Still no PPAF w/BF 17 mos:(

[eva0897]

Hi Mamma's-
How are you? I wanted to see if I could get some advice/help. I am BFing my DS who is 17 months. I still haven't had my first AF My DH and I desperately want to start TTC #2, but with no AF yet I feel like there's no hope. 2 weeks ago I nightweaned him. I thought for sure that nursing all through the night to no stimulation for 8-10 hours straight would bring me my PPAF.
I tried taking Vitex 2 months ago but I had to stop b/c my thyroid began getting all out of wack. Once I stopped the chasteberry extract, and took a homepathic remedy my thyroid is within normal range again. I began taking B6just in case I get my AF and I wanted to have a better chance of having a normal luteal phase.
I am getting upset b/c I really did not want to cut down on my feedings with my LO, but I for the past 2 weeks I only feed him once in the am, quick feeding in the pm, and before bed. I do feel quite a bit of cramping/bloating since nightweaning, but all my OPK's are pretty faint. Does anyone out there have any advice or experience? Is it possible to get my AF soon? How long to you think I should wait before possibly weaning the morning nap, which I do not want to do, but we so want another baby. Thank you in advance for any help!

[GreenMamma]

No advice from me, only commiseration. I am also BF my 17 month old son and have not yet gotten my first ppaf. We haven't nightweaned, but we have been day weaning. He nurses maybe 4 times before bed (twice between waking up and nap at 11am and then once around 6pm then before bed at about 8:30pm) and then maybe 3-4 times through the night. I tried Vitex for about 4 weeks a couple of months ago and all that happened was some major cramping with very sticky cm. On Friday I started Maca and I have noticed a difference since then. My nipples are getting sore while nursing and suddenly I am having some wet/ewcm. Last night I even has some pink-tinged cm! I don't want to wean him completely though, as I know he's not ready. I did nurse my middle son when I got pregnant with my youngest, so I'm hoping that if I did it once, I can do it again. I hope you and I both can just catch that first egg and not need to worry about fully weaning our April babes.

[mayakas]

I have a 17 month old too! I night weaned her mid-July and got my first PPAF about 35 days later. I was testing with opks and got a positive one around 12 days before PPAF. No BFP on an HPT unfortunately though we timed BD pretty well. Hopefully the cycles aren't anovulatory - though I read that if you get PPAF this late, they are less likely to be anovulatory compared to people who get PPAF in like 5 or 6 months or whatever.

[eva0897]

Thanks so much mammas! I truly appreciate your responses! GreenMamma...I'm happy to not feel so alone. It helps me feel better knowing that there are others out there who know exactly what I'm going through. I will do everything I can to not have to cut out another nursing session, since BF is so very important to both me and my LO. I will definitely look into the Maca powder. Thanks for the advice! Mayakas....congratulations to you and your first PPAF I hope that I will get my AF soon too.....hearing your response makes me keep my head up and fingers crossed since I nightweaned 17 days ago....maybe I'll get my PPAF soon! Boy I sure hope Thanks again!
xxxx

[swimming-duck]

I remember feeling this way with DS. He's now 3 and I've definitely had AF for quite some time. BUT he was 18 months old before I got my PP AF. Hang in there. It sounds like you've made changes, but it might take a month or two for those changes to bring on PP AF. Good luck!

[sraplayas]

Hi Mamas!

Just wanted to share my experience: I did not have a PP AF with DD at all--she was 3 years and still nursing (and not that much!). My ND gave me a great herbal tincture that contained vitex and other herbs. After about two months--wa-la--AF! Then I became pregnant and has DS one month before DD turned four years.

DS is now 20+months and we are thinking about #3 starting in June. I have not had a PP AF. So, I guess I'll be working on that come spring.

Just want to send some love out to you who are anxious over no AF.

[mayakas]

Originally Posted by eva0897

I hope that I will get my AF soon too.....hearing your response makes me keep my head up and fingers crossed since I nightweaned 17 days ago....maybe I'll get my PPAF soon! Boy I sure hope

Aw don't worry, though I know it's hard. I was feeling the same despair and desperation you feel, but PPAF will come eventually!

I am totally speculating but I think it will take at least as long as one cycle to get PPAF. Like mine came 35 days (which is my avg. cycle length) after night-weaning. Once the body realizes it should start AF again, I think it would start with the first phase of a menstrual cycle - the follicular phase (where it tries to get the egg and uterus ready). This is CD1 (in usual cycles this is the first day of your period but for the first postpartum cycle there is no bleeding obviously because there is no uterine lining from the previous cycle to shed). And then you would go onto ovulation, and then the luteal phase (the 2ww), and then Bam! PPAF! (Unless you catch that first eggie hehee)

So.... long story short...maybe you'll get it in a couple of weeks!

[eva0897]

Thank you for your support Mayakas

[naturallyspeaking]

HI there,
I wanted to tell you that you are not alone. I have 19 month old and my AF still didn't come yet. My baby still wants to nurse day and night. However, I have been having mild cramping this week and yesterday I had my first EWCM since before the pregnancy. Before EWCM, I thought I was going to have period back but I guess I was ovulating or something.
I have the same dilemma. I'm an old mama and want to try for the next one but with no AF and my baby still wants to nurse. (I feel sad that he will have to give up nursing once/if I get preggo)...

[eva0897]

Hi Naturallyspeaking-

Thanks for ur support. It is no fun playing this waiting game Hopefully you will get your AF soon so you won't have to wean....but keep your fingers crossed that you'll get your AF soon so you can still continue nursing, or even tandem nurse if you choose to do so. That's what I'm hoping for