Periods and breastfeeding - what were your signs?

[Buttondrawer]

My ds is 15 months old and still breastfeeding (mostly at night). My dh and I are keen to try for a second baby, but my periods haven't returned yet. About 4 weeks ago, I had minor ewcm for the first time since he was born. I then had cramps and a migraine (a common period symptom for me) two weeks later, then lots of ewcm yesterday. So it's like the ghost of my cycle is there.

I would prefer to carry on breastfeeding. Does it sound like my periods might be about to return? What signs did you have and for how many months before your period actually came back? Really torn about what to do! We've dropped the final day feed but struggling at nights.

Look up the progesterone withdrawal bleed challenge. In short: you take progesterone pill for 7 days, stop and see if you get a “period” (not a proper period). This can check why you aren’t having your period yet, though it can be quite normal to not have periods whilst breastfeeding. Ask your GP (after arming yourself with information so as to not be told it’s just because you’re breastfeeding!)

This gives more information. No need to stop breastfeeding! advancedfertility.com/2020/09/17/progesterone-withdrawal-test-progesterone-challenge-a-diagnostic-test-for-secondary-amenorrhea/#:~:text=The%20progesterone%20challenge%20test%20is%20done%20by%20giving%20oral%20medroxyprogesterone,after%20the%20progestin%20is%20given.

Thanks for this. But it doesn't kick start your cycles again right? It's just for checking if it's the breastfeeding stopping things?

I think it's slightly late for periods to return for a well-nourished modern woman whose baby is (I assume?) getting at least half of their calories from food. But we are all different and as soon as you stop feeding I'm sure things will return to normal.

Mine came back at 7 months both times, as soon as some solids were introduced and I had stopped the middle of the night feed. It still took quite a long time before my cycle felt normal, and I don't think I would have been able to get pregnant for at least the first 6 months of periods (very light, not very regular). So if you're keen to have another baby (I had a copper coil at about 8 months after DC1 and removed at 16 months) relatively quickly then I would consider completely weaning now, with the expectation that it will be a few months yet before things are back to normal. I started TTC as soon as the coil was out but got nowhere conceiving DC2 until I completely weaned - then I was pregnant the next month. I did feel at the time that it was slightly traumatic for both DC1 and me. Now I am enormously glad not to have a larger age gap (2 years 3 months, 2 school years) because they play together so well and have lots of friend duos with the same age gap. Even a three-year age gap is a lot in the first 10 years.