"personal" question?

Firstly, as far as periods returning go, sorry, but there doesn't seem to be any rule-of-thumb to go by. Breastfeeding works as a contraceptive in about 30% of women, so a pregnancy test if you're not sure is probably a good idea. If you are feeling all sorts of strange niggles, it could be pregnancy, or it could be your menstral cycle starting up again. Its quite common for periods, once they return, to be really light for breastfeeding mums.

I've no experience on your second concern, so I can't really comment, but maybe you should talk to your doctor or a nurse to see how long healing should take. That's my 2 cents worth, take it or leave it, I don't mind. Personally, I've just recovered from pelvic inflammation which my GP told me is very common following vaginal childbirth. He gave me a course of antibiotics to treat the inflammation, and they worked fine. While I had this pelvic inflammation, sex was quite painful for me too, and I also had random stabbing pains across my lower abdomen.

Thirdly, my sex drive took a while to return as well. I noticed that by the end of the day I was really "touched out", from tending to Josiah and making sure Kiya wasn't missing out either. When Nathaniel then wanted my attention it was the last thing I wanted to do! I just went slow, and told myself that by giving to him sexually I would benefit too.

It seems that the more us women get, the more we want. So the best way for us to increase our sex drive is to have lots of sex! I made sure Nathaniel took it one day at a time, but we've managed to go from once a fortnight to 5 times a week at the moment. It hurt me at first as well, and still does occasionally if Nathaniel is a little more eager than I'm ready for, but lots of lube helps. Again, talk to a health professional to find out if its a symptom of something more serious.

Sorry about the novel, Annie, but I hope something I've rambled on about helps!

yeah as for the periods while b/f i got my periods back about a year after having the boys - b/f for 14mths. was taking the mim pill but lost the plot with it in the end so was on no contaception while bf. must admit tho did do the odd preg test to make sure. i know someone who b/f for 18mths and got her periods back pretty much the week she stopped bf.

as for the painful sex - go to the doc as i feel if you are experiencing the pain it will put you off wanting to have sex all together - well for me it would

as for the sex drive take it slow and get him to pamper you - you know what dr phil says about sex for woman being a mental state not a physical like men - hope that makes sense.

i never got another period.....there is a funny post...well, funny looking back, with me asking how long it took for people's periods to come back....then another post with me discovering I was pregnant again 4 MONTHS!!!! So i would do a test, just to rule out pregnancy. you can always go to the doctor if you are worried.

I agree that you should definitely go to the doctor. Like Becca said, pelvic inflammation is fairly common after a vaginal delivery, but if not checked out properly it can cause scarring and fertility problems later on.

In saying that, it was months before Willie and I resumed 'relations' after Maya was born, but that was mostly unresolved emotional issues, and when we eventually did get there it wasn't too painful.

Re. the periods, I fully breastfed and mine started again at about 4 mths, but I know women who have had no periods in between pregnancies (hehe Lizzle!) so it is really a random and personal thing. You could talk to your doctor about that too maybe while you're there.

I fully breastfed Quinn for six months and then only got my period after he started on solids!! But I think it is all so individual, I wouldn't worry but do a testif it'll make you feel better...

And re the sex drive thing! I cannot be bothered and Quinn is now fifteen months!! I am so tired all the time and the only foreplay Andy and I indulge in is "can you be bothered?", and "nup, me either"... Another thing that is very individual but I think that there is so much stuff going on when little ones are just new(ish) and it takes a lot of effort!! I also reckon that the more you have the more you want!! (Is all of this too much info?)

Perhaps enough sharing for me...!!

Glad you got an answer!

That's fantastic (well not the fact that you have to have a minor op, but that you got some answers!)

Hope things improve soon

Kat... oooo so if I stop breastfeeding I'll be more energetic??? I can't wait... I'm just too lazy to stop Weaning is hard when your child is so attached to feeding.
I felt quite embarrassed yesterday when I realised that Hannah was kinda past the age where it is cute to breastfeed. She's so big she hangs off me. So I retired to the parents room and fed behind a curtain. Luckily the parents room was comfy and clean (and had a TV )

she's a big kid though
maybe han will wean herself like sophie? i'm not sure i can handle another 8 months