Breastfeeding and periods

[EsmeWeatherwax]

I'm bf'ing my 15mo dd2 at the minute. Period came back three months ago, I thought it was back as normal, as first three months went like clockwork, however this month I'm a week late.

Have any of you found bf'ing to affect your cycle after it has returned?

Sorry to ask the obvious, but are you sure you're not pregnant?

Pretty sure. Our current contraception is a 15mo who has never slept more than two hours at a stretch. It just doesn't happen!

Have you been feeding more than usual this month?

Mine also came back at about 12 months but at 21 months they are still all over the place. I've wasted a fortune on pg tests!

I think the amount you feed does affect your cycle (e.g. if DS is feeling poorly he feeds more) - but don't know if there's any 'scientific' evidence for that.

Feeding more than usual can delay ovulation which has the knock on effect of delaying your period.

I was ttc for 2.5yrs whilst breastfeeding ds1 and ovulation could vary enormously from day 12 to as late as day 21 which meant that my period was delayed too.

Have a read of Taking Charge of your Fertility. It's an interesting read and it does have a bit about fertility and breastfeeding.

Oddly, the same thing has happened to me. 3 months of clockwork regularity and this month, a week or so late. I splashed out on a pregnancy test and had my period the next day!

I second the nomination for "Taking Charge of Your Fertility."

Thanks, I probably have been feeding a bit more over the start of the month, as she'd been a bit poorly, so that may have been at the bottom of it. I think I'm actually ovulating around now, so hopefully it will turn up soon. I'm quite keen to start ttc later in the year so hoping it will settle down. Suspect bf'ing won't last much longer mind, the biting's really getting me down!

Same sort of story here but just wanted to add that Home Bargains do 2 pregnancy tests for 89p!!!

Wow, I am so glad I read this thread! I thought they were meant to come back at 6m, and was getting a bit worried now she is 7m!

I'm feeding a 9 month old and a 2 year old, I've only had 2 periods since the 9 month old was born, I didn't have a period between the 2 yr old and the 9 mnth old either, but I must have ovulated!!

Have you tried the floor plonk method for biting? Worked a treat for me

Mine came back at 6 months and were regular until she started feeding more at night when she reached 10 months (continous teething and feeding for comfort !). Now my cycle length varies from 28-35 days, so just because you are a week late doesn't mean you are pregnant, has your DD increased her night feeds?

Night feeds did increase for a few weeks there, so suspect that was it. Have done a pregnancy test, lol, although not sure why, because haven't done the deed for, er, [runs out of fingers to count months] a wee while! Obviously negative! Actually was more worried I was going into the menopause! Still han't arrived incidentally, but if the signs are right I suspect it will be another couple of weeks anyway.

Oh yes, with DS I had my first mid-October when he was 16 months. Got all excited when I was two weeks late (was ttc) but next one arrived at the end of November . Never got the next one
DD is 9 months now and I haven't had one yet - I'm assuming it will be roughly the same time, I hope it is!

Yes period returned at 10 months after I'd been away from ds a lot with work (incl overnight etc) then was due two weeks or more ago but has gone again, suspect cos I've been around more and there's more bfing going on.