help me understand what's going on...

[vanessab23]

DS2 is 23 months and I have not yet had a PPAF. We nightweaned almost 2 months ago (he had gotten to as frequent as EVERY HOUR so I finally threw in the towel on night nursing and now I sleep in the other room, which I secretly love) and so I was expecting that AF would return. (after DS1 abruptly weaned/nursing striked at 13 months I got AF back one month later)

This is what's happened in the last 2.5 weeks:

Jan10 or 11 we had sex (we use condoms, but not until the last minute...stupid I know)

Jan 13 started extremely painful nursing, and continued at the same level of pain for a week and then lessened. Now I would say it's uncomfortable

Jan 17 dizzy for a few seconds while nursing DS2 to sleep

Jan 19 one VERY painful centralized uterine cramp that lasted 15 or 20 minutes

Jan 23 dizzy for a second and later some more cramps

Jan 24 and 27 preg test shows negative.

obviously I have no idea when AF should be due.

No bleeding, and had no signs of ovulation (I usually feel a one-sided quick pain) and haven't had a period in almost 3 years...so maybe this is just a whopper coming?!?!?

I'm a midwife, but cannot seem to think objectively with myself 

P.S. Of course I would be excited (although we were a "maybe" on a third, I also deep down have always felt that I'm meant to do this again) but if I wasn't preg I would feel quite relieved as I feel DS2 would be too young when #3 would be due-- I prefer larger spacing)

Thanks mamas!

[sraplayas]

vanessa,  hugs to you!  I don't really have any good answers but I can share my experience.

DS turned (2) a few weeks ago and though we are trying to get him so sleep with DD, he goes about 3-4 hours between night nursings still and nurses at naptime.  No PPAF for me, either.  I am taking an herbal tincture also to bring on O.

I can tell you that back in November and also a bit in late Dec. I had so many intense preg. symptoms but all BFN tests.  I wasn't charting then so I just tested and tested...!  It was so frustrating!

Every HP that I've talked to about this says that my lactating hormone and my reprod. hormones are fighting and I just need to get past that estrogen threshold.  As my body gears up to ovulate, it is likely that I'll have preg.-like symptoms.

HTH and good luck!

[JMJ]

I'm no expert, but I would guess that your hormones are trying to kick back into gear.  If you haven't had sex since, I'd seriously doubt that you're pregnant at this point.  Do you chart?  It might not be a bad idea to start.  With the night weaning and all those symptoms, it sounds like your body might be getting ready to be fertile again sometime soon.  It was helpful for me during the end of my long amenorrhea to chart my temperature so that I knew I hadn't ovulated yet and wasn't pregnant so that I didn't have to test constantly.

[vanessab23]

that does help, mamas-- thank you.

still no AF, but all the symptoms disappeared, so who knows-- i like theory of my hormones arguing lol  :)

sounds about right....