What gap between feeds do I need to get periods back?

[aamia]

Ideally would like to try for dc2 when dc1 is 11 months old, so in a couple of months. Still feeding 5x a day with a 10 hour gap at night. Would a 12 hour gap do it?

[SoupDragon]

There is no "rule". My periods returned within 2 months of having my 3 children despite feeding every 3-4 hours.

[Catbiscuit]

My youngest is 21 months and only feeds once first thing and once before bed and mine still haven't returned yet

[leedy]

While mine is 6 months, still feeding a zillion times a day, and I got my period yesterday.

[Vividmemories]

I've often had a 12 hour gap at night with DD (aged 6mo) since she started sleeping through 3 months ago. Still no periods! It varies from person to person.

[Guitargirl]

My periods returned at 4 months post partum with both of my DCs and I was exclusively bf.

[juneau]

There is no 'magic number' - it's just random AFAIK. First time my periods returned after 18 months. DS1 was only feeding twice a day by then. With DS2 my periods returned after six months, when I was feeding several times a day and through the night.

[aamia]

Ok, so if I give up bf totally by dc1's birthday in August, will they definitely come back in September?

[Vividmemories]

No, they won't definitely come back. I've known or to take months for some people.

[ShowOfHands]

I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. My dd fed every 2hrs at least, more like hourly and I ovulated when she was 11 weeks old. DS slept through from being v tiny and he was over a year old before my periods came back. Bear in mind as well that even though your periods may return, you're often not fertile at first either through not ovulating or ovulating v late in your cycle. Of course you might be fertile again straightaway!

You need to make a decision about how important bfing THIS child is to you. You could quit entirely and wait months for your period or take ages to conceive. And your dc might miss bfing and you'll wish you'd continued. Or if you're not bothered, then stop and hope for the best. There are no rules or guarantees. You just have to make a decision and hope for the best.

[aamia]

Such a minefield! I really would prefer to conceive dc2 before I am 35, which gives me until end of Jan. Obviously if things take longer then they do, but need to start trying sooner rather than later!

[CommanderShepard]

I'm now feeding 12mo DD morning and bedtime and mine still aren't back!

[CommanderShepard]

And needless to say you don't need a period to get pregnant (I stopped birth control, had no period, and 28 days later had a positive test - made calculating a due date fun)

[juneau]

Turning 35 is not going to suddenly render you infertile! Please don't let all the alarmist media nonsense make you paranoid. If you're a healthy woman who conceived without any problems first time around there is no reason why you should have problems second time around - regardless of whether you're 34 years and 11 months or 35 years and 6 months when you next try.

I got pregnant at 36 just as easily as I did at 33 and there are probably hundreds of women on this site alone who can tell you similar stories. Conception is not something you have total control over, in any case. You could take a few months to conceive - or longer - or you could get pregnant on the first try, but then you might miscarry. Shit happens with conception, but chances are it will work and within a reasonable time frame, so please try not to stress yourself out over the difference of a month or two.

[LittleLisa78]

I fed first dd til she was 2.5 but only at bedtime and didn't get a period until I stopped. Now feeding second dd many times per day at 12 months and no period but know many who have had it but feed more and friend stopped feeding to get it but didn't for a further 4 months

[Fairylea]

As someone who gas high prolactin levels due to a pituitary problem (prolactin is the same hormone that is responsible for breastfeeding) I can tell you that it's purely down to hormones how quickly this is reduced and once it reaches a lower level your periods will return. However, as someone who's levels are always in the 2000's (normal levels of non breastfeeding women are 80-300) I have conceived twice! So basically although prolactin levels may be higher it doesn't mean you won't ovulate at any time or get pregnant.

However, if after several months of stopping breastfeeding you weren't having periods there are pills you can take to lower the prolactin levels. I have taken this before.

Ironically I have never breastfed either of my children!

[Fairylea]

Has not gas

[BeanoNoir]

Mine took ages after I'd completely stopped to come back. I was trying to space them apart and then cut down because I wanted to ttc. But even when I was only feeding for 5mins on a nighttime I still didn't get a period until at least a month after I'd stopped completely. So no hard and fast rule.

I found it frustrating as I wanted to conceive a lot sooner, but now I'm pg (there'll be two years between dcs) I'm glad it's happened this way as I've had more time with dd before next one comes along. So don't get frustrated if it doesn't happen straight away (took me nearly 6 months to conceive even after periods had returned). However and whenever it happens will be the best way