Period not returned after having baby

[mammyoftwo]

...I presume this means I'm not ovulating yet (although I know you can get pregnant for a couple of weeks before the arrival of your first period).

Dc2 born 8 months ago by section, am exclusively bf (plus solids). Baby sleeps 11-12 hours. After dc1 period returned 3 weeks after weaning, but not this time, started weaning two months ago.

Am unsure to go with the flow and see what happens or go to GP at this stage? Am an "older mum" so possibility of getting prego with dc3, if we decide to go for a third, is the "issue" at stake. Any thoughts/advice?

My periods took ages (18 months plus) to return after the birth of each of my three children. I breastfed each of them for quite a long time (two years on average) but I think the crucial thing that kept periods away for me was that I was still breastfeeding them during the night for most of this time. If you are not feeding your baby at night, perhaps it would be sensible to have a chat with your GP if you're thinking about a third baby.

Thanks

how long was it for anyone else?

18 months for me too with both my DS's - still breastfeeding youngest (he is 18 months) and just had my first period last week.

14 months. DD was quite a frequent feeder though, day and night (we co sleep).

It took 10 months for mine to come back after ds1 and he was mainly bottle fed. I had tests at the Drs and it was a slight hormone imbalance.

Exact situation you are in. My periods hadn't returned (they didn't for my DC1 for about a year) and I found out I was 3 months pregnant entirely by accident when DC2 was 8 months. Had no idea as hadn't had a period. I understand BFing has to be a very specific amount to be useful for contraception purposes. I haven't had a period now since 2015 and if I feed the new baby I expect it'll be 2018!

Thanks ladies, I guess I'm just shockf and surprised it's not back yet as it came back 3 wks after starting weaning with dc1. if it wasn't for my age I wouldn't think about it, but would want to start ttc dc3 soonish

can't believe that windbeneath!!

Could be unrelated, bv am finding it v difficult to have sex, genuinely ?did tgae dr stitch the wrong bits after section!!!

sorry for poor spelling, am on phone

I didn't have periods at all until a couple of months after I stopped breastfeeding. This was even though DC were getting on for a year old and DC were having food and drinking from a cup.

once i started weaning, and topped night feeds, which was around the same time.

Do you mean sex has become painful? It's unlikely that the wrong bits were stitched up but sometimes they do stitch you up too tight! I think you will need to see your GP. They will look for any obvious physical cause and refer to gynaecology if necessary. But it can have psychological causes too. If sex was painful the first time after childbirth (which isn't uncommon), you could be tense on subsequent occasions, which does make things uncomfortable. Your GP can help with this too, but try a lubricant gel first (check it's suitable for breastfeeding women).

embaressingly no, it's not just pain....can't get dp's penis into where it's meant to go !!!!

If you're BF don't worry. With both my kids I bf to about 7 months and periods returned a few weeks later.

Oh dear, well that will make conceiving a third child fiddly! Try some lubricating gel anyway, just on your fingers, at a time when you are feeling relaxed and won't be disturbed. See if you can gently slide one finger up, then two, then three or four. The vagina is naturally stretchy but scar tissue is less flexible. If you can get several fingers in, you could try again with your DP and not forgetting the lubricant. But if you are feeling nervous the vagina can clench up which would make penetration difficult and then you might need professional help. The same if you can't get your fingers in too. Good luck!

It took just over 2 years after DS1, though I did BF until 22m so assume that was responsible.

It was 4.5 YEARS after DS2 - I BF him for well over 3 years but my period didn't return afterwards. I only fed once at bedtime since he was 2 anyway. I had been referred for investigations by my GP when it finally returned a few months ago. V unusual but I wasn't that unhappy about it tbh. I would have been v worried if I'd wanted to conceive again though.

Sorry, just realised you had a c-section rather than natural delivery so this difficulty is unlikely to be caused by scar tissue or overly-tight stitching after birth of DC2. But breast feeding can reduce your own levels of natural lubricant so you might be a little dry and this could be contributing to the problem. Try with the lubricant as above (I promise I'm not employed by the manufacturers of KY jelly!) and if that doesn't help, do have a chat with your GP. They will probably be able to help.

thanks all

I was in a similar situation after ds1. I knew I ideally wanted a second but I was 36 and had low ovarian reserve so I knew time wasn't on my side. Ds1 was an ivf baby so I wanted to at least try for a second asap.
My period didn't appear until exactly a month after I stopped feeding completely - so when ds was 9 months old. TBH I was getting worried as some of my Nct friends were still feeding and their periods had come back.

How old are u OP? Sorry nosey q.

16 months after DS1 here, I bf, but never exclusively, and was continuing to give a bf most bedtimes and some naptimes until DS was about 22 months and I was 4 months into pregnancy with DD!
I think it can be so different for everyone, but absolutely go to the Dr if you're concerned

Thanks, I think if this happened after first I wouldn't be thinking about it or concerned. It's just the fact that it's now becoming quite a big difference for period returning after dc1 and dc2 that I'm getting a wee bit worried. Anyone here experienced secondary infertility?

I got periods back at 9.5 months while bf, when DS started eating more solids, but I've heard a huge range. It does seem to be true that night feeds have a significant effect on the return of periods. As far as I can tell my fertility was normal from that point and I've conceived twice since although I continue to feed a bit at 2.5 years. But some women do find they have to give up feeding altogether to have fertility return. I think I'd probably try to get to a year and then, if I didn't seem to be ovulating, reduce feeds or consider stopping, but it's a very personal decision. Unsure if anything else much can be done but some people do argue for eating more as a way to show your body calories are available enough to support both pregnancy and breastfeeding. :)

eating more? I reckon I could do that!!!