TTC but no periods when BFing

[Gretafamily]

Hi everyone, I have an 18 month daughter who I breastfeed. Sometimes during the night if she wakes up and a couple of times during the day. I really want to try for another baby but my periods still haven’t come back yet! I stopped bfing during the night and they didn’t return and am back doing it again as daughter has a cold. Any advice?? It’s so frustrating being in limbo land waiting for period to come back!! Thank you

How long did you stop for?

I stopped breast feeding at 14 months because I wanted a 2 year gap and wasn't ovulating. Had one period after 6 weeks and managed to get a two year one month gap.

Are you sure you want another child so close together? I found when I was breastfeeding I was really broody at most points (breastfed for 25 months) but it may be the oxytocin that is maybe making you crave another so soon!. Just a thought x

I read somewhere that if you start eating a certain number of extra calories, that signals to your body that you have spare capacity for another baby and triggers ovulation. Sounds very pseudo- scientific, but maybe look into whether there's any truth in it? (Or just hit the ice cream and see what happens! 😉)

@LouiseTrees if I’m honest about a week I guess that’s not long enough??

@Esspee did you stop breastfeeding cold turkey or gradual?

@BabyBorn I’m probably broody because I miss having a newborn! Although if I fell pregnant now, my daughter would be over 2 years old which I think is a nice gap

@TheVamoosh I’ve read about extra calories as well...I’m hitting the ice cream for sure

To answer your question OP.

By one year my breastfeeding was mainly to put baby to sleep at night with the odd feed during the day for comfort e.g. bumps and bruises.
I was confident he was getting adequate nutrition and the breast was more a comfort habit. I reduced the feed time at bedtime and tried to find other ways to induce sleep.
Periods hadn’t returned so my husband was roped in. He started (for the very first time) putting our son to bed and getting up with him during the night.
The first week was pretty dire but with the assurance of our paediatrician we persevered. Within two weeks he was sleeping through the night.
Our second weaned himself. He was much more interested in real food.
Neither children had bottles for anything. They went right to sippy cups.

@Esspee thank you. Husband is more than willing to help with night feeds I’m just a softie if baby calls for me in the night! Might have to just be a bit tougher and stop night feeds. Two weeks doesn’t seem so bad! Will give it a go x