How long did it take your cycle to regulate post birth?

[i123i]

My baby is 11 months and I've only had 1 period (bleed) so far a couple of weeks ago.

I've had quite bad cramping since CD9 after that period (now on CD16 and still cramping). Unsure if this is ovulation trying to happen or already the next period (bleed). LH and pregnancy tests are negative. Pre baby my periods were very regular. I'm still breastfeeding so perhaps that's affecting it too?

Anyway, any insights welcome please as we will be TTC for number 2 soon, so keen to get a handle on things!

If you're breastfeeding it can take until you stop doing so! My period didn't come back til I stopped b'feeding when ds was 21 months.

I didn't have my first period till 14mo and then didn't conceive till I stopped BF at 2y7mo. Then, after stopping bf, I conceived immediately, that very next month (!)

Not all mums have this but the traditional view is that you're unlikely to conceive till you stop BF, which happened exactly in my case

Mine came back 12 weeks exactly after stopping BF both times but didn’t regulate. Was using withdrawal after DC1 and had a ‘surprise’ BFP 3 months later, and after DC2 got a coil straight away so haven’t been regular in yonks!

My first period appeared after 4 weeks haha. I'm now 22 months pp and only really regulated in the last 3 months

I'm 14 months post baby number 2 and my periods are a mess. I never had any before on cerezette and now I bleed every 2 weeks.

I breastfed DD for 16 months, but my periods came back 2 months after she was born and were back to normal from the .

Just had DS only 1 week so I'm interested to see when they resume with him. Again I'm exclusively breastfeeding

This varies massively, talking to mums I know it's been a complete mix. I combi-fed DC2 for 10 months and got my first period a few weeks after I moved to fully formula feeding. DC1 I combi fed for 12 weeks and again my period came a few weeks after I'd moved to fully formula feeding. I know people who have breastfed and got a period much earlier though and equally people who didn't have one for like 18 months + !

I breastfed my babies until they were 3.. I have had such a mixed bag when it came to my periods returning..
DC1 returned at 4 months and regular from then.
DC2 returned at 12 months and regular from then.
DC3 returned at 3 months but all over the place. Missing periods. Then having short cycles. They are regular now and have been from about 12 months. But before that they were mad!
The only thing I can think of is maybe age for me has had something to do with it. I was 27, 31 & 34 so could be that I was getting older.
FWIW, I conceived DC3 whilst still breastfeeding DC2 and tandem feed them too.

Oh wow, such a variance!
Thanks for all the replies.

Really useful to hear everyone's experiences. It does seem like I'll unfortunately need to cut back a lot / stop breastfeeding in order to conceive (especially as baby still feeds about 6 times during the day and 4-5 times at night...!). I'll wait to see when / if my next period comes and if it doesn't come in the next few weeks then I'll look to cut down on the breastfeeding to give my hormones a chance to balance

@newandconfused5 - agreed age is likely a factor. I'm 36 so time isn't really on my side unfortunately. Great you managed to conceive while breastfeeding though!

Cerazette had the same affect for me, spotting for almost a month at the beginning and periods every 2 weeks. So frustrating. Eventually it regulated but I definitely won't be trying it again as contraception this time round.

My periods were regular-ish from 12 months ranging from 29-32 days each cycle.

Still BF my little one at nearly 17 months and am currently 6 weeks pregnant... Petrified I'm going to lose the baby as DD has been a boob monster due to teething the last 3-4 days, but still seems to be sticking!

@MrsTrue that's lovely to hear. Congratulations!! Yes mine is a total boob monster, especially during teething too!

@i123i - it can be so draining when they're teething or ill can't it!?! It's mostly a comfort thing for DD these days!

Being pregnant and BF at the same time definitely wasn't my plan, but hasn't really been an issue yet thankfully. One thing to consider is that I hadn't realised I should have been having folic acid when BF too, so quickly started taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Might be worth making sure you're getting lots of vitamins in case BF has drained you of some stuff? It may be good for regulating cycles and easier periods too, you never know! 🙂

@MrsTrue - yes good idea! Hopefully some extra nutrients/minerals will help regulate my cycle (as well as cutting back on the breastfeeding... the harder part!!).