Early Postpartum Period means Shorter Luteal Phase

There may be a correlation, that the earlier the postpartum menstrual the shorter the Luteal Phase, and the later postpartum menstrual, the longer the luteal phase. But longer doesn't necessarily mean you will get a normal length luteal phase that is 10-16. It might just mean you will be closer to having the minimum number for a luteal phase, so 8-9 instead of 4-5. And every woman is different. Some women may find the opposite to be true.

When I had my first, my postpartum menstrual returned at 17 months postpartum. My luteal phase started possibly around 8, but my third cycle started at 9.  With my 2nd, it came 3 days before 11 months postpartum. That is almost 6 months earlier.  My Luteal Phase started around 4-5 days.  Below are my charts that showed how my luteal phase changes.

• Breastfeeding 1st, TTC # 2

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

• Breastfeeding 2nd, TTC # 3

Month	Cycle	Length	Ovulation	Luteal Phase
June – July 2014	Pre PPAF	48 days	None	None
Aug 2014	1	39 days	None	None
Sept 2014	2	37 days	Cycle day 32	5
Oct 2014	3	32 days	None	None
Nov 2014	4	37 days	None	None
Dec 2014	5	31 days	Cycle 27	4
Jan 2015	6
Feb 2015	7
Mar 2015	8
Apr 2015	9
May 2015	10