Menstrual cycle regularly irregular - 28 days, then 35 days, then 28, then 35 and so on

[laughorcry]

Has anybody else had this?

It has only come on since having my second child, and the 35 day cycle is accompanied by horrible PMS, much worse than anything I have had before.

Few peoples cycles are completely regular but it sounds like things haven't settled down properly since your last pregnancy - how long ago was that?

Go to the GP and ask him to refer you to a gynae to have a check-up on your hormone levels.

Good luck

That's a thought. ds2 is nearly 18 months, but was bfed so I didn't start having periods again until about 8 months ago.

Guess I'm going to have to go to the doctor. Have been trying to avoid that and burying my head in the sand.

Sadly it can take up to a year of having periods once they come back for them to normalise. Apparently it's to do with the lining of the womb building up in uneven patterns due to ahem wear and tear from childbearing! Normally it never entirely empties when you have a period, so from when your periods start there is a little bit of endometrium left over. But when you have a baby, the lining is compressed, bashed and generally mucked about with.

According to my mad gynae anyway. But he's a good one!

Looks like there really is no end to the joys of childbirth!

Do you live in London/South Eat by any chance? Would you mind telling me who your good gynae is? I would happily go private to get somebody good.

Am relieved to think that it might just be one of those things, though.

Am wincing at the 'wear and tear' though

ahem, South East.

Sorry I don't. But your best bet is actually going to the GP first anyway - because it could be that you are anaemic and that can be easily treated (that can cause the devil's own PMT and bugger around with cycle dates) and there's no point in paying for lots of tests when the NHS will gladly take a blood sample.

I was recommended to have acupuncture when my periods came back because I have PCOS and get bad PMS myself as well as weirdo cycle lengths. However since I had DD I haven't had one (breastfeeding) and though I had a miscarriage and am now 34 weeks pregnant I reckon it may be a while! I did have it a few years ago and it did sort out my 'grumpy cow week' problem

sadly the very thought of acupuncture gives me the screaming ab-dabs.

I guess I could try to self-treat for anaemia, perhaps. But I suspect that I will have to get over myself and head to the GP.

I've looked up PCOS but don't seem to have any of the symptoms, so have discounted it. Sounds tough, though. Glad to hear that it seems it hasn't been too grim for you.

Ta muchly for replying, though. And good luck with the baby!

Spatone in orange juice - two sachets first thing - at least 20 mins before you have tea/coffee/milk would sort the anaemia - my blood count was dire during this pregnancy and I took it for two weeks and it normalised.

Were your two children close together? That can make things worse as well. I suppose you don't fancy having another one so soon - that would give you at least nine months respite

Acupuncture does hurt btw but not as much as you'd think and it does make a huge difference (oh and within minutes as well so you know if it's for you or not).