breastfeeding and TTC. no periods - do i have to stop - don't want to !

[rufusmacdoofus]

have reluctantly moved to one b/feed just before bed as I am desperate to start trying again as dd took ages to conceive. she is on 4 meals a day plus over 20 ounces of formula. she has 7 ounce bottle before we start the b/feed so she can't be taking much, but still no periods. feel a bid periody from time to time and body is trying to ovulate - cervical mucus and position of cervix etc is telling me. am I going to have to stop ? she will HATE it if i try. Is there anything that can calm my hormones down a bit to get me ovulating? feel so mean but do not want to deprive her of the chance of a sibling for the sake of b/feeding till she is ready to wean, that could be a long time yet and was hoping to let her when she is ready.I am getting on a bit hence the note of desperation !

Hi,

I gradually stopped BF DD by 8 months old. For the last month i was just expressing, with fewer sessions (one a day by the end) and giving more and more formula.

My periods returned exactly 4 weeks after i stopped expressing, so it would seem some people have to stop entirely. I know friends who have conceived whilst still BFing, but they were having periods.

When did you go down to one feed a day?. If its only a few days, you could try waiting a few weeks to see if you have a period. You could also make an 8oz bottle instead so DD takes even less.

Don't worry too much, I got pregnant (although I miscarried) and my periods came back when I was feeding four times a day and I know lots of people who have got pregnant while still breastfeeding (my friend hasn't had a period for seven years and has had four kids in that period!)