Trying for another baby while breastfeeding and periods have not returned

[PoppyPeaches]

hi!
I am 37 and have a beautiful baby boy who is 6m tomorrow! He is exclusively breastfed and my periods haven’t returned yet. As it took 18m to conceive him, and we are keen to try for a sibling, I am worried about leaving it too long as I am fully aware it may take a while, or not happen at all, but I want to give it the best go.
I really don’t want to give up breastfeeding yet though! I know it is possible to get pregnant whilst breastfeeding and before your period returns, however what are my chances of this? I gather the breastfeeding hormones technically stop ovulation but it’s not fail safe, so I wondered if I reduced breastfeeding but didn’t stop (say at 9m when we want to start properly trying) would that make it more likely? I always thought I’d start weaning off BF at around 6m but now it’s here I don’t want to, and my little man loves it so much so I also have guilt about stopping to try for another baby rather then because he’s ready.

Does anyone have any advice or experiences around this?

thanks so much!

It is possible to get pregnant before your periods return but you may have more success if you wait. It also would make dating the pregnancy easier if you wait until your periods come back. You might not have long to go. He’s only 6 months old. Periods often come back when the baby starts eating more solid food. Mine came back when my son was 10 months old. I didn’t have to stop breastfeeding to have another baby. I still breastfeed him now and his little sister is 4 months old.

My periods came back at 7 months! I have 2 friends whose periods also came back at that point too, all breastfeeding

Mine came back at 6 months and regular since, and I'm still BF at 22 months - I only stopped feeding on demand when she was about 14 months. Once he starts food you might find he reduces BF, or you can more comfortably reduce over the 6-12 month period as he gets more calories from food. Although this absolutely did not happen for me... We're not having a 2nd tho.

My periods came back at 16 months with my first and at almost 2 years with the second and third. I was still breastfeeding with all of them. I was still breastfeeding when I got pregnant with my second

If you could drop or reduce the night feeds your body could adapt faster.

I am 6 m pregnant w dc2 and dc1 about to turn 2.

I had period like bleeding every 6 months after dc1 was born. I am still "breastfeeding" (mostly for comfort I guess, no way to measure what comes out, as breast is very dry and painful probably due to pregnancy hormones).

Most people i know had af return after they night weaned or if they didn’t night wean it was after 1. Mine didn’t come back until 16 months but my baby (toddler!) was feeding round the clock still at that point. I think once you start weaning there’s a chance it’ll come back since you will be feeding less in theory. Could you start doing OPKs now to see if you’re ovulating?