than a friend you know and trust?). You said you didn't want to find out until after Christmas as it would preoccupy you. Given you're already so preoccupied that you're all over the Internet and your cycle history trying to inform your guess, you would seem to be preoccupied already.

We don't know. You don't know. There's one way to find out.

Pah, garbled sentence about preoccupation there. Hopefully I still made enough sense.

@panickingpleasehelp

I think you are in a tricky position and I don't blame you for not wanting to test right now. In all honesty, if you are pregnant, there would be nothing you can feasibly do about in in the next few days.

Yes, it is possible that stopping bf and having a Covid jab can mess up your cycle. The important thing here is to do whatever it takes to get you through the next few days. If that means pushing all of this to one side and testing after Xmas, so be it.

It might be worth ordering a pregnancy test so that you have one to hand if you need to test in a few days. This might also be a good point to think about your contraception in the longer term.

But for today, focus on the things you need to do. Maybe try and get out for some fresh air too.

@DrSbaitso

It's not an "am I pregnant" thread. Well, it's not intended to be. That would be a ridiculous thread because clearly no one can tell me.

It was intended to be a "what are other people's experiences of the link between stopping BF and periods, ie can anyone relate to this situation, and talk to me for a while so I don't lose my mind" thread.

Yes, I felt quite sure when I started the thread that I didn't want to test this side of Christmas, that's correct. However I have slightly shifted my view now as a result of feedback and comments on the thread and I have asked my partner to bring home a test.

And with regard to discussing with a friend or family member - absolutely not. I suppose when you don't know someone's family and friends it might be harder to appreciate this, but that would definitely not help me more than talking anonymously right now. You'll have to trust me on that one.

I won't be replying further as I don't understand how I've ended up feeling this way by reaching out for support. I can't see anything offensive or controversial that I might have said, so I'm a little baffled.

I'm off to cuddle my sick baby and try to enjoy my Christmas.

Fwiw, Merry Christmas to you all.

@CagneyNYPD1

Thank you

@CagneyNYPD1

You've also hit on the head my reasoning for not wanting to test this side of Christmas initially. What can I actually do? Absolutely nothing but sit through my first family Christmas with my baby upset and anxious about an imminent termination in January. How is that any better than not knowing?

If being pregnant is such an awful situation to be in can I gently suggest double up on contraception

You will know if the condom failed if it was split or ripped , if it was intact on his knob after he has ejaculated into it then there is no need for panic

You haven't said anything offensive or controversial and nobody has suggested that you have. Why are you trying to emotionally blackmail people?

You were asking about the possibility of the vaccine affecting your cycle (ie, an "am I pregnant" thread). You said that you didn't want to test now as you didn't want to be preoccupied with it over Christmas. Given you're clearly, and understandably, preoccupied already, you very predictably got answers suggesting that you test now, because it's unlikely to make you feel worse and it may well give you relief. All we're doing otherwise is helping you to make your guess. You didn't ask for emotional support, and even if you had, I think most people would still have gently suggested that you test.

We had no way of knowing that you had changed your mind about testing, but I'm glad you have. I hope you get the result you want and your baby gets better soon.

Most likely it’s a combination of vaccine and stopping bf. For me, I’d want to know as I’d find the anxiety of not knowing worse than finding out it’s worst case and then mentally planning how to deal with it. That may not be the case for you. I’d ask yourself whether finding out it was positive would be worse than the position you’re in now. If yes then possibly test after Christmas. If no then test now because most likely you’ll be able to put your mind at rest, and if not you’re in no worse position.

Hope it all goes well for you x

I’d ask yourself whether finding out it was positive would be worse than the position you’re in now. If yes then possibly test after Christmas. If no then test now because most likely you’ll be able to put your mind at rest, and if not you’re in no worse position.

I'm torn here but I think the answer to this probably yes. Hence my original reluctance to test. But conversely if I'm panicking for nothing then a negative test will be so massively helpful...

Negative test😃

Glad you have the answer you wanted! Now double up on protection and enjoy your Christmas!

Great news, OP. Now relax and enjoy your Christmas. Hope the little one gets well soon.

great news - enjoy your christmas