Period Question - Pittsburgh,PA

Hey!! I dont think I am going to be much help but I wanted to say that I am in the same boat!! My daughter will be 5 months on the 18th- she is still breast feeding- but also eats cereal once a day. I havent officially had a period but every now and then have some very light spotting. There is no regularity to it so I dont know if this counts or what? I would really like to know because I dont want to get pregnant!! I dont think there is anyway to bring on a period except to stop breastfeeding all together. The pill might bring it on, as well. I guess I am no help!! Sorry! But I would be interested in what you find out.

I breastfed my daughter (who is 18 months now) for 9 months...she stopped on her own. I got my first period probably about a month after she stopped. No, I don't think there is a way to make it start. That question made me laugh because I can't imagine WANTING to get my period! LOL! Everything is fine. I wouldn't stress about it too much.

My friend had her 2nd child 9 months ago, and she was breast feeding..she just got her period 2 weeks ago for the first time.

Like others have said, it's different for everybody. It depends on a lot of things. If you are still breastfeeding, even if you have decreased the amount, I wouldn't worry about not having your period yet.

I didn't get mine until my daughter was 2 years old (still breastfeeding)

You are right on point. Breastfeeding delays return of a woman's menstruation. My wife breastfed our daughter for four years. Her mestrual period returned thirteen months after birth. As breastfeeding declines, the likelihood of menstruation returning increases. Enjoy the absence while you can. Completely normal. Dave

My son is 15-months and I am still b/f, but I got my period at 7 months. I have a friend who is still b/f her 16-mo. old and she didn't get hers back until 13 months, so everyone is different. why do you want it back, are you TTC?
If you stop b/f there is a greater chance it will return sooner, but I hope you won't stop yet as you are doing a great thing for your son and saving $ on formula, too!

You probably won't get your period untill after you stop breastfeeding. And it could be several months after. But be careful unless you want to get pregnant. You are very fertile and the wives tale is you can't get pregnant while you are breastfeeding. Enjoy your time with out it. We miss it when we don't get it and hate it when we have it.

My Son is also 5 mnths old and I am nursing. I got my 1st period when he was 3 months old. I didnt change the feedings . I think everyone is different. I nursed my daughter and I got my period 6 weeks after she was born and got it regularly there after.

I dont know of any ways to make it start . Enjoy it while you can.. Even though its a pain not knowing if and when it will come.

L.

Here is an excerpt from a book by Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, (THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING).... anyway this is what she says.....There's a great deal of variability among women. One woman may have one "sterile" menstrual period before ovulation begins; that is, she may begin to menstruate but not yet be able to conceive. Another is fertile with her first menstrual period after childbirth. Some women don't begin to ovulate and menstruate for several months after their babies are completely weaned from the breast. Others ovulate even while they're fully lactating and before their menses resume.
So while you are less likely to conceive when your baby is totally breastfed, you might become pregnant. Since it's impossible to tell when any particular woman will begin to ovulate, if you want to be sure to space your children you will want to use some kind of contraception. (Birth control for nursing mothers is discussed in Chapter 13.)"
well hope that helped!!

Hi M.,
I had my baby in Janurary and did not get my period back until September. I loved not having it for that long. I also breastfed and started feeding baby food when she was of age. I continue to breast feed but it's less now.

I've had two children and with both my period didn't come back until a month AFTER I stopped breastfeeding. So at least in my opinion you have nothing to worry about and it'll come eventually! Good luck with your new little one!

Breastfeeding definately can prevent your period from returning. Everybody is different, but generally if you are nursing exclusively, the baby is younger than 6 months and not using bottles or pacifiers then you will not ovulate, so will not get a period. If you have decreased the frequency of breastfeeding recently, you will probably have a period soon. But there is no way to know for sure. I would not worry about it until you have completely stopped nursing for a month and still dont have a period. Even the smallest amount of nursing may prevent ovulation.

I didnt get a period while i was breastfeeding either....but if it helps I also posted a request,"Menstrual issues and preg"...I have responses on there you might like to see....Also, every woman is so different....If in a few months you dont get your period, I would call OBGYN...dont be so concerened with it though....the more stressed you are the less likely you will get your period...

Breastfeeding definitely does keep away the period for most women (unfortunately not all), but does not necessarily prevent ovulation - meaning you can still get pregnant even if you haven't seen a period yet. World Health Organization says its generally at least six months, but I've seen it really vary, especially based on how often you are nursing. I actually used a supplement to help inprove milk supply and between the two, my period didn't return for about 18 months. Good information at http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html.

A.

P.S. That site also has some good information on nursing distracted babies (which may explain the reduction in breastfeeding lately). http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/distractible-baby.html

M.,

Hello! Everyone is different where the onset of menses is concerned. For instance, I nursed all 4 of my children for atleast 8 months and my period always began when they were 6 months old. My sister-in-law never had a break from her period. Although she nursed both of my nephews for a year, she always began her period when they were a month. I have heard that some women wont' begin their periods until they are completely done nursing. The only thing I can think of that may get your periods to begin again is to take the 'mini-pill'.

Good luck to you!

B.

