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My period went back to normal a month after my C-section. I took the mini pill for a few months but i stopped because i wanted to chart and learn more about my cycles before we tried to conceive our second child. Our plan was to start in December (which was recommended by my OB) but I got pregnant in August before my LO turned 8 months old. I was breastfeeding and pumping!

We are ntnp and LO is 17 weeks. I wouldn't mind another at all! No Af yet.

@sarac: I saw this on kellymom

"Clinical observations suggest that Clomid (Clomiphene) is compatible with breastfeeding.2 And there is no reason to expect that breastfeeding would affect your fertility treatment because the drugs will control your cycle.3"
sources: 2. Hale, Thomas, MD, personal communication 2002.
McNeilly, Alan, PhD, personal communication, 2002. 3. McNeilly is the world’s leading researcher on the return of fertility during lactation.

@runsyellowlites: Thank you for that. My issue is a little more about respecting my own body. On the one hand, breastfeeding is known to delay fertility, and I feel like I'm disrespecting my body by chemically overriding that. I also don't want to unnaturally end my breastfeeding relationship, because it's especially meaningful to me.

And yet, I want another child, and I don't want to wait three or for years for it. I'd like my children to be close, and I worry that if they're four or five years apart, it'll be harder for that to happen. I'm also still in the thick of the baby and toddler years, and the further away from newborn I get, the less willing I am to do it again. I worry that if it takes a few more years, and life with Beatrix gets really fun and way easier, I'll be far less likely to want to return to diapers and too little sleep and being touched out.

No idea how to deal with all this. I think we're going to go from NTNP to actually trying, and hope that works. But I really have a feeling it's going to be all or nothing when it comes to breastfeeding and fertility, for me.

@sarac: of course it's an intensely personal decision - but just wanted to give you two things that maybe will make you feel better! I got my period for the first time 7 weeks PP, and have had it regularly (every 28-30 days) since. My LO is 3 months old. It hasn't affected my supply in the slightest, but I could be a rare case! So I don't think it's necessarily that breastfeeding blocks fertility, because I have a successful BF relationship right now (no pumping, either) and have a regular cycle (which I'm honestly bummed about!! haha).

& My brother and I are 4.5 years apart and while we fought growing up (though in all likelihood we would have no matter what age difference), we are very close now. We don't talk details like I might with a sister, but we are very good friends!