Breasfeeding 10 month old want to conceive and no periods

[rufusmacdoofus]

have reluctantly moved to one b/feed just before bed as I am desperate to start trying again as dd took ages to conceive. she is on 4 meals a day plus over 20 ounces of formula. she has 7 ounce bottle before we start the b/feed so she can't be taking much, but still no periods. feel a bid periody from time to time and body is trying to ovulate - cervical mucus and position of cervix etc is telling me. am I going to have to stop ? she will HATE it if i try. Is there anything that can calm my hormones down a bit to get me ovulating? feel so mean but do not want to deprive her of the chance of a sibling for the sake of b/feeding till she is ready to wean, that could be a long time yet and was hoping to let her when she is ready.I am getting on a bit hence the note of desperation !

I assume that you are certain that you aren't pregnant already?

If not, then tbh I think it's just as likely to be stress stopping you from ovulating as it is the breastfeeding. You do sound really, err, to quote you, desperate!

When you say 'getting on a bit', how old are we talking - over 40?

I was in a similar situation to you nearly a year ago, but then my periods came back when dd was about 9 months (I was still bf lots more than you). We also took several years to conceive dd. I'd love to say that we fell pregnant straight away, but sadly we're still trying, but I know someone else who took 7 years to conceive her ds1, and is now pregnant with her ds2 who took just 1 month to conceive!

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that unless there's a known reason why it takes you a long time to conceive, the time it took first time generally has no bearing on the time it takes second time.

On a practical note, you might want to try reflexology and/or acupuncture, either of which would claim to be able to help.

rufus how old is your DD?
My DS is 7.5mo and still mainly BF, but moving to 3 little meals a day with small amounts of formula, still feeds lots at night though .
I really didn't think it would take this long to start ovulating again, when you hear of people getting pg when LO is 3 mo etc. but there again, didn't think DS would be such an all-night party animal!
No advice, sorry, just big hugs, you're not alone, I know how it feels! (am 36, so don't want to delay too much myself!)

thanks for the tip re: reflexology can't sleep, might try that myself!

You know, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding and without having a period.

I did

choolie - have a read of the thread title .

ahh, yep, missed that one, sorry . yes, hoping for the lucky first cycle, fingers crossed.

Hi. she is 10 months old. I have PCOS and have had 2 miscarriages before dd arrived and we tried for 5 years. am really trying to be chilled about it but it's so hard as the clock is ticking in my head and i really thought they would be back by now. she is so lovely and i wanted lots of children so that is why i am a bit stressy about it.am not pregnant as keep doing tests, wouldn't that be lovely ! will give accupunture a go as i had 3 months of it when TTC dd and i plus drugs finally worked. hadn't thought it would help with this though ....

good luck rufus. hopefully see you on an antenatal thread in the not too distant future! - dam pg tests eh? I was bad enough when TTC DS, when at least I knew roughly when my period was due. Now without knowing I just think every so often "oh i might as well give a test a go..."!

how long have you been doing one feed a day for, it might just take a month or two of that and then period again. good luck

Hi Rufus
I'm in slightly similar position except that I'm not TTC, just want to get back to "normal" fairly soon as will help pelvic floor issues.
Have cut 9mo DS's breastfeeds down to two a day and have been feeling a bit periody / more cervical mucus. I had a look in Taking Charge of Your Fertility and it says these symptoms can be signs your body is trying to ovulate before it finally manages it. So you could well be on your way to ovulating already. I think it takes a few weeks to kick in.
Good luch

Should be luck of course!

Saves me starting a new thread to ask the same question! Why are midvives +HVs so obsessed with discussing contraception when DH wasn't allowed anywhere near me! DS is 9mths and B/f first thing in the morning and at bedtime, occasionally elevenses. He needs a little sibling!
Last night I said to my husband that if sex was just for fun then I was too tired but if I knew it was the right TOTM then I could stay awake for it - I think my brain must have gone to sleep before my mouth!

No evidence for this whatsoever, it's just an interesting observation. Myself and 2 other BF mums all started periods again withing 2 days of our babies first crawling. One at 9 months, me at 10 months and the other at 1 year. we were all BF twice a day as well. Anyone else notice this? The first mum got pregnant again on her very next cycle by the way.