Want my period back, do I have to stop breastfeeding?

Question

I’m ready to start trying for baby number two. I’m 6 months postpartum and still no period. He sleeps through the night (usually 12 hours straight), eats solids like a champ, but breastfed the rest of the time. Do I need to start weaning to get my period back? Also I know I could get pregnant without a period, but I don’t find that a likely scenario so not considering that a real solution.
Update: thanks for the advice. Was hoping for a way to kick start ovulation without weaning but looking like it’s my best option!

Answer

I’d wait till your baby is a year to start trying, and that’s for multiple reasons. Firstly, your body needs to recover so you can support another pregnancy, and secondly, is it really worth giving up breastfeeding to try for another right away? Everyone is different, my friend got her period back 2 months PP and mine took a full year.

Answer

If you DO decide to wean, you will need to keep baby on formula until they're a year old. 
But yes, you may need to wean off breastmilk and onto formula in order to get your period again.

Answer

Mine came back 5 months pp while I was exclusively breastfeeding, including throughout the night. Some women don’t get a period until the stop nursing completely. It’s different for everyone and there are no guarantees. 
I personally wouldn’t wean for this reason, but it’s completely up to you how long you want to breastfeed and why.

Answer

I weaned my first at 9 months for this exact reason! I was also on the mini pill and stopped it at the same time.. period came back and I was pregnant the second month! Now I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old! Good luck, hope it all works out for you :)

Answer

don't rob your baby of necessary milk before 1 year. My period came back at 7 months, after we had solids and his feedings spaced out a lot.

Answer

We were ready to ttc #2 at 7mo PP and I had not even a hint of my cycle returning. I was tracking OPK but nothing. I did not want to wean, but I did decide to drop one feeding and I also took vitex to kick start my cycle, which it did within 3 weeks. As soon as my cycle became a little more regular (although not to pre-preg levels) I stopped taking vitex, and did not change my BF schedule and had no problems w ovulation. It took us about 5 months (but four cycles) to get pregnant 😁. Good luck!! (One thing I will say is that my OB did suggest not chasing that first egg, but letting your body “refresh and clean out” the old lining in the uterus to have a nice fresh lining for your new little fertilized egg to implant into- makes sense to me and it helped me not fret about getting pregnant on the very first hint of ovulation :)

Want my period back, do I have to stop breastfeeding?

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