[1babysmom]

*Disclaimer...this is long! Sorry!!*

My first PP AF showed 31 days ago (at 4.5 mo PP...WHILE EBF'ing, co-sleeping, baby not sleeping through the night, etc, etc...

: ). I had secretly hoped I'd be able to take a longer break from her since she's been BAAAD to me in the past, but at the same time we want to have our children close together (not TTC but not TTA) so it's kind of exciting in a way. I was charting since about 1 month PP (I've charted for about 3 years now), although it didn't do me much good before AF showed. Even though we co-sleep my temps aren't too wacko, though. Sooo...I know that NOTHING is set it stone when BF'ing is involved, but I'm just curiously anticipating what things will be like from here on out.

So, bear with me...I have lots of questions!!!

Anyone who has charted PP, what were your O dates like in comparison to pre-pg? (IF you're O'ing yet) Were you able to see your O date on your chart (temps)? How did your O signs compare to pre-pg?

How did the length of your cycles compare to pre-pg? When did your cycles start becoming consistent? My pre-pg cycles were 30-34 days long (17 day LP), and obviously this cycle will be different, but I often wonder what things may be like. (this cycle I'm on CD 31 w/ no O yet...if at all)

Were your charts able to clearly show an impending AF? If so, how many cycles did it take before that started happening? I was always able to tell AF was coming (pre-pg) by how low my temp would drop and my CP. But then again, those were always ovulatory AF's. My first PP AF was annovulatory so I wonder if that's why I showed no signs of her coming.

How did your temps compare to pre-pg? Mine seem to constantly be in the lower range. Granted, I haven't O'd yet (and may not for months), but my temps are consistently in the 96 range, which they NEVER were pre-pg. (and thyroid issues have been mentioned to me before, but I'm fairly certain it's just how my body is working ATM...if they continue to be low for months and months into my cycle, I'll pursue it further) But they have had an overall trend of slowly dropping since the beginning of this cycle, so I'm wondering if I *might* O at some point this cycle or if AF might actually show on a low temp this time (last time she came on a very high temp LOL).

Thanks for any help!! I love charting...I'm just amazed by what our bodies do!! But this is my first PP experience...

 

[OTMomma]

I don't have all your answers, but I'll share what I do know. My first cycle pp was at 9 months, my next 4 cycles were all about 60 days long, and didn't start getting close to my usual 30-35 days until dd was 18 months (still nursing then). Once I did get regular cycles, my temps were also in the low range like yours- 96 ish (didn't temp before that). I actually had blood work done to check for thyroid problems, but didn't have any. While I continued to nurse I had about a 10 day luteal phase give or take a day. I weaned dd at age 3, and since then my temps have come back up to normal range- 97ish preO and 98ish post. And my luteal phase has slowly gotten longer, making my cycles more like pre baby. So 4 years pp, I think I'm back to where I was.

Wow, that might not sound encouraging.... sorry about that. I hope it gives you some insight though.

 

[1babysmom]

Thank you so much!! It's actually just encouraging to hear ANY experience, so it really DOES help!

Thanks for your reply!!