Toddler breastfeeding and periods

[AtLeastThreeDrinks]

I’m still breastfeeding my 20mo. Periods returned a few months back and light but normal. This month it’s so light (and I’d say a bit late, but my cycle hasn’t really evened out yet) that I’m not certain it even is a period – (tmi but) there’s enough to make the end of a tampon brownish but not enough to mark a pad. I wouldn’t say toddler is feeding more this month compared to previously. Does anyone have experience of this? Google only brings up results for periods returning with younger children, so I’m not sure how big a part hormonal changes would be playing at this stage. TIA.

As you are still breastfeeding, this could be normal as you might not ovulate yet?

It might be worth speaking to a gynae as I feel like GPs won't have a clue (but
Maybe they do?).

Maybe, but I have ovulated and had a period for the past three or four months. I just wondered if it was normal for them to stop-start like this with extended breastfeeding.

Any chance you could be OP?

Extremely unlikely but I suppose not impossible!

It could be that you're PG, I managed it one time before my periods had returned or it could just be your body gearing up to be fertile again, it can take a few months if you're BFing.

Kellymom explain it here

It's normal. I'm on a breastfeeding support group of over 200 women and many have had periods return then stop again (cue pregnancy worries!) then re-start and be quite erratic. This includes me and I am about to have my next baby and still bf my toddler. It doesn't just happen when extended feeding as mine returned at 9 weeks and were erratic for about 7 months. Others have had theirs return after a year or more (still feeding) and go through similar.

Thanks for the link, that’s really interesting reading. I wasn’t actually aware of the stats.

And thanks for this also, that’s really reassuring. It just seemed odd as they’ve been completely normal for a few months. Perhaps I should seek out a BF support group!