Period While Breastfeeding - Crestwood,KY

Hi Melanie,

I had normal periods the whole time I breastfed both of my boys. The doctor said it was normal....that's juts the way it works sometimes.

Good luck!!

Yep. I got mine with my son at exactly 12 weeks (happened to be the day I went back to work)after delivering him. Despite exclusively breast feeding. Sorry hun. Assume you are fertile too. I got pregnant despite breastfeeding.

When I had my first baby, Mom told me I wouldn't be having periods because I was breastfeeding. Exactly 28 days after I stop bleeding from the birth, I got my period. The only time I didn't get periods was when I was pregnant.

I got my period back while I was still nursing my daughter (and she was still waking in the middle of the night to nurse, as well). She was 8 months old when I got my period again, and I nursed her until she was 13 months old (when she self-weaned). My periods were crazy and irregular for a long time, too!

Hi Melanie,
I started when my son was 6 weeks. I had an oversupply problem that I was trying to get all sorted out. For me, the slightest change in supply triggered my cycle. Has your baby started going for longer stretches between nursings? This might be why, and your body might be sensitive to the adjustment.

I'm pregnant with my third and I breastfed both of my boys for almost a year each and never skipped a period (after the initial 6 week healing process, that is) every month like clockwork with both of them. I talked to a nurse about it and she said it's hit or miss, most don't have a period but some do and it's OK. :)

I know you hear about how you're not supposed to get it back until after you've stopped breastfeeding, but honestly, most people I know have gotten theirs back while breastfeeding. I was still bfing when I got mine back as well. I'd say it's pretty normal, but keep in mind your cycle might not be quite as regular at first.

I know you have had a lot of responses,but its great to ease` the mind, especially when you're breastfeeding.I also have 3 children and it was different with each one. But with each child I started my period even though breasfeeding and fell pregnant with my thrid while breastfeeding my second. With my oldest I started my period after only 2 months, with the second it was at 8 months and with the third it was at 7 months. I am still breastfeeding the youngest at 12 months and the other 2 were also breastfed for an extended period of time. Other than the fact that it is a nuisance, its not a problem. Good luck and happy nursing, it truly is a wonderful thing!

I nursed all 3 of my children for over a year. My 1st period with my first child happened when she was 9 months it was very painful too. (She started really eating solids around that time.) However I didn't have another one until she was 12 months.

I Was a member of La Lache League (I'm not a good speller.) It was very helpful. I recommend it highly.

I have a question for you. Are you giving your baby a bottle of formula, feeding him cereal or giving him a pasfier? If you are not completely nursing your child you may have a period. Each nursing experience is different no matter how many children you have. So you may not be able to let this baby have anything but the breast.

My 3rd child mashed her mouth on a table at a fast food resturant while sitting in the booster chair that you pull up to the table. She was 7 months at the time. She went on a nursing strike because it hurt to suck. I expressed into a cup. She would drink it down and cry for more. About a week later my aunt noticed that she was acting very interested in her breast and encouraged me to try nursing her again. We went to my bedroom to try so it would be quiet and sure enough she latched on as if she had never quit.

Don't give up. Giving your child the best you can will never be so certain as now.

Grandmother who nursed all three of her children

I see you have lots of responses, and I haven't read them, but the same thing happened to me. In fact, I started when he was only 1 month old!! That's why they tell you not to rely on breastfeeding for birth control. It doesn't work!

Hi Melanie~
I BF for a year and got my period when my baby turned 6 months. Yes it is normal to get your period during BF. There is really nothing to do for it. If you need relief I think you can only take Tylenol. My friend got her period a month after she delivered and was BF. Every one is different.
P.

I see you have many responses and apparently this is very common, I was hoping not to have a period when I breastfed,but unfortunately I stayed right on schedule and "Aunt Flo" returned after the first month. Good Luck no worries, just PMS. lol

yes, unfortunately. I have breastfed both of my children and got my period from month 2 onward with both of them. I am only breastfeeding my 5 month old, no formula, and still get my period every month, but is hard because my milk gets low at that time of the month and the baby is cranky and I have to supplement some during that time. I know people say that they don't get their period while nursing, but I wasn't that lucky!

I had a period when I was breast feeding too. It's normal, but just remember to use protection if you have sex, cause you can get pregnant real easy! (I did)

The same thing happened with me. My first two children were close in age and I didn't have a period while I nursed them. Yeah! Then my third was years later and I had a period every month like clock work and heavy enough to call the doctors office and the nurse said oh, its just your body saying its time - I didn't like that answer - I wanted NO periods while I nursed however I wasn't a lucky one on the third time around either! Good Luck with your new little one.

