No need to worry!  Unless you have pain or something…but one year with no period is not cause for alarm.  Even though baby has been sleeping through the night for a few months!  For some women, just one night out is enough to jog her body back into the cycles.  For others, periods will not return if there’s any nursing going on at all.  And there are variations within the same woman as well—so that fact that you’re accustomed to getting your period back right away doesn’t mean it can’t be different this time!  However, since the six months is up, you should not count on LAM solely if you need to postpone your next pregnancy.

MaryAnn, I wouldn’t worry about it either.  Depending on how often your guy is nursing through the day, that could be enought to do it.  Could you try for one or two days to not nurse him as often?  Obviously not enough to wean or even upset him, but that could do the trick.  I was only nursing my little guy 2-3 times a day and some at night, and didn’t get mine back.

Unless you have symptoms of something *wrong*, I wouldn’t be concerned. As we get older our bodies and our body’s response to childbirth and postpartum, change. What happened before doesn’t necessarily happen again.

My first two babies my period came back at 4 months exactly. The next was 9 months, the next after that was 11 months, then 13 months and now it is usually about 15 months.

I have a sil that doesn’t get her period back until the baby is completely weaned. 1 nursing session a day is enough to keep her period away.

I think some women’s bodies defy all rules and norms.  I nursed (exclusively) all my children until they were at least 18 months and only the first gave me a straight six hours at two months and the others around the 12 month mark.  My periods returned at 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 11 weeks (yes, weeks!).  After that first cycle, I was almost like clockwork - every 28 -32 days!

I was one of those women whose cycles did not return until baby was almost weaned.  The longest I went was 15 months postpartum (but most times it was near that.  I have 8 kids and it happened that way every time).  It seems like that is unusual for most women, but it was the way my body worked.

Mae!  I feel you, girl!  I have children already.  I’d like another.  But I’m just getting miscarriages.  I am 40 years old, but I consider myself healthy.  So what’s up?  My mom keeps saying “Oh just go DO something, and when it’s totally inconvenient, you’ll get pregnant!”  Not very scientific, but I think it’s wise for me at this point to get off the roller coaster and just get moving.

We are sort of in a similar boat.  We were avoiding for a couple of years, then have had 3 miscarriages in a year and a half.  It is an emotional roller coaster.  I think maybe it is God’s way of letting us know we’re done, but then I am only 38 so part of me thinks probably not.  But how do you get over being consumed every month with feeling like maybe you should try again, maybe not?? 

I guess there’s no easy answer except pray in thanksgiving for what we have already been given and like Andrea said, just move on already! 

Another question in regards to the same idea- how do you know when to seek medical intervention and when to just let it go?  I’ve had progesterone tested and it was low but now that I have had 3 miscarriages, should I be requesting more tests, like blood clotting issue tests?  I’m not sure what to do….we have many children, so we have been blessed and part of me thinks getting medical help just seems sort of silly.

Did you ever see The Untouchables?  Where Sean Connery grabs Kevin Costner by the collar and shouts What Are You Prepared To Do? (Then he dies).  I ask myself that all the time in reference to this question.  Do I fight it out?  I mean really fight, fight, fight?  Surgery? Meds? Total Overhaul Diet?  You know, if I was seeking a first child, I would do it.  Mae, if that’s your situation, maybe you are prepared to fight it out.  I don’t think we’re morally obliged to seek exotic care—for some it’s impossible.  For me, it seems really “unseemly” for me to go to the world’s end in pursuit of a pregnancy.  Maybe God will give us one.  But “what are you prepared to do?”  For me, I’m prepared to take some vitamins, chart my cycles and try to hit some target days, be as healthy as possible, raise the crew I have (though it’s killing me to even WRITE this).  I don’t think it’s ever WRONG to just go about your current business and commit it to God.  Beyond that, look at your situation and see what’s possible, and what you have the heart for.

something one of you said raises an interesting question-if we know our progesterone is low, creating an environment that can’t support life should we either try to avoid pregnancy or get medical help to fix it?

