how to encourage AF to return?

[caedmyn]

DD is almost 15 months old and AF still has not returned. She still nurses quite a lot during the day as well as several times at night. I have been trying to limit the duration of her nursing sessions (she's a super fast nurser but sometimes she likes to play around for a while after she's done eating) in hopes of encouraging AF to return. I've also been drinking red raspberry leaf infusions as I read that can encourage AF to return. Is there anything else I can do?

[birthjunkie27]

What about eliminating one nursing session rather than trying to shorten each time she nurses? I did that when dd was about 11 mos because she was clearly ready for a solid breakfast and a longer stretch until her next nursing and boom, AF came right away (not even my intentions). But, yeah, just by getting rid of one nursing AF came back for me. Now, dd's nursing habits are pretty sporadic (some days nursing tons and some days barely at all) and AF is coming regulary for me.

Also wanted to add that if you're wanting AF to return so that you can conceive again, it may just take you wanting to conceive bad enough. Thinking thoughts of newborns and fertility may be powerful enough to kick your body back into baby making mode. (sorry if I'm way off)

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by birthjunkie27

What about eliminating one nursing session rather than trying to shorten each time she nurses? I did that when dd was about 11 mos because she was clearly ready for a solid breakfast and a longer stretch until her next nursing and boom, AF came right away (not even my intentions). But, yeah, just by getting rid of one nursing AF came back for me. Now, dd's nursing habits are pretty sporadic (some days nursing tons and some days barely at all) and AF is coming regulary for me.

Also wanted to add that if you're wanting AF to return so that you can conceive again, it may just take you wanting to conceive bad enough. Thinking thoughts of newborns and fertility may be powerful enough to kick your body back into baby making mode. (sorry if I'm way off)

I do want AF to return so we can TTC this summer. I'm not really in the baby-making mood right at the moment as my DH is deployed to Afghanistan for another 4 months so it's not exactly possible, but I definitely had baby fever for a few months before he left and that didn't bring AF back. If nothing else works I'll have to try to put myself back into the right mood before he returns!

I'm working on eliminating a night nursing session...it hasn't worked very well to eliminate a daytime nursing because she nurses to sleep for her naps and she wants to comfort nurse quite a bit.

[jmo]

You might try doing a search for Vitex (chasteberry). It's an hreb that is supposed to regulate a woman's cycle. It is safe while nursing.