It happened to me at about the same time range as your experiencing. I even had another mother tell me I wasn't having a period! Duh. Like I didn't know a period after 30 years of having them. :) Although MOST women don't have them while nursing, there are always exceptions to every rule, and apparently you and I are exceptions.

I got my period at 6 weeks postpartum w/my first and 4 weeks pp w/my 2nd, and I exclusively bf until they were 6 month old. I'm thinking it may possibly have something to do with weight -- I am overweight, and gained more w/my 2nd than w/my first, although I started both pregnancies at the same weight. This *might* have something to do with why you've started with this one and not the other. One of my SILs who is fairly thin didn't have a period for several months, even after she was no longer exclusively breastfeeding.

Btw, I take calcium for menstrual cramps -- works like a charm!

Melanie, YES, It happens MORE of the time than not.
With my first one who is now 19 I got it right away after my 6 wk check up and I BF for 14 months.... fast forward I also BF my now 5 yr DD for 24 months and didn't have it for 4 months and then my cycle returned....

I nursed our 4 (now grown) children for at least a year each, and I always got my 'friend' back 4 weeks after the first 6 weeks of after-birth discharge. I kind of envied you gals who got by without having it (from reading in baby magazines), but 'it happens', like Forrest Gump said! LOL

After each delivery my after-pains AND my periods were stronger/heavier than ever before for a while (after-pains were way worse than the labor had been for just a few days, but they left me with a sore abdomen!) Oh, the price we pay to have kids, but what pay-backs! Our 4 kids all love the Lord, and there's no bigger blessing than to have your own kids now praying for (and sometimes 'mentoring') YOU!

God bless!

Yup! My daughter is 7 months old and exclusively breastfed...my period came back after three months! Unfortunate...but it happens. My milk supply gets a little low, but I do not have to supplement at all. I've heard it makes the flavor of your milk change a little...some babies notice it and others don't... I've noticed my nipples get a little tender right before I start also... Anyway...you are not alone!

Oh me too! I had my 3rd child in April and am nursing as well. This did not happen while I was nursing my other two either. It happens. :(

I nursed all my children but always got my period within two months. I was disappointed. All of my children were very good sleepers. I have heard that once you are consistently getting six hours sleep your period comes back. I am not sure if that is a myth or true.

Best of luck,
A.

I nursed both of my children and I had a regular period during the entire time. I only nursed for about 6 months each but I did have a regular period. Maybe you just got "lucky" with the other 2 or maybe I am the abnormal one...lol

yeah - that stinks... With my first child I didn't get my cycle back until 6 months after starting solids. My second child it came back after three months and came back weird... I'd always had 37 day cycles and they were fairly light and cramp free (though my husband will attest to serious PMS moodiness). Now, two years later they are still heavier (change super-plus every hour and 1/2 or two for three days), longer (went from 4 days to 6), crampier, moodier, and more frequent (every 28 days). Totally stinks and I'm considering having a procedure to fix it. Every pregnancy, birth, and nursing situation changes your body in different ways... This is why the doctors always remind you that nursing is not a method of birth control. Not fair.

I breastfed all three of mine for a year. With my first, I started my period at six or seven weeks. The other two weren't quite that early, but they were still within six months of giving birth. Don't worry - it IS normal! :-)

i breast fed my first one and was on the single hormone pill they give you and had mine like every 2 weeks although it wasnt as bad as the once a month one i still had it and i think i started it within the first few weeks

I was told it would be a year b4 mine returned. My baby is 3 1/2 months now and I've been breast feeding full-time.
3 weeks ago he started sleeping 8-10 hours straight each night and I started working 5 hours a day (pumping at work).
My period returned this week and I was not expecting that at all.

My period started after seven months and I am still breastfeeding at eleven months. Happened about the same with both of mine.

Hi Melanie,

My period returned around when my third child was 9 months old. With my first two it wasn't until sometime after they were a year old that it returned. I do believe my daughter showing an interest in table foods earlier, that her night-time nursing routine had changed and the fact that I didn't nap regularly(like I did with the first two) were the reason it returned sooner. As soon as she wasn't exclusively breast fed and drinking less my body just knew.

Starting solids surely wouldn't be your case but have you been supplementing or unable to nap regularly. I'm sorry your period has started back already. I know for me that's one of the perks about breastfeeding.

Congratulations on the birth of your son!

Peace,
J.

Oh yes. It's a big myth that you can't start your period or get pregnant while nursing, although I think it does delay the possibility of getting pregnant for awhile. I started my period @ 6mos with my first and 4 mos with my second. I got pregnant the next month after I stopped nursing my first. So fear not, although it's not fun, it is normal.