Still no periods with a 15 month old breast fed baby - is that weird?

[agirlcalledvicky]

DS is 15 months old and I am still breastfeeding - but only just. He has a feed in bed in the morning but quickly gets bored and wanders off - I think this feed will go fairly soon and he will finally be weaned. I would like to think about TTC#2 in the New Year but I am a bit worried about the fact I still haven't had a period. I don't know many people that have breast fed over 6 months and so don't know whether it is normal to get to 15 months post birth without a period and how long after stopping bf they are likely to restart?

Any advice or experiences gratefully received (as are stories of quickly conceiving after stopping breastfeeding )

Thanks x

DS weaned at 17 months. I was already a month pregnant by then although I didn't know it because my periods hadn't come back at all...so I don't think you have any reason at all to worry.

I don't know what's normal I'm afraid, just thought I'd share. I'm still breastfeeding at 18 months, my periods returned at 11 months.
I really don't know but I think it just depends, my SIL got her period almost immediately after birth even though she breastfed for 12 months.

Ds is 12 months, I'm still bf and haven't had a period. I honestly can't remember when I started with dd, I fed for 10 months but I'm fairly certain my periods returned while I was still feeding.
Sorry if that's not much help but I'm interested what other people have to say :)

I got my period back when DS was 15 months, but ONLY because I completely stopped feeding him for 5 days due to being in hospital with food poisoning. That seemed to kick-start them. Honestly, if I hadn't had that break I bet it would have taken longer. I was only feeding him once a day!

I do have PCOS and irregular cycles though. He is 2.2 now and still feeding.

Definitely don't knock it. DD is 16 months and a bit and it's just come back. Was feeling weird for about the past 6 weeks, lots of discharge and getting pretty sore down there (sorry if TMI) so I thought something was up.

I have to be honest and say that the delay in re-starting periods was a big selfish factor in breastfeeding for so long. We haven't stopped suddenly or anything but it's been winding down and she rarely feeds overnight now.

I have been feeling totally crap the last few days, depressed, hormonal and really sad that it feels like my body isn't totally dedicated to her any more. It's like it's ready to move on to another baby (which I most definitely am not!)

18.5 mo with DD. Conceived about 2 months later (CP) then again the next month who is now sleeping soundly(ish!) upstairs :)

I'm also interested. My DS is 14mo and still no period - blood tests show I'm not ovulating so no chance of getting pregnant and I too hope to ttc. Has anyone had to wean completely before seeing periods return? (And didn't get anything even when only feeding just a small bit at night.)

Totally normal. The spectrum goes (while BFing) from starting straight away, within a month of birth, to not ovulating until you stop BFing completely.

Trying to have a period of 5 hours with no BFing in 24 hours can be enough to get things going but there's no answer for an individual I'm afraid :(

If you're TTC then it's down to you whether you want to wean (or cut down) to try to ovulate. If you're not then bear in mind that the longer that you go without periods, the higher your protection against ovarian cancer.

The longest I've heard of is 42 months.

Kellymom has some useful info.

I'm still without periods at 22 months post partum, but DS feeds a lot (min 6 times per 24, max about a million). We'd like to TTC but DS really needs feeding still.

He went on nursing strike for a fortnight at 13 months when he only had 3 feeds a day. I had a week of cramping and period-type symptoms, but they went away again when he started feeding normally again. It made me remember what a pleasant experience it has been not to be having periods. :)

per 24 hours, that is.

I got mine back when ds was 16 mo, and I think it coincided with him not feeding at night time any more.

Actually Cies, now you mention it I think mine started around about the time DS started sleeping throughout the night without wanting to feed.

Wow, thanks for all your replies. I am guessing I am not too out of the ordinary then, my sister who is a doctor was really surprised when I mentioned it to her so I was worrying it was really unusual.

I suspect the delay is mostly due to me rather than the breastfeeding - I've always had very irregular periods and my 12 week baby scan showed very cystic ovaries ("ooooo they look like a big bunch of grapes" the ultrasonographer said). When they do make an appearance I am not looking forward to raging PMT and period pains again. AF can come back and then go straight back off again, or I'd dearly love a chocolatebourbon style conception - with no periods at all

I've BF 3 children and never had a period until 1 month (approx) after their last feed.

I am still BF DD2 at 16 months and had my first period since birth about a month ago. Sounds normal to me!