Post partum periods..irregularity...

  I had a baby in July. I had a menstrual cycle in April. Then 42 days later I had one. Now here it is 44 days later again and still no cycle. I am sexually active though for the most part I am protected. I am a breastfeeding mother, and i know this isn't a reliable form of birth control, but could it mess up the regularity of my cycle?
Dear Julie:
Follow delivery, most women have an interval of anovulation. Ovulation is the pendulum that sets the rhythm of the biologic clock and without ovulation, menstrual cycles are irregular.
Breast feeding impairs the return of ovulation: women who only breast feed (no supplementation) may be completely without periods for many months.
Breast feeding interval is NOT reliable contraception: it is best to use a barrier method of birth control (One can use pills, injections, IUDs).
Women who had menstrual irregularity before pregnancy resume a similar pattern after pregnancy.
This material is provided for general information and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.