Conceiving when breastfeeding, periods not back yet

[TheMauveHedgehog]

Hi, my little boy is 13 months, still breastfeeding and my periods haven't come back. He has a disability that can impact his immune system so I'm very reluctant to stop feeding him and take away the good stuff. But on the other hand I am 37 and keen to have another baby. I never thought it would take so long for my periods to return. His birth and first few weeks were incredibly stressful, could this have impacted my cycle? Before getting pregnant everything was super regular and predictable and I'm a bit scared that there is something wrong. We have just this month started trying for number 2, obviously nothing happened yet, and not sure how to kick start my cycle so it does! And on the other hand, if I was to ovulate and get pregnant, how would I know? Thanks for your advice and experiences

I am the same my baby is 9 months and still no period but want to try for baby no 2, all I have heard is dropping night feeds can help ovulation start again. Good luck!

my periods came back when my LO had longer breaks from feeding at night. Could you offer water or a different milk overnight if he wakes? Assuming that’s ok for his overall health?

you obviously only ovulate once before you have a period so although you could get pregnant before you have a period most people don’t.

Ahhh that's interesting about night feeds, as while he has a lot less breast in the day now he eats solids at night he still wakes up several times and the only way to get him back to sleep is breast. But sounds like we may have to start experimenting a bit with this and getting him used to other ways to fall asleep. I just naively thought periods came back quicker as all my friends seem to get there's by 8/9 months even if their babies were absolute boob mad say and night. Guess we are all different, just hoping this is normal human variation at play...

There's an enormous variation in when women get their periods back when breastfeeding, anything from a few weeks to a couple of years. Mine came back at four months postpartum, I felt cheated! There does seem to be a link to dropping overnight feeds, so maybe try that. I know mine coming back coincided with my son sleeping longer at night.