Tell me about your fertility while bf...

[OceanPrincess]

So I know that breastfeeding can affect fertility. I know that for some women, it can prevent ovulation and be an effective form of contraception while baby is under six months and exclusively bf, and that includes feeding overnight.

I'm not so interested in that. What I want to know about it what happens once AF returns, if you are still bf.

DD: AF returned around 6mths old, I had that one cycle, pg on second cycle. She was still feeding multiple times during the day (~4-6) but she was pretty much going from 7pm through til about 5am without feeding. I didn't say without waking mind you

DS: AF didn't return until he was 12mths, almost on the dot. We were "not trying not preventing" so I just tracked my days and watched my CM. Seemed to get some EWCM, not a great deal. Half attempted, no go, AF appeared on day 32. Next cycle, this one about to finish, same deal. Got a bit of EWCM on CD13 and also what I'm convinced was an o-pain. CD14 and 15 showed lots more EWCM. DTD lots. I'm now up to CD27, tested this morning, BFN. We just probably missed it, if I actually ovulated.

Spoke to DH about it - he says the fact that DS is still bf is probably impacting it. DS will most nights have his bedtime feed and then wake some time between 1am and 5am and have another feed. Most days that's it - just two. Some days more, if he's sick or whatever, but mostly that's it.

So my question is - does anyone know if once your cycle is back, its back? Or can it come and go? Be erratic? I guess I can expect the length to vary a bit, but does continued bf have any affect on actual ovulation? Can it cause annovulatory cycles? Because I'm definitely cycling - two AFs can speak to that. But what about actual ovulation?

[PumpkinZulu]

Good question, I'd like to know too. I got AF back at 8 weeks PP and I feel like she's on her way again (cd 28 today). I think I read that even if AF comes back, if you're still BF it can be very irregular, and not come back for ages after that. I'm interested to hear about this one.

[feeb]

AF returned when DS1 was 6 months old and was still BF overnight and 6 - 8 times in 24hrs and I got preg with DS2 3 months later. First 2 months were not TTC as wanted to be able to track cycle as had taken 1 year to conceive DS1 with temping etc.
AF returned regularly for the 3 I had.

Not TTC but AF returned when DS2 was 10 months old and cycle has been 25 - 32 days.

Good luck

[Phteven]

It can make you have thinner lining in your womb which in turn can make implantation less likely.

Mine were pretty regular and I got pregnant when DS1 was 7 months old.

[Miss.September]

AF arrived back for me 6 weeks after giving birth. I was exclusively b/f. I b/f for 14 months, AF came on time, every month (28 day cycle). CM around the time of O was what I'd expect it to be for me, so I presumed I was O'ing. I never take my temp for O, have always used CM as an indicator, so assumed that's what was happening.

[OceanPrincess]

...I never take my temp for O, have always used CM as an indicator, so assumed that's what was happening.

Yeah see that's my problem too Pac... I don't temp so how do I know whether I am or not? I seriously don't want to start temping now, for #3... And OPKs don't seem to give me anything...

Its all too hard!

[Kazzo]

I don't really know what BF does to a returned AF but AF returned for me at 4 months even with exclusive BF. I feel pregnant when DD1 was 8 months and that is when she also self weaned. My cycle was anywhere from 18 days to 32 days long and very short, light no cramping visits from AF, maybe 2-3 days (including spotting). In the 3 months of trying to fall pregnant I had 5 cycles.
After DD2 AF returned at 4months again, we are still exclusive BF and I make note of when I O and when AF arrives so far I am following the same pattern. I am noticing though that my AF are starting to get heavier and longer with some cramping returning.

[meow]

My period came back when my son went from about 6-7 feeds every 24 hours to 4-5. From that time on my periods were very regular until we decided to TTC 10 months later (I was onyl BFing once a day by then) and fell pregnant again.

[trishalishous]

subscribing. im also ttc but not ovulating

[sas85]

Pure guesswork here - but I've just started my first AF since DD2 yesterday and I have been feeling it almost coming for a couple of months - would bloat, cramp horribly, gain a kilor of fluid on my stomach, pain in my bladder, nauseous, (panicked I may somehow against all odds be pregnant a few times with that list) then DD2 would be sick/teething etc and start feeding even more and it would hold off. Finally I have a lame attempt at an AF - all the above, but very light, more like when I first started cycling as a girl. So, I am assumming that BFing can indeed impact on your fertility, ovulation and regularity because I can feel it doing it to me. ??

[OceanPrincess]

All very interesting. So perhaps I can be cycling without ovulating? Or the ovulating is possibly happening but the implanting is not. That would explain the o-pain and subsequent BFN.

[sas85]

I wouldn't be suprised if your Oing but not where you normally would in a cycle either, my Dr seemed to think that was a real possibility when I fell with DD2 as they sent me for dating scans. Maybe just do it ever 2nd day JIC all the time

[OceanPrincess]

Ahhhh sas my DH will be very happy with that plan!!!!! Might try it this coming month... Every second day from CD10 to CD... 24? That should cover it

[nothing2lose]

Hi

Can I just add that even if you are ovulating, and everything else is "perfect" you only have a 25-30 per cent chance of getting utd each month. So getting a bfn doesn't mean you aren't ovulating.

[Lily Dust]

Agree with n2l. The 'average' couple can take 6 months to fall pregnant, so all could be going fine but that 'happy egg' might not be there atm, implantation might be happening or it might just not be sticky this month......sheesh so many things that can go wrong! Its any wonder anyone gets pregnant

For me, AF returned when DD was 3.5 months, has been a 28 day cycle ever since. She was exclusively breatfed and still fed overnight until about 18 months.

[Happy1]

I'm not entirely sure when ovulatory cycles start again but my experience was breastfed exclusively with DS 1 til he was 6 months. continued breastfeeding weaning down to twice a day by the time he was 1 and once a day by the time he was 2. AF didn't come back til DS 1 was 14 months old. I had one AF then nothing for 6 weeks then what I thought was another AF. 4 weeks later did hpt and it was so positive it came up in seconds! My early dating scan weeks later came back as me being 9 weeks pregnant already so second AF was ? Implantation bleed.
Just my experience.

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for all the input guys.

N2L - I get that, I know that BFN doesn't necessarily mean I didn't ovulate. I'm just curious about the impact of continued bf on my fertility, if any.

We'll just keep trying.

[Kazzo]

I wouldn't be suprised if your Oing but not where you normally would in a cycle either, my Dr seemed to think that was a real possibility when I fell with DD2 as they sent me for dating scans. Maybe just do it ever 2nd day JIC all the time

I was told this when working out dates with DD2. At my 12wk scan my cycle dates and the scan dates had a 9 day difference. The Cycle date was from an average 28day cycle. I do remember though we were DTD every 2nd day for a set time (day 10-16) in my cycle and then on (I think) cycle day 20 I got strong O type pains so jumped DH again JIC and low and behold I got my BFP which did not show up until cycle day 33.

All that to say, yeah I was told I O'd late in my cycle.

Goodluck OP. I hope to hear an announcement from you soon