Breastfeeding and AF

[bcblondie]

So DS is just about 1, and still bf'ing frequently and throught the night. I'd been having a hard time getting him to eat much solids. Lately though, he seems to be turning a new leaf. He's eating a lot of what we're eating. Today he only bf'ed 4 times. (might do one more, not sure if he's down for the night or just napping.)

Anyways. I will probably breastfeed til he's 2 but only 1 or 2 feedings a day. Like, right before bed probably.

As of yet, I haven't had AF. Do you think this will bring her back or does it sound like I'm one of those that won't have her back til I wean completely? I'd like to try for number 2 soon... but it's ok if it takes til I wean.

[fruitfulmomma]

My lo will be a year in a couple of weeks and she is eating plenty of solids plus bf'ing three to four times a day. No sign of it yet. I think last time I got it back when the baby was about 13 months old and then I conceived about 4 months later.

[CheriK]

Every woman's different in how much stimulation/nursing will keep her from resuming menstruation. A lot of women don't resume AF until baby is 1-2 years old. Just depends on your body. And this current reduction in nursing frequency may not be permanent, as toddlers are notorious for irregular nursing frequency! Also, the longer you go without a period, the more likely you are to have "silent" ovulation (ovulate before you resume menstruation). I know several woman who found themselves pregnant without ever having a return of AF.

With my twins, AF didn't return until they were about 20 months. They started solids around 6 months, but didn't eat much until close to 2. We cosleep, so nighttime nursing was frequent. With my 1-year old DD, and basically the same nursing/solids/sleep pattern, AF returned at 9 mos. Drat!

[bcblondie]

Thanks girls. Well last night, I don't know what was wrong with ds but he was waking up screaming every like, half hour. He seriously sounded like he was in pain. We kept him in our own bed near the end, not wanting to move him, and he'd keep jolting and gasping like something stabbed him. Finally I took off his diaper and he calmed down instantly. It wasn't tight or anything. No hairs tangled around his penis or anything. I'm totally confused.

ANYWAYS that resulted in pretty much constant breastfeeding all night. Poor guy. But yea we'll try again today to get more solids into him.

I keep checking CP and doing OPK's here and there, and so far no signs of O, or that it has passed. I would absolutely love it though, if I conceived before af comes, and go for another 20 months of no af

Thanks for your imput girls.