Ovulating, AF and Breastfeeding

[Manhattan]

Hi Ladies

Not quite back ttc, but just trying to figure my body out. So DD is nearly 10 months old and I breastfeed her about 4 times a day. Her longest stint without a feed is about 11 hours. I had a visit from AF at about 4 months, and nothing since. I get what I think is ewcm, but it never results in AF.

So my questions are:

- Can you ovulate and not get AF whilst breastfeeding?
- Can the hormones produced whilst breastfeeding cause your body to produce CM similar to fertile CM?

Sorry its a bit all over the place. Any insights would be greatly appreciated

[AndiE]

Just a quick response as my 10 month old is crotchety so I'm about to log off.

I must have ovulated while BFing (I was BFing morning and night only), because I concieved DS2 without getting AF or any obvious sign I was ovulating. DS1 was approx 12 months at that time.
At the moment AF still hasn't returned, and we're down to 3 BFs.

I should think that charting temps might give you an idea about ovulating, but other than that I'm not much more help.

[RoyaUK]

Hi, to answer your first question, YES! you can ovulate & not get AF whilst breastfeeding. I have conceived TWICE this way. (i've not had a period in over 5 years yet have conceived 3 girls. I've also been breastfeeding several times a day for over 4 years.....) I don't know about the hormones side but i did notice CM just before i conceived DD3.

[onthefly]

If you conceive right away as Andie did, then it's possible to ovulate without af, but otherwise no.
Sometimes the ovaries start to gear up - and you might get some fertile-like signs - but it doesn't quite happen. That may be what you're experiencing.
I understand it can take several months from when you cut down on feeds till your cycles return.

[Manhattan]

Thanks for the quick replies ladies

Ok, I think I have my head around it now. The short answer is no, the only time you will ovulate and not get AF is if you are pregnant.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, I have been a tad confused!

Eta: Interesting info Jennifer, I didn't know about the drying effect, and thats definitely not the way it is around here atm, lol!

my cycle is slowly sorting itself out!

[Teddy32]

Im in the same position.. i have a10 month old and every now and then it looks like i have ewcm! Its so frustrating! I have not yet got af back but i have started taking progesterone to try and bring on a af hoping it may kick start things and hopefully i ovulate soon.. but who knows? I have a real boobie monster!.. We are weening as much as 3 meals a day is but we still bfeed alot for comfort..

[onthefly]

manhattan I had ewcm at times from around 4-5 months I think, but no af till 16.5m (but DS didn't get down to 4 feeds till 15 months or so)

[Jennifer13]

You can definitely be ovulating while bfing, but I'd assume that would result in AF at some point.

My knowledge of bfing hormones is that they have the opposite effect on your CM to o'ing. If anything, it's more like the CM you'd have when you are not fertile (which in my case is nil CM). Bfing has more of a drying effect, so I'd say that seeing that CM is an indication that your fertility is returning. It's possible that your cycle isn't regular yet, which is why you haven't had AF for a while.