BF & luteal phase length

[abigboydidit]

Apologies if am posting this in the wrong place but I've been googling (always dangerous) & was looking for some advice/experiences & have always found this forum so helpful. Am BFing my 10 month old and had my 1st period in December. We took ages to conceive DS, so had hoped to start trying again ASAP. I've been charting BBT for the last 2 cycles (this is my 3rd) & after initially thinking I had a long luteal phase, it seems the opposite is true. Last month was 5 days and this month is 8. From what I've read, it seems BFing may be the cause but I don't want to stop if I don't have to. I only do 2 feeds per day (morning and bedtime) - is this really enough to put my cycle out of kilter? Any feedback would be appreciated!

Did you chart when TTC DS? If you did, how does your charts compare to now?

This has lots of info on LAM (Lactational Amenorrhea Method - a method of contraception due to bfing) and how bfing effects the fertility of bfing mothers. In particular pages named 'Early' and 'Late' explain how short luteal phases effects fertility - seems to be more common in the first post-partum periods.

I know two bits of data won't predict a trend but 5 days then 8 days looks promising (14 days is 'normal' I believe) so perhaps see what the next cycle brings before deciding on any action (it may just be your cycle restarting again rather than a long term problem).

Good luck with the TTC.

Hi TruthSweet and thanks for the links. I was pretty ignorant about my cycle when TTC DS, which I think contributed to the problem! This time I was keen to take a bit more control but also have to acknowledge that am a worrier by nature and that too much information can be dangerous in my hands! I had hoped just to chart for 1-2 cycles until I knew my fertile times and then to try to relax into things. TBH I may just ditch the thermometer anyways as am getting a teeny bit obsessed..

The first few post-partum periods can be a bit erratic to be honest. Some women don't ovulate yet have periods for a little while (so at least you are ovulating!), some have a period and then nothing for months, some start pretty early even with exc.bfing, and some don't restart at all until all bfing has ceased - even if they bf for years!

The average is 14m to get your periods back but I think that is with more than 2 feeds a day so you are not experiencing anything out of the ordinary

You might find just keeping a casual eye on ovulation/luteal phases worthwhile if you can do that without cracking out the OPK sticks every day and planning when to 'do the deed' to the Nth degree. If it's going to make you too stressed/obsessive then perhaps postponing 'official' TTC for a couple of months and just going with the flow in the meantime.

I got so obsessed about my perceived anovulatory cycles when TTC DD2 that I bought some predictor kits online - little did I know that by the time they had arrived in the post I was already pg! I used them again when TTC DD3 and you guessed it I was already pg again. I am an idiot! Wrong sticks to be peeing on.....