Periods and breastfeeding

[Allthechocolates]

Hello, looking for some advice...

Baby coming up to 14 months old. Initially combination fed due to problems breastfeeding then moved to exclusively expressing. In recent weeks have dropped down to three sessions a day (possibly relevant).

Period started around 6 weeks pp and has been fairly regular since. Every 28 days (give or take a day or three) and much lighter and pain free compared to pre pregnancy. This month (sorry TMI!) I had bloody streaks in discharge three days before period was due and then period started on time. This bloody discharge also coincided with thrush which I've never had before but Dr prescribed Canesten which did the trick.

Problem is, this period seems to be much heavier than my new 'normal' and a bit more crampy. I'm really struggling with worries of early menopause (I'm 33) after looking at Dr Google . Does this kind of irregularity sound normal when still breastfeeding? After a year I thought we'd settled into a pattern and this has totally thrown me this month. Actually keeping me awake as hoped to TTC again soon and terrified I'm going to be unable to 😭

It's more likely that your hormones are just rebalancing as you drop down bf and you're becoming more fertile. Since my second child my periods are still v regular but they are extremely heavy. I'm 40. The chances of this being perimenopause at 33 are extremely slim. Please don't worry.
You don't need to stop bf to try to conceive.

Agree with pp. I had random weird periods for 2 or so years after Dd was born until I had the Mirena. I think sometimes your body just likes to keep you on your toes!

I think the expressing has been suppressing your fertility and now you've reduced the expressing, you e returned to full fertility.

Have a read of BFing & Fertility on Kellymom.

My opinion could be crap though and if you are worried about early menopause, you should ask your GP for tests.

Thanks everyone,I just needed someone to reassure me that I'm not going straight from pp to peri! We only dropped one session because baby is taking much less now and no need to really keep on freezing it. Didn't think dropping from 4 to 3 would have such an impact.

I had random mid cycle bloody discharge two months ago and Dr wasn't concerned, said it was hormonal due to extended expressing. He did a blood test because he saw how panicked I was and results came back fine apparently,no concern about peri when checking the hormone levels etc. Issue is, I've read so much about these tests and how unreliable they are and how they have to be done at the correct time the reassurance this provided is dwindling and I've ended up worrying again. Aargh!