Bf & getting periods back

[AllMiceMustDie]

I'm bf my 11mo and definitely want to continue. My periods not yet returned. Am thinking about ttc later this year and have the odd panicky thought about ds' night feeding holding this up.

He tends to feed once or twice in day, at bedtime, twice in night and sometimes when he wakes in morning. He is also eating lots of solids. I don't really want to reduce his milk now but just wanted some reassurance that my period will return so we can try for #2 before my job (return to work in June) bores me to death. Anyone else been in this situation? Did dropping a particular feed (post 12mo) help?

I sometimes think his megasuckling at 5am is a way of saying hold off on the sibling for a while.

Mine came back at 11 months after dropping night feeds (Mostly because DD actually starting sleeping through, although I sometimes offered water instead).

14m is the average timespan to get periods back if you are bfing though you may 'catch' the first post-baby egg and not have a period between babies if you are extremely lucky!

This has lots of info on bfing and TTC.

I got pg with DD2 while bfing DD1 about 8-12 times a day (plus 4 night feeds) when DD1 was 11.5m old - we were trying but I didn't expect to get pg so quickly (my periods had returned at 9w though due to first 8 weeks being mainly bottle feeds).

I got pg with DD3 while tandem nursing DD1 & DD2 when DD2 was about 13m (my periods returned at 11m) and I was bfing around 20 times a day inc. a few overnight for DD2.

I got pg with DD4 when not TTC (in fact actually trying to prevent it plus had health issues that made conception unlikely - she's a surprise pg ) while tandem nursing DD2 & DD3, DD3 was 2y 2m & DD2 was 4y 1m so they were nursing at most 3-4 times a day in total (DD2 is only nursing once every few weeks now). My periods had returned at 11m.

I'll be watching as I am wondering the same thing (DD is 10mo). She hasn't had night feeds for a couple of months now, and still no period....not worried yet but would be nice to know what to expect!

Forgot to say - TruthSweet: 20 times a day?! You HERO :)

You don't even want to know how many times I bf when DD2 was newborn and DD1 gave up food for 2 weeks - DD1 fed every time DD2 did (who was feeding about 12-14 times a day) AND fed separately as well .

I lost a shed load of weight (and I had only put on 4lbs during DD2's pg as I was pretty overweight to start with) and DD1 porked up a bit! We got through it though and DD1 went back to food and the more normal 4 or 5 feeds a day after satisfying her need for 'bah'.

I am no hero I just like MNing and crappy books what better excuse for both than bfing ALL day?

I got mine back when DS was 15 months after panic (and despair) that it might never happen. Have been TTC no. 2 since he was 11mo but knew it was probably not going to happen before I got my period back. Still TTC but it hasn't been long, and I didn't actually drop any feeds before getting my period back, if anything I was feeding more because DS was ill and off his food. I guess my body was just ready. Hopefully yours will be soon too!

Thanks - I feel reassured. I'm sure it'll all happen when it's meant to. DS has been quite into bf'ing and we've spent very little time apart (which has been lovely) so the shock of three days a week at work may well trigger the return of my period.

Apart from breastfeeding, I wonder if what else affects return of fertility. I had a long long labour that resulted in an emcs and blood transfusion. A small paranoid part of me sometimes worries this may affect future fertility. I think I should just stop worrying!

TruthSweet - wow! I always thought I'd stop bf'ing when I get pregnant again but tandem feeding sounds good, if a little exhausting...

Just to reassure you - when DD3 was born DD2 didn't really increase her feeds or give up food (DD1 just loved her Bahs an awful lot) so it was just the usual newborn feeds plus a toddler to help out if I got overly full . I liked sitting around in parks, cafes, playgroups and sofas feeding - heck of a lot easier than anything else I could have been doing.....

TBH I am a bit worried about the possibility of not tandem nursing this time round (am 21w with DD4 and DD3 is not feeding as much as her sisters did at the same age only once/twice a day and occasionally skipping a day) as I have never had a non-bfing 2 or 3y or had a newborn with a sibling when I haven't been bfing one sibling - it just seemed to make the transition so much easier for all of us as a family. Plus it's always been a magic cure for all things up to and including DD2's arthritis pains!

Good luck with the TTC.