Where is my 2nd ppaf? Is BF my 14-month-old keeping it away?

[JFTB1177]

I posted this in the Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy subforum but got no response so thought I'd try here!

It's now cycle day 34 or 35. My 1st ppaf arrived a month ago (finally!). For the last 4 days or so, I've had major PMS type symptoms. I was so certain AF was coming I put a pad on- felt lower back cramping, cramping/pinching "down there", cravings, etc...and nothing! I'm def NOT PG as dh and I haven't dtd in the last month. What gives? Just worried because I want my cycle to get back to normal so I can ttc at the end of the year.

DS3 is still nursing once in the evening before bed, and then 4-5x during the night (we cosleep). I am ready to phase out nursing so I can get my body back to normal but DS is very demanding lol.

The crampy/PMS feelings lasted briefly (off and on for those few days), and are now...gone. What gives?

[JFTB1177]

No one? :(

[liberal_chick]

If you're still nursing, your cycles could be longer.  When I got my period back, my cycles were running about every 7 weeks.  I've also heard that some women will get a period and then not another for months and months.  I can't answer as to what's going on with the cramping, but that might be an explaination for where your period is.

[ilovejeff]

I got my first PPAF at 15 months, 2nd a few months later, then they started to get more regular when I started slowly weaning dd at 18 months. No explaination for the cramps, etc.

[JFTB1177]

Thanks ladies, that makes me feel better! The cramping only lasted a couple of days and was off and on. Those couple of days are when I would normally have a period (in the past my cycles have always been 30-33 days), so I'm guessing that's why I had it (cramping)??

[KristyDi]

I'm mostly echoing the others.  I got my 1st ppaf around 15 months and the first few were pretty far apart.  Then after they got more regular my cycles were longer than they had been pre pregnancy (and I had longer than average cycles to begin with)  They averaged 36 days and my DD was nursing at least at wake up and and bedtime.  Then I got pregnant and, of course had no cycle and weaned DD when my supply tanked and nursing became really painful.

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by KristyDi 

I'm mostly echoing the others.  I got my 1st ppaf around 15 months and the first few were pretty far apart. 

Thanks for sharing!! Do you remember how far apart they were?

[Carlin]

My first ppaf was at about 19 months pp. The 2nd one was 5 months later. That cycle was 40 days long, then they stabililzed between 31 and 36 days, until I got pregnant 4 cycles later.

[fruitfulmomma]

Yeah, I had this with my oldest where I had one and then nothing for a few months before they started coming regularly again. 

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by JFTB1177 

Thanks for sharing!! Do you remember how far apart they were?

Umm, I'm thinking 50-60 days.  I can't remember specifically.

[MrsGregory]

I had cramping and thought I'd have a period for several months - my first cycle is just now underway, daughter is just now 7 months and still nursing, a few solids thrown in her open mouth but nothing else.  I guess the cramping was just "practice".  I'm still counting to see if I'll start cycling normally or it will be touch-and-go for a while yet.

But I had the cramping at least twice, and then nothing...
 

[artekah]

Not sure about the cramping, but it all sounds like normal hormonal stuff to me. Irregular periods postpartum--totally normal.

I got my first period after DS at 9 months, my second one at 11 months, and at 13 months I became unexpectedly pregnant again! It was really hard to tell what was going on with my cycles at that time, but obviously I was ovulating. (So if you are not TTC NOW, be very very careful.)

After DD, I got my period back at only 5 months, also while exclusively breastfeeding. I just had my second period at 8.5 months. Who knows what'll happen next! But we don't plan to conceive again this time.

[JFTB1177]

Thanks ladies!!! AF just started about 10 minutes ago (sorry TMI!)!!! So I think this last cycle was about 40 days long? Thank you so much to everyone who responded and helped calm me down!! I guess I should expect anything and everything the next few months right? DS3 is still nursing ALL. NIGHT. LONG.