Where's AF?

[Nessa84]

I'm on day 30 of my cycle. Still no sign of AF. I'm not pregnant I took a test. Also DS is 8 months and I've only had AF once but was expecting it this weekend. Is there anything I can do or should I not worry since I should also being ovulating?

[Erin514]

I would retest in a few days just in case it was a false negative. If you're really not pregnant and AF still doesn't show, most likely your postpartum cycles just aren't regular yet. After DS1, my first postpartum AF was at 13 months and my second wasn't until 17 or 18! He was over two before they were 100% back to normal (I was breastfeeding at night for most of that, to be fair). You may skip a cycle or have long or short cycles for a while. If you're not willing to TTC with irregular cycles you could try cutting out nighttime breastfeeding if you haven't already, or else try vitex, which is supposed to be compatible with BF (check out the thread). Make sure you don't get pregnant while taking vitex, though, it may cause miscarriage!

[Nessa84]

Thank you for your reply.
I am worried that I won't know when I ovulate and it will be very expensive to keep testing. Is there something I can take other than Vitex that will allow my cycles to be regular and will make sure I ovulate each cycle? I just took another test and its negative. Im now on day 31.

[Erin514]

A lot of ladies on here buy cheap opks online in bulk so it costs less to test every month. I don't know of anything other than vitex that is compatible with breastfeeding, maybe someone else will chime in.

I do suggest you read the vitex thread if you haven't already. You don't have to (and probably shouldn't) take it while ttc. You can take it every day for a month or two while using a condom, then stop completely the cycle you want to ttc, or you could just take it for 14 days after AF and stop during the 2ww. A bottle is only $10 or so and you don't need a prescription.

You could also just wait and see what this next month is like. Your body is probably going through a lot at once with recovering from pregnancy, breastfeeding and a big change in diet. Your cycles might just regulate themselves, it's just hard to say when if you're on a deadline.

[Nessa84]

What is Clomid used for?

[Erin514]

Clomid might dry up your milk.

[maidentomother]

Great advice from Erin, I completely agree.

Clomid does stimulate O and help regulate cycles but you can't take it while BFing. Femara is okay while BFing, though, if you can get a hold of it. But I don't think you necessarily need these as it makes sense that your cycles are still getting back to normal. If you don't want to wait, though, both Vitex and Femara are worth considering.

[atomic sagebrush]

A lot of people have used Clomid when breastfeeding and Kellymom has it down as ok. http://kellymom.com/nursingtwo/resources/ttc-while-bf.pdf I wouldn't use it with an 8 month old personally, but an older baby, people ARE having it prescribed by docs when nursing. What I have warned about in the past is if you WANT Clomid, I wouldn't go in advertising the fact that I'm nursing, because many docs will still seize any opportunity to blame a lack of conception on nursing and tell you to stop nursing in order to get pregnant but that IS NOT NECESSARY and no one should have to cut their nursing short until such a point in time as you personally want to.

[atomic sagebrush]

Clomid might dry up your milk.

If it does, you can nurse more for a few days to make up for it. :)

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you for your reply.
I am worried that I won't know when I ovulate and it will be very expensive to keep testing. Is there something I can take other than Vitex that will allow my cycles to be regular and will make sure I ovulate each cycle? I just took another test and its negative. Im now on day 31.

No. There isn't, other than Clomid or Femara, but those are prescription and most doctors would not prescribe it for someone only 8 months postpartum (let alone the nursing angle)

Quit testing. Go to every 4 days and if that is too scary, then go to every 5 days. That way you'll be in with an attempt when O shows.

It is NOT unusual at all to have cycles play "peek a boo" at this point while nursing. It's ok and please don't start worrying or panicking, it is not unusual at all and has happened to a lot of us. I've had my cycles return and then go missing again 2 times over the course of my nursing career. It WILL come back in time.