Breastfeeding/periods

[littlelegs888]

Hi Ladies,

Has anyone had a period whilst breastfeeding? I'm 7months PP and haven't had a period. We would like to try for another baby but it's really hard to track anything without a period.
Is it still possible to conceive?
Thanks

Mine came back at around 10 months, but were really erratic until I stopped breastfeeding DD at 2 years old. Never ttc though so unfortunately I can't help there, but I know of people who have conceived while still breastfeeding, one a 'surprise' and one planned.

Mine came back while bf but he was about to turn 2. That is quite late though. I was ttc so it was frustrating.

Yes you can get pregnant before your period because you ovulate before your first period.

I’m 20 weeks pregnant and conceived while still breastfeeding my first. My period didn’t come back until my little boy until her was 14 months. When it did come back my cycles were quite long (around 36 days) with ovulation occurring late in the cycle. I used ovulation tests for tracking and noticed every month my cycle reduced by a day and ovulation more towards mid cycle. By January I was expecting that my period would be back to 31 days (my normal length before conceiving my first), but it never came as I was pregnant again.
I know some people’s fertility returns quite quickly once baby moves onto solids but for me it was quite a slow journey. I was frustrated and at the time looked into ways to try and speed the process up such as taking vitamins and evening primrose but not sure how much this helped really.

Sorry, should have mentioned we didn’t use contraception so for me it wasn’t possible to get pregnant until my periods had returned to normal.
I know it is possible to catch that first egg prior to period but didn’t happen for me.

I exclusively breastfed my first and conceived my second when she was eleven months. My periods came back (erratically) at six months.
I think there is some evidence to suggest that eating enough will help your body know the energy is available to sustain two babies. Dr Jack Newman says that a drop in milk supply will cause the return of cycles - in my case starting solids was enough. Other women may find they need to night wean for example or some will need to wean completely because we are all different.
I'm currently feeding my eight month old and two year old and no sign of periods which is great because I don't want any more babies.
I'd highly recommend joining the Facebook group Pregnant and Tandem Breastfeeders for more support.

Oh just seen your first is seven months, so
It's worth mentioning that your milk could dry up in pregnancy. If this happens before your baby is 12 months you might have to give formula. I didn't know this was a thing until my milk dried up although mine was 15 months when that happened so she could just have food.

Period came back at 11 months. Conceived DC2 while still feeding DC1 but was down to just a couple of feeds a day as she was about 21 months. Fed until 8 weeks before DC2 arrived but milk dried up around 5mths pregnant

Mine came back regular as clockwork at 4 months despite breastfeeding exclusively and constantly!

My periods returned exactly one month after I finished breastfeeding. Happened both times!

My period came back 2 weeks after I stopped breastfeeding DS1 at 19 months. Admittedly I did fully wean him for TTC. I tracked my temp and used opks instantly, and it was evident I didn't ovulate the first month after my period returned, but appeared to ovulate in the months after.
According to KellyMom the average age for periods to return if breastfeeding is 14.5 months. But I know people who have "caught the first egg" and fell pregnant before periods returned before their baby was 1.
I did use opks for months before weaning DS in the hope I'd catch the first ovulation and fall pregnant but in hindsight it wasn't a very good idea and it was actually quite stressful. If I was you I'd continue having unprotected sex and start tracking when your period returns.

Mine came back at around 4 months whilst EBF, but weren't regular until about 7 months

Mine came back at 7 weeks... I was EBF 🙄 then regular every month since then

@doadeer... mine too at 6 weeks I was fuming!

So was I 🤣 I thought I would have months. I also had this horrible thing where for 2/3 days before my period came my Nipples were agony and it was tear inducing to feed!