can breastfeeding affect your cycle?

[pops3]

hello, I wonder if anyone has any ideas on this one!
My youngest child is nearly 6 months old. last month I had my first period it was a bit unusual for me to start again that early after the birth. My husband and I had unprotected sex on day 12. My period is now 2 days late but the preg tests show up negative. I have been feeling a bit sick etc. my periods are usually as regular as clockwork and being late only means one thing! I am really confused by the test results and wonder if the fact that i am still feeding has affected my cycle and perhaps I didn't ovulate . Does anyone have any experience of this? I am really confused! Emma

I think it is quite common for you to have a period where you don't ovulate after the birth. In addition, if you are completely BF, you may well not be ovulating anyway. BF is well known for messing up ovulation - my DD is 14 months but am having tests to establish if I am ov as I was v regular before having her. Am still BF, BTW.

I am sure someone far more knowledgeable than me will be along soon, but if I were you I would wait for a couple of days and then test with a clearblue digital. If BFN and no AF, I'd off to the Drs

HTH

I'm bf and taking the minipill as I understand that bf only stops ovulation if your are bf regularly. I was advised not to have a gap of say 5 hours, as dd2 is sleeping through I do have a gap of at least 5 hours - so I'm not taking the risk as there is only 16 months between my dd's. How big are your gaps between feeds?

Also, I had 2 neg tests but was pregnant with dd2 (but I wasn't bf then) I eventually had a positive test.

If you are pregnant - are you happy?

thanks for the ideas. During the day I feed dd. about every 3 hours. She has three 'solid' meals a day and eats alot. During the night she sleeps through. When I thought it could have been possible for me to be pregnant i was really panicked. All my children are young. I was really worried what other people would say. Now i have had these neg tests I feel quite sad rather than releived. perhaps I should buy some ovulation test strips to see what is going on

Pops - sounds similar to me! My youngest is four months old but very unusual for me i have had two periods - one at at 10 weeks post partum and one at 17 ??? No rhyme or reason but due to unprotected sex and then no periods i have done pg tests...very odd but think we should use contraception when breastfeeding. I think it could be cos ds goes 12 hours at night that mine have come back so soon ! Odd ! But at least we know we are still fertile - do you want more dc's?

I got pregnant whist fully bf when ds was only 4 months! Had two irregular periods then didn't have another one. When I first did the test thought it showed up neg, but on a closer look it was positive, must have been in the really early stages. So am 20 weeks pregnant now, so it CAN happen!!!

Gosh mower - is that your 1st and second then?

Dear notanother how good to know that someone else is the same! I think I would like another one, although it's an enormous decision this time as we already have 5 children aged 7, 6, 4, 2 and 5 months. I guess I should have enough experience of conception and pregnancy!! Perhaps the old hormones are in a mess, perhaps i simply had a rogue period!! Where are you now with things? Do you know what's going on?

wow Mower, I thought ~I had my hands full!

Pops - don't give a toss what other people will think - it's up to you if you want another.

thanks for that hotmama! You want people to be pleased for you and support you when you want to have a baby, but I know I'll have to deal with disapproval . It IS my business and it won't stop me, but six kids is alot. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just plain greedy or mad, perhaps both!!:)