Can You Still Get Your Period If You Are Breastfeeding?

yes, i did...and I was preg with baby # 2 when my first was 6 months old...so, be careful if you want to wait to have the next one. :)
S.

I've been told it varies pretty dramatically... Five months is about when mine started after my daughter, and I was also breastfeeding pretty exclusively.

Yes you can. I breastfed my daughter for 17 months, and I got mine back when she was 4 months old. The cycle was shorter than my normal cycle also. Some women do get their period back and some do not until they stop breastfeeding.

Hi A.,
This is a good question! I thought the same thing until I had my first daughter. I breast-fed her almost exclusively her first 4 months and still got my period after three months! With my second, I never gave her a bottle (wouldn't take one) and again, my period came back after three months. (I nursed both girls to past a year, but this didn't make a difference for me.) I guess it differs from mom to mom. I have friends who didn't get their periods back for a year. So, it is "normal" to have yours after only five months.
Rachael

yep got mine right away - 6 weeks after he was born and it comes every 28 days still and he is almost a year :)

yes you can, with both of my girls i breastfed and was all excited about not haveing a period and with both girls i got it.

Everyone is different. I started mine. I have a friend who never did when breastfeeding.

Sadly, that is about when I got my period back too (though still breastfeeding). It often starts with the introduction to solid foods, which begins the "weaning" process. Though you are still technically breastfeeding, you are not SOLELY breastfeeding. Sorry man!

Yes, in fact, out of all of my friends who had kids and were nursing (about 4 at the time) I was the odd man out becauase I didnt get my period until a few months after i stopped. i remember one girlfriend got it at 6 months about, the other at 7 and one at 10months. if you are concerned, of course call your OBGYN. they should be happy to answer that question for you.

Absolutely you can

\I started having periods 6 weeks after my daughter was born.. and 6 months after my son...

It is kind of a bummer.. a lot of women do not have periods while nursing..

WARNING-- if you are having periods.. you can get pregnant... I did...

A.,

Everyone's body is different. I too began mensing again at 5 months post-partum and was very surprised since I was full-on exclusively nursing my little girl. She's 19 months old now and she's still nursing, although I know that a day or two before my period begins my milk supply gets a little low for a day or two, (and I've heard that from other moms too) so be aware of that if you are pumping, pump a little extra to encourage a bigger supply. I also know women that have nursed for two years and didn't see a period until they began weaning. So yes it's completely normal. Good luck to you!

Dear A. S.,

I would say that it is normal because some ladies do get a period with a nursing infant and some don't. It all depends on how vigorously the baby nurses and your body's hormones I believe. LaLeche League would be able to tell you more about that and I think that if you typed in www. LaLacheLeague.com, you would find that specific question in the faq questions page.

Many women have even become pregnant while breastfeeding. I think that an IUD can be used while breastfeeding, but don't quote me. Talk to your doctor because I think the birth control pill might come through your milk to the baby.

Every woman's body is different so different things for different people.

L. C.

A. ~
Yes, you can get your period. And you can get pregnant even without your period, so don't think of breastfeeding as a form of birth control.
D. (L&D nurse)

It's a guessing game as to when you'll get it back. I nursed my daughter for a year and started having it again at about 5 1/2 months. Everyone is different, some get it right away others never get it.

Yes you can get your period and you can get pregnant when breastfeeding. I used the progesteron only birth control pills when breastfeeding and still had a period before I was done breastfeeding my daughter. It was about 10 months, though. Hope this helps.

Yep, you sure can. I got my first one when my now seven-month-old daughter was only about three-months old. She is still nursing, and it comes like clockwork every four weeks... completely normal.

A.,

YES..That is VERY normal. With my first I nursed for 12 months and got my period at 3 months. My second child I nursed for 12 months and got my period within a month. I always heard people who didn't get their periods for a year after birth. NOT THE CASE FOR ME. It's normal and totally fine!

WAY TO GO ON THE NURSING!!!

A.

You definitely can. Some people are so lucky that they don't get periods while they nurse, but I never was. I breastfed both my children for 12 months, but with both I started having periods between 5 and 6 months after delivery.

Yup, it's true, you can still get it :( I started mine after 9 months and I breastfed for 18 months with my 2nd daughter. I started after only 6 weeks with my first. Bummer.

Oh yes sweetie. Mine started 2 months after I had mine and breastfed for 12 months. Welcome to the Unfair and unlucky club of breastefeeding and periods.

