Breastfeeding & Pregnancy

[lehma06]

I'm not sure where to post this but thought this may be the most appropriate place.

I'm currently breastfeeding my almost 7 month old & have not had AF return yet. I had the normal bleeding after giving birth & then when I started taking the minipill I had one period which was extremely heavy & have had nothing since.

Over the past couple of weeks, but mainly in last week I've noticed that I've got pretty heavy period pains accompanied with some pretty painful lower back pain. I guess the usual AF symptoms but no AF. I am noticing the pains more in the afternoon to evening. I've also noticed that I've become very bloated like you would get when you have AF & I've been getting tingling in my breasts in between breastfeeds - not like a let down but like a numb tingling.

My questions are:

• Is it normal to experience AF pains this far into breastfeeding & get no AF?
• Is it more likely that at some point very soon my AF is most likely to return?
• Do you think the pains I'm experiencing could be ovulation pains?
• Is it possible to ovulate while breastfeeding but NOT get AF & NOT be pregnant?
• Or do you think that I may be pregnant & experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms?
• I have to admit that I do not take the minipill at the exact same time every day & have forgotten to take it on quite a few occassions (but have waited a week before doing anything).

I just wanted to get some opinions as I'm wanting to hold off doing a pg test cause I've done a few since having DS & every time I've been worried the test has come back negative so I didn't want to be spending money & worrying about it if there's nothing to really be worried about.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did your AF return soon after, did you just keep getting the pains while breastfeeding & no AF or did you find out you were actually pregnant?

[Jaycee]

Hi there
I can't answer all of your questions but my af returned when my DS was around 9-10 months old. I had no cramping or anything like that, it just appeared one day. It is possible to be pregnant before you get af back as you may have caught the first eggie, so maybe just do a hpt for reassurance. I don't think you can ovulate without af (unless you're pregnant of course!) but I could be wrong.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will help you!
Take care
xxx

[JellyBean]

Hi Lehma,
First question- no, I wouldn't think so. I agree that your pain is likely to be 1 of 3 things- ovulation, AF or pregnancy.
I got my first AF (whilst still breastfeeding) at 7 months. I do recall that my first round of ovulation prior to this was more painful than usual. It is also normal for your cycles to be irregular or at least longer in duration when you are breastfeeding because you are still slowly shedding pregnancy hormones. As the feeds decrease so should the duration of your cycle. However- taking the minipill may influence this further. Remember that taking the pill puts your body into a state of early 'mock pregnancy' because of the hormones it contains. It is possible this could have confused your body, as it is trying to shed the pregnancy hormones and regain its natural hormone balance whilst you are now consuming them again- IYKWIM? (Not saying that you should go of the pill- but this is a factor to consider).
As you always ovulate before AF returns- it is possible that you are pregnant without AF returning- if you caught the first egg. Not so sure about ovulating without susequent AF or pregnancy. I'm sure its not impossible but one would assume the egg would have to be shed at some point (if not fertilised!).
I had weird tingling breast pains after ovulation in my last cycle- and was thinking like you that it could be a BFP- although the test came back negative.
I definitely think you need to do another preg test if AF does not arrive soon. If the pains go away soon without any AF, you can probably assume its ovulation. If the pains remain without AF- I would be thinking BFP.....
You don't want to be taking the pill if there is a bub in there, so better to be on the safe side and find out for sure. (I know- its a pain wasting money on tests- I have done it too!!).

Goodluck. I hope you get whatever answers you are hoping for.

XX

[lehma06]

Well I've taken a couple of HPT's & they came back negative.

This is just driving me nuts. It better be AF coming soon cause I don't think I could put up with the pains or PMS for much longer.

Do u think I should give it another week & if the pains are still there, go see the doc? It's been about 2 weeks now. How long do you normally feel ovulation pains for before you get AF?