Getting period back

[Lorelaigilless]

Im a FTM to a 7.5 month old little boy. I’m approaching 40 and it took almost 3 years and 2 v early miscarriages to have him. Have had full fertility check along the way and everything looks fine/good for my age but I don’t want to wait too long.

I’ve been breastfeeding on demand and we co sleep still (he’s a proper Velcro baby). We have started weaning but he barely actually eats anything so he’s still mainly on milk.

My question is how can I get my period back so we can start TTC #2?? Do I need to wean him off the breast entirely? I’d rather not if possible but also acutely aware that time is not on my side.

Thanks!

I am not an expert but I think night weaning can help get it back quicker. But there isn't really a magic wand, everyone is different

Hi lovely!
Just some personal experience, my period came back just after my little girls first birthday (days after!). She too is a Velcro baby and we co sleep and she feeds however many times she fancies throughout the night.
I didn’t do too much differently but had been taking pregnacare conception vitamins for a few months prior. I’ve heard making sure you’re consuming enough calories and not over exercising is important. I thought I was going to have to reduce feeds but luckily they wasn’t the case for me!
I will add it seems to be very individual for everyone and can vary a lot. Good luck x

@MrsP21918 definitely individual,mine was 18 months with my velcro baby. I wasn't trying to conceive so I didn't do anything to try and get it back.

Also remember @Lorelaigilless that you will ovulate before your first period, so if you want it to return first, take precautions until it arrives 🫣

As others have said, it seems to vary so much. Not to be a voice of doom but my periods didn't return with my velcro baby despite him being in nursery and dropping lots of feeds etc. I eventually fully weaned him at 21 months and they then returned that cycle! I weaned him because I was approaching 37 and wanted to start TTC again. My cycles got back to normal straight away and I conceived on the 3rd cycle, but unfortunately had a MMC at almost 12wks. Since then I've also had a CP. Now coming up to a year since I weaned him and still no successful pregnancy. One thing I will say, is that, although part of me thinks "if I'd weaned him sooner would I have had more luck with baby no.2?" The other part of me thinks.. "if I don't get baby no 2, I will be so glad that I got to enjoy that journey with DS for as long as I did..."

Ultimately, my feeling is, I want to enjoy the baby that I have here with me. If the second one comes along that will be great, but in the meantime, I want to make sure I enjoy mothering the child I have.

Hope that makes sense! Best of luck to you 💕

Mine came back as soon as I stopped night feeds (which happened naturally after I day-weaned). As a previous poster mentioned this isn't always the case, but it often is - I understand there's a hormone involved. Makes sense from an evolutionary perspective!

However I will add my periods weren't regular until I dropped the final before-bed feed at 19months, and even after that it took 6 months until my cycle felt fully back to normal (as in other symptoms besides my period, e.g. CM). Who knows how it will be for you, but worth knowing there's huge variation.

@SnookyPook im having the same thoughts, do I relax and enjoy the time with DS in case he is an only or do I do everything I can to try for DC no.2 asap to give myself the best chance. It’s so tough 😭

I’m already making sure I eat plenty, I do no “intentional” exercise (I walk a lot but nothing that puts strain on me as I was told not to when trying to conceive my little boy). I also just started to take fertility supplements.

It sounds like it’s a real variation in experiences so maybe I’ll try get him to take expressed milk from a cup for a feed or two first and see if that does anything.