Re-starting Breastfeeding at 8 months - fertility concerns!!

[Lemurs321]

I breastfed my 8 and a half month-old baby for 7 months and my reason for stopping was that I was keen to get my period back; I'm 35 and am worried about not being able to conceive again. I have since had a period but feel really upset about stopping breastfeeding. A mixture of guilt and sadness, quite overwhelming and unexpected. I wondered if anyone knows if I try to restart again this will affect my ovulation/periods and ability to try to conceive. Any ideas/experiences would be gratefully appreciated!

If you have resumed your periods and your luteal phase is 12-16 days then you are fertile (though if that means you will be able to get pg I don't know as that would depend on other factors, your partner included).

If you resumed bfing and didn't go back to 12+ feeds a day then it may well be that you maintain your fertility levels. On average bfing women (fully bfing though with solids) get their period back at 14m, though some may get their periods back as early as 6w. Kellymom.com has lots of info on bfing and pregnancy/tandem nursing so perhaps have a read of it.

It might also be wise to talk things over with a bfing counsellor so that you get an idea of how things might play out with trying to resume bfing or in laying bfing to rest.

I am in exactly the same position (except still BFing 9 month old) as we took forever to conceive first time around. My periods returned in December but had a 44 day cycle (previously 36 days when conceived DS). I had a I bought "Taking Control of your Fertility" from Amazon as wasn't convinced I was ovulating and have been taking BBT to get an idea of what's happening because I am obsessive for reassurance.

abigboy - 9 months already??? Time flies when you are sleep deprived (for me that is!)

Hope both of you have an easy time of it TTC and get pg quickly.

Thanks TruthSweet. TBH am still so smitten with DS and loving BFing so (and I never thought I'd say this!) if it happens it happens but... After the stress of conceiving first time around I've promised I'll never let it become so all consuming again. DS goes to allergy clinic in a fortnight BTW!

I hope DS's clinic goes well and you get the help and advice you need.

I have to say I found it tricky getting pg with DD1 (5 cycles to get pg - which is pretty easy compared to some I do realise) but only 1 month trying for DD2 (even though bfing DD1) and only once () to get pg with DD3 (even though bfing DD1 & DD2) and now I am pg with DC4 and we were using contraception (and bfing DD2 & DD3)!! DH and I are banned from being in the same room after DC4 is born otherwise who knows what will happen!

Thanks all so much for your responses. I think the truth is that all women are so different and so it's impossible to predict ovulation and fertility prospects. Just worry that if I start pumping every 2 hours etc my period won't come back. I have a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility also which I found very helpful the first time around but not so easy now as I'm out of bed during the night at times which affects the basal temp reading. Have bought the Clearblue Fertility monitor so will see how I get on with that. I think I just really regret not continuing for longer and need to just deal with that somehow.