Return of AF when BFing- how & when did yours start?

[madmumNika]

I have been BFing DD for nearly 8 months now and still had no 'proper' period- but nearly a month ago I had one day where I had slight spotting (brown- sorry if TMI!)- was this a period?! (didn't seem like one!). I've also had crampy like premenstrual pains on and off for over a month so keep thinking AF is on its way. With DS my periods returned by 7 months 'properly' while still BFing. Now paranoid I could be pregnant- even did a test 3 weeks ago!

Is this normal? Should I do another pregnancy test just in case (being tight didn't want to shell out on a test unless I really think I need to!). DD feeds 3-4 times per day, eats lots of solids, and sleeps 11 hours at night so no BFing overnight.

Thanks for reading all of this! xxx

I got what I would describe as warm-up/practise periods for quite a while before the return of proper periods. Including moods, discharge etc.

I bf still (18m) and mine returned when he was about 14m but he was bf overnight and a few times during day.

It sounds like you're not bfing that much so I expect yours are on their way. But if there's a chance you could be pg, may as well test

I think my periods came back when ds was about 6-7 months. It conincided with no night feeds and weaning.

I went straight back into 'normal' periods, but I really don't think there is a normal, everyone is different.

Thanks Slur. Highly unlikely to be pregnant (have been taking precautions!) but as I keep getting period symptoms and no period it just reminds me too much of early pregnancy! Plus a good friend fell pregnant when her LO was only 5 weeks old and exclusively breastfed so know too well it can happen!

I keep offering DD the breast as she doesn't seem to feed frequently anymore, she used to feed all day long! But without anything else she seems to have settled into 3-4 feeds per day, albeit very long feeds!

Mine returned when DD was 15 months (two years to the day since my last period - spooky). We were down to two short feeds a day by then.

Mine returned at 6 months (DD1), 4 months (DD2) and 8 months (DD3)...I felt like they were about to start (mild cramps, bit of pmt etc)for about a month before they did this last time.
I'd do a pregnancy test just to put myself at ease I think

Was about 14 months for me, when DS1 was feeding a couple of times per day, and then I had a really long cycle (which I hadn't had before), only had about 3 AF before I got pregnant with DS2. Neat!

4 months, DS still feeding all night

11 months with DS1, but very light and long cycles.

16 months with DS2 - a normal AF

Ds2 is nearly 14mo and I had my first period last week. He still feeds 3-5 times a day including at least 2 at night though. I'd had days of feling very PMTish, a couple of times I felt what I thought were ovulation pains but nothing came of it. From the beginning of Dec I had occasional bits of blood streaked mucous but they never turned into full blown AF.

When it did finally arrive it was unbelievably heavy though.

Thanks all, am a little more reassured now! I guess I assumed AF would re-commence around the same time as it did with DS, but it seems that each breastfeeding period and return of AF is different...just to add to confusion! Also glad to read that some of your had period like symptoms for quite a while before actually having a period...am hoping that is what's going on here! Though have to admit to mild paranoia about being preggers, so may wait another week then do a test just to be sure!!

Well my ds4 is 5 weeks old, he's exclusively (and heavily!) bf, and AF returned with a vengeance yesterday. Seriously fed up doesn't begin to describe it...