M.,

It's not an old wives tale. It's actually concerned a legitimate form of birth control (called lactational amenorrhea) when you breastfeed often. It affects different women different ways, however. I breastfed my first child for 15 months. I started cutting out feedings around 11 or 12 months but didn't get a period. I actually got pregnant again when he was 13 months, so I never got a period! (If I hadn't gotten pregnant, I would have had a period that month, obviously.
I've heard some women actually vary from one child to the next. One woman told me she didn't get her period back for a long time with the first child, but got it within a couple months with the second child.
If you haven't had your period yet, I wouldn't worry about it. I loved having a break myself. If you've completely stopped nursing and you still don't get a period for several months, you could check with your doctor, but if I were you I would enjoy this time while I could. Good luck.

Congrats on your new addition! It all depends on your body. I have been breastfeeding my son for 8.5 months and still do not have my period. I have friends who run the spectrum (all breastfeeding) from getting their periods the first month to when they started to wean. It really just depends on what your body is ready for. I have heard from them though that they all seem to say that the cramps are worse and the flow is heavier than it used to be...so I wouldn't wish for it! Just be happy for this time without the mess/discomfort!

Hi M.,
It's not just an old wivestale. With Pat I breastfed for 15 months and got my first period after the first ten months, which was about when he had really decreased his consumption. With Zach, he is eleven months old and I just got my first period this week. He is still breastfeeding but only four times a day with only two of those being long feedings. The other two are like quick snacks. I've also had friends that got their periods right away (one at three months and one at five) even if they are breast feeding, so I think it just depends on your body. I have to agree with one of the other posters, why would you want it back? I was so bummed this week. Hope this helps and have a good day.
D. C.

Hi M.!
I wish I could have that issue. I have a 7 month old son who I only breastfed and I have gotten my period (4/13) exactly one month to the day of my son's delivery (3/13)and every month to this day. My doctor didn't seem to worry about it. When my friend completely stopped breastfeeding, her period returned. I would just wait till you stop completely and if you don't get it within a month, contact your doctor. Take care.

Still nursing my 14 month old once or twice a day. I didn't get my first period until 2 months ago - THIRTEEN months postpartem. For my first two I started again after about nine months.

On the other hand, my girlfriend got hers three months postpartem for both of hers. Just depends on the person, I guess.

Good luck!

My period returned after 5 mos. with my first, and @ 3 mos. w/ my second. With the first one, it was light, short and pain free. Unfortunately, after the second it's heavy, long and painful but I'm not willing to have another just to see what happens! HAHA! I wouldn't worry too much right now, just enjoy NOT having one. And yes, the wives tale is true, but I had a sister-in-law who got pregnant again while breastfeeding w/ no period! So be careful if your not planning on another right away! K.

Hi M.,
My son is 16 mths old and I still breastfeed. I've just gotten my period last month for the first time since I've gotten pregnant. It's no old wise tale. It's true.

When I had my son, they told me that breastfeeding can keep you from having a period for a year or even more depending on how long you breastfeed and how often. It, also, varies by each person. Some of the women in the La Leche group that I attended didn't have their period for up to 18 months. But most had them back by the time the baby was a year old. Usually once the baby started to eat more food (more than just cereal) they would start. But you still have to be careful. Even though you are NOT menstruating during this period, it doesn't mean that you are not ovulating. Although it is unlikely that you would get pregnant during this time, it is still possible.

It can take awhile for your period to return, especially if you are still breastfeeding. Most people and including me did not get a period while breastfeeding. It was prob 4 mos after I stopped when I started getting a period again.

My question is why do you want it to start? I figure the longer without a period the better. :) I think there's no real answer to your question probably. Everyone is different. I nursed my boys until 18 months but my period began sooner than that. With my daugher my period didn't begin until several months after I quit nursing her at 14 months. And I have friends who had a period at 2 months while still nursing strong. Have you check out babycenter.com for any articles? I just found this one that talks about it in some detail. http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/babybreastfeed/2288...
Good luck!

well my doctor told me the same thing. I breasfed my daughter for about the same time as u did and my period took me about 1 to 2 months or so to return to normal. Give it time and it will eventually come. BUT then again if u did a lil somin somin with uru hubby then that's a different story and boy do I know about that as well cause it happened 2 me once and now I have 2 great boys a yr. apart.
well wish u all the best and good luck.

Hello, I just breastfed my son until he was 9 months, and I practiced Fertility Awareness before and after my pregnancy. From what I understand, the hormones in your body during breastfeeding CAN keep you from having a menstruation, not just your period, it can keep you from ovulating. But it's not true for every single woman. So you might not get your period again until well after you've stopped breastfeeding, or you might get it as soon as you start introducing foods and/or juice. If I remember accurately, after 56 days from your delivery or upon reducing breastfeeding by 15% because he's consuming something else. I got my first period at 100 days after delivery, and they were very long for the first few cycles. My son was about 4.5 months then. So you could speed up your chances of getting your period by introducing him to solids and/or juice to supplement his feedings. I've also heard that if you pump instead of putting him to the breast, your body doesn't respond the same way, so that might work also. But you're right, you can't count on anything. Hope this helps! Feel free to message me if I didn't make enough sense or you want to know more.

Have a wonderful day!