Still EBF baby almost 9 months, could AF start soon?

[JFTB1177]

For the last 2-3 months I've been having bloating off and on, like you get before AF. I haven't gotten AF back yet. With my 2nd baby I got AF back exactly 2 months after I weaned completely (my milk dried up around 7 months last time b/c I had to go back to work around 3 months, pumping wasn't working, yada yada). I don't know if I got it back in that time frame last time because I weaned or because I would have gotten it back at 9 months regardless.

So for the past couple of days I've been feeling extremely bloated. This happened last month too but went away. DS3 will be 9 months in 6 days. Am I getting AF back, and if not then why the bloating?? Should I be concerned? I remember this happening with DS2 around this time, but again, I had stopped BF so I kind of expected it.

DS3 is still basically EBF, he has a tiny amount of pureed fruits/veggies once a day and nurses every 3 hours on the dot (I've really tried to get him to eat solids but he is NOT interested).

What do you think about the bloating, is it related to my cycle or AF, who has not shown up yet? I don't have health insurance right now (my kids have health insurance, only I do not, long story as well lol) so I don't want to run off to the doctor if this is normal, if you kwim!

I would really appreciate any thoughts, advice, or guidance before I start being a worry wart. :) Thanks!!

[Mosaic]

The bloating could be anything, really: diet, hormones, who knows! It could very well be AF coming back, though, so keep your eye out for other fertility signs to be safe!

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by Mosaic 

The bloating could be anything, really: diet, hormones, who knows! It could very well be AF coming back, though, so keep your eye out for other fertility signs to be safe!

Thanks Mosaic!! What do you mean by hormones, like BF hormones??

[HappyMonkey]

I was BFing the same as you.. and my period came back about 10 months and I got pregnant in one night when my daughter was 11 months old. So it might come back soon. I don't know what the average is.

My first two periods were really short and light..

[foreverinbluejeans]

Why would you need to go to the doctor? What is there to be concerned about? You can take your temp every morning and plot it on basal body temp charts. You will be able to tell if you ovulate before you have your first period. Your periods may be irregular once they start and if you continue to do the charts you will know what is going on and be able to predict the day your period should start.

It's common for babies to not like to be spoonfed pureed foods. You might try giving your baby fork mashed foods or finger foods.

[nstewart]

I wouldn't be concerned either.  I JUST had my first PPAF back and DS is 15 mos.  I work, so he goes about 11-12 hours w/o nursing during the day on weekdays and then does a fair bit of nursing at night since we cosleep.  I've been back at work 2.5 mos, so it took a while before AF returned even with such a long amount of time between nursing.  Everyone is different.  I had some AF symptoms for a few months before AF actually returned as well. Acne, bloating, yada yada.  So it could be that your body keeps gearing up to ovulate and not quite getting there, so then it starts gearing up again.  If you were charting you'd probably be able to see if this is happening.

Anyway, everyone is different. Don't stress. 

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

I wouldn't be concerned either.  I JUST had my first PPAF back and DS is 15 mos.  I work, so he goes about 11-12 hours w/o nursing during the day on weekdays and then does a fair bit of nursing at night since we cosleep.  I've been back at work 2.5 mos, so it took a while before AF returned even with such a long amount of time between nursing.  Everyone is different.  I had some AF symptoms for a few months before AF actually returned as well. Acne, bloating, yada yada.  So it could be that your body keeps gearing up to ovulate and not quite getting there, so then it starts gearing up again.  If you were charting you'd probably be able to see if this is happening.

Anyway, everyone is different. Don't stress. 

Thank you!!!!!!!!! :) :) This has calmed me down a lot!!!

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans 

Why would you need to go to the doctor? What is there to be concerned about? You can take your temp every morning and plot it on basal body temp charts. You will be able to tell if you ovulate before you have your first period. Your periods may be irregular once they start and if you continue to do the charts you will know what is going on and be able to predict the day your period should start.

It's common for babies to not like to be spoonfed pureed foods. You might try giving your baby fork mashed foods or finger foods.

I'm a hypochondriac and am forever thinking I have some dreadful disease. :(( I guess I always need reassurance that what I'm feeling is normal. ;)

Yeah I don't think my baby is digging the baby foods but he liked gnawing on a banana the other day :)

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by HappyMonkey 

I was BFing the same as you.. and my period came back about 10 months and I got pregnant in one night when my daughter was 11 months old.

Wow!! :))

[McGucks]

I was still almost exclusively BFing at the same point and my period returned at 14 months.  The range can be wild...I had a friend EBFing who got hers back at THREE WEEKS POST-PARTUM!  What a rip-off!

My LO is 19 months and continues to prefer BFing to solids most of the time.  We just continue offering foods at meals and snacks here and there.  I feel kind of weird about it sometimes, but know he is super healthy and growing like a weed.