Short luteal phase

[Tree]

I'm bf-ing and am about to have my second AF since having my LO. My first cycle I had a LP of just 6 days, and judging by the cramps I have today my LP will be similar to the last or perhaps even less and I don't know when I actually ovulated.

I want to keep bf-ing for more LO, but also because I heard it sways pink. We are weaning and not night feeding anymore so I'd thought that the reduced feeding would help my cycles...

I did some reading about how to lengthen it and wondered if anyone could add too, or indeed advice;

B6: I read this us safe to use whist bf-ing but can reduce supply. Does it sway blue/pink/not at all? What dosage is recommended and for how long?

Vitex: What is this exactly? Is it safe whist bf-ing? What dosage is recommended and for how long?

Progesterone cream: I've read mixed things about whether this works? Do you need a prescription to get it? One of my concerns is becoming pregnant and lacking in progesterone due to bf-ing so this could be a good solution for that and increasing LP...? But is there such thing as too much progesterone in early pregnancy? And do you then need to wean off it?

Sorry for the essay! And advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Tree]

I was also wondering if its possible I'm just not ovulating at all? I get positive opk's but the ov pains go on for days (previously I'd just get one day) and my periods (all two of them) have been very light!

[GeCon]

Have you read these essays yet? They should cover a few of your questions:

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...stfeeding.html

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...stfeeding.html

Vitex (Agnus Castus) is a herb, which can help restore cycles and is safe when breastfeeding. There is more information on it here:

http://genderdreaming.com/forum/ttc-...nces-here.html

There is no definite answer if you are ovulating unless you have a blood test done at your doctors to establish if you ovulate or not. You might, however, want to think about temping/charting for your own understanding of your cycle as it will give you a good indication if you do ovulate or not.

[Shenanigans]

As far as vitex goes, I just take one "femaprin" a day and there is no wondering how much to take, etc. It is about $13 for a bottle of 60 on Amazon.

[The Anchor]

Vitamin b6 may sway blue, but it's true that it might help with your LP. Vitex is a great product for regulating your cycles, and sways pink. I would def talk to your doctor before administering any progesterone cream on your own, but I think it's pretty safe while b/f'ing.

[atomic sagebrush]

The OTC prog creams do nothing, they are made for women in menopause and cannot help people who are TTC.

Even the prescription strenght prog support has not been shown to help preserve a pregnancy anyway.

The best thing you can do for your LP is a big dose of Vitamin P = patience. I know it's hard but even waiting 1-2 more months may be a big change in your cycle. You don't need to do or take anything, you just need to let your body get a little further along and it will start to fix things all on its own.

[LacePrincess]

Agreed with Atomic, no shock! LOL

Give it some time to regulate. If after quite a few cycles your LP is still too short (consistently less than 10 days) then you can try a few things. Vitex will bring up your ovulation if you tend to O late. What's helped immensely for my LP is B6. It can possibly sway blue, but my LP was really crap without B6 and had no hope at all.

My 'usual' cycle without supps is O on CD19-21, and LP of 8-10 days. Blech. But now I take Vitex CD1-14, and also B6 (50mg) and B50-Complex throughout the cycle. With that combination I O on CD14-15 and get an LP of 11-12 days which is excellent for me.

The B-complex is because you need to take ALL the B vits in combination to help absorbancy. You don't need to worry about toxicity either since B's are water soluble so excess just gets pee'ed out.

[Tree]

Thanks ladies for the advice!!

Atomic, I was wondering given as I don't know what my LP will be this month if its worth an attempt?

Is LP something that builds back up gradually, or suddenly resumes?

[LacePrincess]

It'll vary from woman to woman, but for myself and many others I've seen, it will come back gradually, a day at a time.

I only weaned DS3 in December because my LP was shot when he was still nursing even just once at night (he turned 3yo in Dec). My LP was only 5-7 days long! Yikes! Within 2 months after I weaned it went back to 9-10 days, and with the B6 I've gotten it back up to 11-12 days. Ymmv.

[black&gold]

LacePrincess - My cycle sounds exactly how your no supps cycles sounds. O on day 20-21 and 9-10 day LP. I've only charted for 2 months but my period took a few months to come back after I stopped BF'ing (last may - didn't get my period back until Aug.) so I feel like maybe things got a little messed up and haven't bounced back to my regular 14FP/14LP. I started B6 and B complex this past month and I'm on 7 or 8DPO so I'm not sure how it's working so far but I've been debating between Soy Isoflavones or Vitex to move up O.. happy you hear about your good experience with Vitex!