AF and Breastfeeding?

[KAM]

I'm just wondering when AF returns while you are still B/F is it regular and normal or does the B/F have some sort of effect on it?

AF returned for me in February, 7mths after DD was born, I'm still B/F 4 times a day but AF is late this month, so is the B/F causing AF to be irregular?

[Glamourcide]

Yeah, that sounds pretty normal I can't remember when AF returned for me but I do recall that it was pretty early on and I BF'd for 6 months, I had AF at least twice. For me, it was irregular and a bit lighter than usual, I wasn't worried about it until I stopped BFing and it became regular again, but very heavy and painful (ended up going through a bunch of testing for PCOS but didn't get a lot of support to find out what was happening so gave up and lived with it). It's back to normal now, FWIW

AF can return while BFing at any time, the general consensus is that if you go more than 4 hours without a feed, it will probably come back - I think mine returned because DD2 cut herself down to only one night feed, so I was going for about 6 hours through the night without feeding. It shouldn't affect your ability to BF (although bubs can sometimes get a bit fussy at the boob if AF is visiting, the hormone changes have something to do with it), just be more careful with contraception and don't panic if it comes and goes in really strange patterns for a while!

[HotI]

It can take awhile for AF to become regular again, but if you are not on any form of contraception i would prob do a HPT just to make sure you are not pg.

[starangelk]

I agree with Kate, just do a HPT to double check you are UTD. I got my period back when DD was 6 months old and then it didn't arrive the next month because I was preg.

[KAM]

Thanks girls,

So it's normal to be irregular while B/F, I'm not using contraception and I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant, but I might take a HPT in the morning just to be sure (I doubt I'm going to be as lucky as you starangelk).
Hopefully if I'm not pregnant by the time I stop B/F everything goes back to normal (glad to hear everything eventually went back to normal for you Glamourcide).

[Feijoa Mum]

I have had two AF's now and am still feeding about 4-6 times a day.

My first was was horrific, heavy and awful and lasted about a week. The 2nd one was about 7weeks later not quite (tiny teeny bit) as heavy but still pretty bad. So definately not regular here yet. And yes about 5 -HPT's in that time cause condoms dont always "make it to the party shall we say"

I dont mind if they are going to give me a decent break between them though cause I certainly got used to not having it.

[deletedit]

I've been exclusively breastfeeding for 9 months.

Just to be incredibly annoying, AF came back at about 3ish months past, and has been quite regular too. *shakes fist at AF*. So it varies dramatically for everyone.

[KAM]

RumpledElf - I know I should feel lucky that I've been AF free as long as I have, but I was hoping to start TTC again soon.

AF hasn't returned since February so I'm starting to doubt whether that week of bleeding was actually AF. I took a HPT 3 weeks ago and BFN, so I guess I'll just have to try and enjoy it, if my body isn't ready then it's not ready (which is hard when I want to TTC and I'm always wondering that maybe I am IYKWIM).