I experienced something similar with my last baby. I was EBF until she turned 1 and then stopped breastfeeding. I was having what I would describe as “phantom” periods for 4-5 months before my period came back. It was honestly like all the period symptoms without an actual period. I was putting a pad on all the time! I was sure it was coming. And for me, it didn’t happen until I weaned completely.
I had pain like the period once in a month since after birth and now 1 year and 2 months later I am having the beginning of my period with it
Could still be period, I had that on and off for weeks before my first period back, and for a week or 2 before my subsequent ones x