Can increased BFing delay AF after it's back?

[SaraCate]

Hey ladies,

First - FWIW - I'll probably go out and buy a test this afternoon just for my own peace of mind.

I'm tracking cycles (dates) and CM, but not bothering much w/ temps b/c I usually don't get a solid enough block of sleep for temps to be reliable.  (I may start again anyway, just to have a number...)

DS2 is almost 10 mo.  AF came back - pretty regularly - starting at 4 mo.  I had a pretty nasty cold this weekend (somewhere between Sat-Mom would have been a 'normal' start for me based on current info).  But I also started thinking - both boys (DS1 is33 mo.) have been nursing more than usual - esp. DS10mo.  Could this have any impact on cycles?

(Also FWIW, we've been very conservative about DTD w/o protection...)

Thanks!

Update: took the test, and it's a BFN.  Will probably do a follow-up first thing in the morning in a few days if AF doesn't show up by the end of the week.  I'm still curious, though: does anyone know if a change in BFing intensity/frequency can impact cycles after their return?

~Sara

Edited by SaraCate - 10/18/11 at 2:56pm

[JMJ]

In short, yes, it can.  Slight changes in breastfeeding as well as illness can cause changes in your cycle.  Since you are nursing two children including a 10 month old (who is presumably relying on your for most of his nutrition), slight changes could delay ovulation significantly.

[Jaimee]

Agreed, increased nursing can affect your cycles.   The illness may have as well.  Colds generally delay O for me by a few days, though not always. 

Even without good blocks of sleep, I always managed to get biphasic patterns while cosleeping and night nursing my LO's.  Some women are more affected by changes in schedule than others, but overall it seems that if you focus on taking your temp around the same TIME each morning, you're likely to get a pattern.