Those of you who have bf toddlers, can I ask you a personal question?

[naturelover]

Did breastfeeding affect your libido?

I'm bf my DS 18mo and bf my DD a similar length of time and have basically been pg or bf for the last 4+ years - and have zero libido!

I plan to wean DS in the next few months. He only feeds 2-3 times in 24h.

Want to get my sex life back (so does DH) and would love to hear from others that their libido returned after weaning.

I was on ADs for a while and am a little worried that the libido issue is a side effect of that - even though it's several months since I came off them.

There, I told you it was a personal question!

Thanks

Prolactin, the hormone which is involved in breastfeeding, definitely does suppress libido.

Some antidepressants can do that too, although unlikely if you have been off them for a while. Depression is a much bigger cause of poor libido tbh.

From what you say, I think you may just need to reclaim your body, and separate the reproductive and recreational functions IFYSIM. However, if it carries on I would go and see your GP. Be aware of your mood and make sure you are not mildly depressed.

If you are ot currently exercising, this might help, both in feeling that your body is your own, and if you have still got some residual depression.

I hadn't realised how much it had affected my libido until I stopped bf at 16 months. The first month of sex after stopping was absolutely amazing, some kind of rebound effect maybe (?) and then it settled back down to a 'normal' level after that, which I think my husband was slightly relieved about!

yes

Agree with Leonie on mine my libido started to return when my periods returned and grew stronger each month, and by the time they self weaned It was back to normal.

Interesting. I didn't even think about it being related to the bfing, just assumed it was being knackered running round after a small person! Plus with ds1 I had PND and was on andtidepressants.

That's a yes from me then - bfed ds1 until 2y 11m, still going with ds2 (14.5m).

Yes. And then I stopped BF DS1 when I was 6 weeks pregnant with DS2. It's a wonder DS2 got concieved!

I'd say it gets better, slowly, as you reduce feeds. My interest in sex started to return after about a year or so. Getting more sleep probably helped too! And don't forget the horrible DRYNESS. Gah. I hate using artificial lube.

Same as Leonie here.

Yes - though only unti AF returned (both times).

i'm not sure if it is the bf, or just the tiredness of looking after small children with me.

reshape, yes is very good. can buy in holland and barrett.

used to affect it yes but not anymore (dd is 3 though) - there must come a point when it's only once or twice a day when perhaps the hormones are not as strong. oh yeah, and the kids sleep better!

yes, bf definately affects libido, but so does broken nights and lack of privacy.

Yes, for shiz

same as reallytired. Libido came back a bit as periods restarted (around 17mo). And increased over the next few months. I conceived when DS was 2.1yo. And then lost ALL libido due to pukiness though sure BF also had an impact. Just got over the morning sickness and DS is self weaning (both and ) and i am now much friskier...