Luteal Phase Experiences

With trying to conceive # 2 & # 3…

The later postpartum menstrual comes, 

the longer the luteal phase

With trying to conceive my second child while breastfeeding I allowed my menstrual cycle to return naturally at 17 months postpartum, only being affected by the breastfeeding. Since I was still learning how to chart when my first postpartum menstrual came when trying to conceive my second child, my first two fertility charts are not very reliable, although they say luteal phase of 8 through the OPK setting on Fertility Friend. However, my third and fourth fertility chart is a little more reliable and my luteal phase was mostly a 9 throughout my 9 menstrual periods / 6 cycles trying. Here is my chart from trying to conceive my second.

Below is an example of how my luteal phase changed when I was trying to conceive my 2nd.

Month	Postpartum Period	Cycle #	Length of Days	Luteal Phase #	Ovulation Day	B6 Vitamins
April 2012	Period 1	Cycle 1	36 Days	8	Cycle day 28	No
May 2012	Period 2	Cycle 2	32 Days	8	Cycle day 24	No
June 2012	Period 3	Cycle 3	28 Days	9	Cycle day 19	No
July 2012	Period 4	Cycle 4	30 Days	9	Cycle day 21	Yes
Aug 2012	Period 5	Cycle 5	28 Days	9	Cycle day 19	Yes
Sept 2012	Period 6	break	31 Days	9	Cycle day 22	Yes
Oct 2012	Period 7	break	29 Days	No Ovulation	No ovulation	Yes
Nov 2012	Period 8	break	32 Days	10	Cycle day 22	Yes
Dec 2012	Period 9	Cycle 6	Pregnant!	12 DPO/ HPT + on cycle day 28	Cycle day 16	Yes

With trying to conceive my third, I took some vitex, a supplement, which I believed helped bring my postpartum menstrual back three days shy of 11 months postpartum.  My first fertility chart revealed no ovulation and my second fertility chart revealed ovulation with a luteal phase of 5. That seemed really short to me and I wondered if it was a result from my postpartum menstrual coming earlier with the help of supplements.