Personally, I think if we know we have a medical problem that causes miscarriages that can be fixed with medicine then we should get the intervention or avoid conception.  Not sure specifically what your individual cases are but it is an important topic.  Of course we can not prevent all miscarriages but in the case of not enough progesterone you can prevent miscarriages by getting treatment

I had low progesterone and clotting issues. I had three miscarriages between my third and fourth child, at that point I sought some medical intervention ... which was simple and worked. Lo and behold a few years later, we found ourselves surprised with number 5. Even though we were avoiding and it was unexpected .. how could we not seek to intervene to save that child we knew had been conceived? Especially knowing my history? The moment we realized we were pregnant, I knew if I didn’t intervene at that point, I would be negligent in saving that beautiful life. And what a gift. If the question is what are you willing to do? If conception has occurred and you know you have issues holding on to your pregnancies, the answer should be “everything.”

Mae,
Re: grad school.  My sis-in-law has 5 children ages 1-14 years old.  She started her MA as a mommy of young ones then finished her PhD five years ago I think (my own memory is pretty bad with 5 of my own -and time flies!). Now she is an english professor.  I am in awe of her.  I love the passion she has for her family and her studies, and I try to foster my own passions in my life (hard to remember what they are sometimes).  I get on the emotional rollercoaster too. I can’t imagine anyone avoids it.  Just remember, you’re not alone.  We’re all out here, and I doubt Jesus minds riding along with us. Cling to Him when you get scared.

Andrea, your mom is so wonderfully funny and wise!

Is it possible you are doing too much??  Ha!  With 6 kids, I am sure you are just sitting and relaxing 24/7!!  After my 4th was born, I experienced breakthrough bleeding 6-7 wks postpartum.  Realized I was doing too much too soon.  Laundry, stairs, etc was just too much.  Had to slow down and take it easy.  Now preg with #7, I know that I will need to let a lot slide for at least 2 mos. after baby arrives.  I think as our bodies get older, they need that extra healing time.  I know it’s not easy, but sometimes necessary.  God bless.

Yes, Angie, I admit I am absolutely doing too much!  It’s easy to forget that I’m still in a recovery period, not only for a cection two months ago but also for a thyroidectomy one month ago.  Thanks for the reminder!

*hugs and prayers* I am sorry to hear about this.  It hasn’t happened to me (yet), but several of my mommy friends have had nursing issues with one or all of their children.  Do you have any friends who would lend you a sympathetic ear?  Having another mother to talk with seemed to help my friends.

Lou, I came close to losing my supply with my first baby but with tremendous effort (and no other little ones to attend to) we went on to nurse til he was 21 mos.  I am not saying that that can/will/should happen w/you, but only to share my history.

First off, the first rule of parenting is: the baby must be FED…breastmilk or formula, praise God that you can feed your baby and see him thrive.

Second, you breastfed as long as you could—two weeks of colostrum and antibodies is better than nothing!—good for you!

Third, here’s a link *if* you’re ready for the work involved in trying to increase/build up production/supply:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html and:
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/increase.html

I used a combination of pumping (w/hospital grade pump) after *every* nursing session, kept charts on how long/how much produced, gave the baby that milk, took a “nursing vacation” (3 days of staying in bed w/baby & doing nothing but nursing, skin to skin) plus used Fenugreek, ate oatmeal…everything!  If you go this route, make sure you have some lanolin for your nipples; you will be quite sore.

Now that I’ve given you all my advice & links, the first thing I should have said was to set up a session or two with a international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).  Worth every dime.  Oh! and pray to Our Lady of La Leche!

Lou,

Many moms do not breastfeed their babies for a long time and still have a wonderful bond with their baby.  Actually some bottle feeding moms are much more in tune with their babies because they get more sleep and can have more help with the baby as others can feed him/her. 

I don’t want to diminish your grief as it is ok to grief but know that it does not mean you will have less of a bond with your baby.  I have a friend who had 5 kids and was never able to produce enough milk despite extraordinary effort and she finally made peace with it.