TTC while breastfeeding

[bravotango]

Hi everyone, quick question for those of you whose period returned quite late while breastfeeding. I've been EBF my DS for 19 months, period returned in Feb. We are now TTC. Pre pregnancy I was clockwork regular, 28 day cycle. This time I've had 27, 28, 27 and now I'm on CD30 with no signs of AF! Just wondering how long it took for periods to go back to normal after returning? To make things more confusing I took a test today which had a v v v faint line (think it's likely an evap) - I'm assuming that the line would have at least some colour on CD30, when I usually ovulate CD14. Sorry for the rambling. Hopeful to hear your experiences! Thank you.

Hi. My periods only came back when DD was 17 months old. She was still feeding a lot then! My cycle wasn’t totally regular, but unlike you I hadn’t been totally regular pre-pregnancy either. Luckily I eventually conceived after 7 months of TTC, at which point I was still feeding DD 4-6 times per day. Best of luck to you x

Hi - thanks for your reply. That's really encouraging thank you. I suppose we'll just keep going and see what happens!

Hi

My periods didn't return for 18 months and when they did I didn't get a positive ovulation test for a couple of months after that.

Now 39 weeks pregnant and still breast feeding. It'll happen eventually. Good luck.

Mine came back at 8 week pp 🙃 frustratingly been TTC properly since last month but no contraception since January. Finally started using OPKs last month and found ovulation really late and lutal phase was too short to sustain pregnancy. Id recommend trying OPKs to see what's actually happening in the cycle as BF impacts lutal phase (can prohibit progesterone) so I've starting taking b6 and cut out day feeds to try to help this. Currently 3dpo so who knows if its worked! To add to this, I'm a bit under weight and BF eats up calories so I think this has been delaying ovulation. I started eating alot more this month and saw ovulation was on time almost (CD16 Vs CD 20)

Found my cycles have always been irregular since getting them back and DD is 17 months old now. So again reccomed OPKs to actually get a grasp of what's going on in there!! That is if your like doesn't progress, fingers crossed for you ☺️

Are you tracking ovulation with ovulation (OPK) tests, @bravotango ? Sorry, I couldn't tell from your post. If not, I would start doing that consistently each month. Small variations in cycle length are not a concern in terms of fertility, as long as you are ovulating and have a consistently good length luteal phase each cycle (which obviously you can only tell by tracking ovulation with ovulation tests and/or BBT).

Personally I was never like clockwork pre-pregnancy and am still not but not concerned about it due to ovulation tracking.

Interesting updates thanks all! Still no sign of AF. I'm starting to think that I'm ovulating a bit later than usual so have ordered a box of OPKs. It took 18m to conceive first time around so I'm used to the tracking! I have actually also found an old pregnancy test so might take that in the morning, you never know..!

I got my period back at 15 weeks after my first, despite exclusive breastfeeding. I didn’t start getting positive OPKs until he was 8 months though so those are worth checking.

Good luck! I’ve now been pregnant twice whilst breastfeeding. It can certainly be done.

There is an expert on this called Carol Smyth, I listened to a podcast with her about it and some people will conceive fine while breastfeeding but for others it can prevent an egg from fully developing. She talks about a warning sign being a short luteal phase so I would think that having a longer cycle is not a problem! My periods are much more variable (24-31 day cycles) since having my 18mo so this is giving me just enough extra motivation to wean her off now!

I have no tips but here to say hello as also breastfeeding and TTC!

DS is almost ten months old, I've had two periods so far, my cycles are all over place! AF "due" tomorrow but so knows when it'll show up 🤦🏼‍♀️

Interesting point about the short luteal phase - I'll give that podcast a listen. Incidentally I couldn't resist using the old test and think it might be positive?! So not entirely sure what's going on it would be amazing if it was, as this is only our 2nd month TTC this time around. It seems very faint for this late in my cycle (although if I ovulated late, maybe not) so going to wait for the new box to arrive and retest in the morning.

@bravotango how exciting! Have you done any more tests?

If you're not intentionally ttc, and just not preventing conception, continue with the awareness they it could take time.

However if you plan to conceive, then you may want to scale back BF. Just my 2 cents

@Outliers I feel like I can't really do that! DS won't take a bottle at all. I also enjoy the bond / quiet time we get together during a feed.

Really hoping for a successful conception without giving up! Did you find stopping helped you to conceive?

@kmkm9371 yes!! Definitely pregnant! Felt a bit silly starting this thread really 😂 going to book a scan for when I'm 8 weeks last week of June!

Ahhh fabulous news! You've given me a bit of hope as my periods haven't come back yet (10 months pp) and I was starting to think maybe they won't (though I am old). I'm not ready to conceive yet but was hoping to have a chance. So it's lovely to hear that it could take longer than I thought for periods to return (should be enjoying the break from them really!)
Congratulations!!

Thank you! Yeah mine came back when my DS was 14/15 months so a good long while really. They were heavier than pre pregnancy too. Our bodies do strange things!

@bravotango congratulations!! Lovely news 💚