Expert: ruth kraft - 4/16/2009

Question
I am still breastfeeding my 15 month old son, and haven't had a postpartum period yet. For the past 4 months, I have been experiencing typical ovulation symptoms, including cramping and eggwhite-quality cervical mucous at approximately the same time each month. Last month it was followed by a very slight incidence of light pinkish/brown, then changing to brown spotting. I thought perhaps that it was a signal I would begin to ovulate (finally) this month. (note - my husband and I are ready and willing to conceive again:)

So this month I had an entire day of ovulation-type cramping, followed a few days later by 2 days of EWCM. My husband and I had sex twice during that period. The last day of EWCM was April 9. Today, April 16, I had some bright pink/light red discharge when I wiped several hours ago. Nothing more so far.

Do I count these as periods if they don't even get blood on a pad? I'd love to know what's going on!!

Thank you for your insight and expertise!

Answer
When your period will fully return is completely different with every person. So unfortunaly I have no miracle answer for you. you sound as though you know alot about mucous and when you are ovulating etc... have you been to ovusoft.com?  its really hard for me to say what is going on. the only thing I would say would be a guess as the only way to truly know is to do blood tests every day and see the differences. however, I would suggest for you to get a more clear photo IF you are ovulating or if your body is just getting ready to balance out hormons , and therefore creating a "chemical ovulation" like a "chemical pregnancy" where everything SEEMS like it is working and doing well but there isnt anything that really comes of it...  would be to take your temp every day and see if there are the spikes that normally also come with ovulation. it is very possible to ovulate without ever having a period and concieve. ( ask my son who was concieved when my daughter was 6 months old by this odd occourance )

of course truly the only way to know would be to get ultrasounds each day to see if you are ovulating. but thats a bit much for right now since you just started trying again.

it sounds like your body is working on getting balanced. how long that will take depends on your body. I wish I had concrete answers for you but working in the birth world, if there is one thig its taught me, is that every woman is different. no matter what any book says.

GOod luck!