I stopped bf-ing my son round about January 2010. He was exclusively bf-ed from birth (Aug 2008_ up until he started weaning onto solids (about 6 to 7 months) and then bf on demand. He was about 17 months old when I stopped bf-ing him completely. My periods returned when he was about 15 months old, around November 2009, about 2 months before I stopped bf-ing him completely. The periods sometimes were quite heavy (compared to the kind of periods I normally get all my life), basically I'd soak through an Always Night-time sanitary pad within 3 to 4 years for the first 2 days, then they dwindle and the blood stops around day 7 or 8. But the periods have been consistent in the sense that they came once a month - however, the gap between periods ranged between 25 to 32 days. During some months in between periods, I spotted a tiny bit of blood.
Then I never had a period since October 2010 and am starting to get a bit worried. I am definitely not pregnant, but sometimes I feel an occasional mild throbbing pain on the bottom right side of my abdomen (close to the groin) which may or may not be related to the periods (might be constipation too). That and every month since October, I'd have a few days of just feeling a bit menstrual but not actually bleeding - nauseous, a bit tired. I spotted once in December, but don't remember if I did in November or October. Last March 2010 I had my GP test me for thyroid gland disorder as I had a lot of panic attacks with no apparent reason, just to rule it out (as my friend who had been diagnosed with thyroid gland disorder previously told me her symptoms were quite similar to panic attacks). The GP never came back to me so I assumed the test came back normal. I also did a PAP smear last Feb and test results came back alright.
I just find all this a bit unusual considering that I've never had problems with periods since I first got them at 13 and they have always came on time, no spotting, no serious cramping... I have had 2 babies before my son came, and I have not encountered any period problems after them (though I've not bf-ed them for as long as I did my son - I stopped before 6 months for the older 2). I had a very problem-free water birth delivery of my son with placenta delivered without drugs and did not suffer any tears or noticeable wounds from the birth. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but just trying to run through all the possible reasons why my periods post-bf have been so irregular and different from what I had in the past.
I've booked an appointment to see my GP next Monday but really don't know what will come out of it as the symptoms seem so mild and vague apart from the lack of bleeding.
Does anyone think this could be just my body adjusting itself after not having a single period for more than a year due to bf-ing and pregnancy? Is this normal?