Hi A.,
Yes, you can get your period when you are breastfeeding, and you can also get pregnant while breastfeeding too.
K.

Totally normal to get your period when breastfeeding. That's why you can also get pregnant while breastfeeding. Anything else is a myth. :)

Hi, A. - Yes, you can. My OB/GYN had told me with breastfeeding one could go up to about six months without getting a period. I breastfed my son for a year...and right about that six month marker, they did indeed start.

Hope this helps!

T.

I didn't get my period until my son was 8 months, but my sister got hers when her baby was only 3 months and we both nursed full time. It's different for everybody.

Yes, I got mine right away. I was "lucky"! It just means you have more estrogen in your body...which is good since your hair and skin will be in better condition typically than nursing mother's who aren't getting their cycle.

yes it's normal. i got mine when my dtr was about 4 months, and every month after like clockwork... i was so looking forward to not having mine, but of course i couldn't be so lucky...lol. also be very careful b/c you can get pregnant. i've seen soooooooooo many women come in the office and are pregnant at their 6 week check or shortly after, so use protection...

the cessation of menses due to bfing is called lactational amenorrhea and only happens reliably enough to be used as birth control (meaning you are really reliably infertile) if you are nursing every 2-3 hrs around the clock and not allowing the baby's suckling needs to be met in any other way. no pacis, no bottles, no formula, no water, no solids. if you can do this, you can rely on bfing as birth control as long as you do.

i had 5 in 7 yrs and tandem and triple nurse w/ all until they self-wean . but they all slept thru the night right from birth except the last one and i got my period back every time right after lochia ceased at about 4 wks ! even tho i was nursing 2 or 3 and they got absolutely nothing but my breast- not even a paci, ever. and then i had this last one and he did NOT sleep through the night and in fact *still* does not at 10 mos :-O
~ and i've only had about 3 periods in that 10 mos. it depends very largely on how often they nurse around the clock.

~www.myspace.com/mummaTOwldthings

Hello, I also have a 5 month old baby girl. I am currently breastfeeding and pumping with working. My menstral started six weeks after my daughter was born. I was confused and shocked. My doctor asked if I was sexually active (which could be a reason why) I'm not so she just explained that each woman is different. She also warned me to be carful though because you are very likely to concieve. Hope this helps!

You can still get your period if breastfeeding-it's based on how much you nurse, I guess. Once you start to slow down (usually baby is eating food, or you are supplementing formula) your period can come. I have 2 daughters, who I nursed until around 9 & 11 mos. I got my period a month or 2 prior to weaning them. Every body is different, but it doesn't mean anything is wrong with you. Continue to breastfeed, there shouldn't be any issue with that!! I remember what a bummer it was, both times, when I discovered my monthly 'treat' had returned. I was sort of devestated-seemed like my baby wasn't a baby anymore. It all works out. Good luck to you!!

i breastfed my daughter I didn't start my period until she was 11 months and breastfed her till 18 months. some people start couple months after, yesits normal, I was freaking cuz I didn't have mine for long time

Hi! Awesome that you are breastfeeding!!! I breastfed my 5 yr old, 3 yr old, and 14 month old until they were a year old. I had my period with all three of them. I think it usually started around 3 or 4 months. It wasn't as long or as heavy, but it was there. It was normal for me. Some women do, some don't, it just depends on your body. Good luck and again, awesome that you are still nursing!!!

Your body is more likely to delay the onset of menstruation if you're nursing at night - are you? Has your daughter slowed down nursing sessions due to an early introduction of solids? That could be why. Do you give your daughter any formula at all in place of a nursing session? Of course there could be no reason for it whatsoever if you're one of the "lucky ones", but those things I mentioned could also be the catalyst.

See this link for more information: http://www.llli.org/FAQ/fertility.html

Hi A. -

The same exact thing happened to me when I had my son (now 19 months). I was nursing exclusively and got my period back when he was 5 months old. As far as I know, that can happen!

although I don't think it is usual to happen this quickly, it can and does happen. that is why birth control measures are really important because you could get pregn. again soon too!

I can on right back on schedule after I had my son and i breastfed. It's ok

Everyone is different, but if your baby gets ANYTHING other than breastmilk even water or pacifer it could alter your milk production which will alter your hormones. It's nothing to worry about as long as you aren't thinking you can't get pregnant while your periods are absent.

Yes you can! I got mine back after 4 weeks when I was pumping with my first.

Adreinne,

Lucky you! I got mine after only 3 months. I have a friend who's still breastfeeding after 2 years and hers still isn't back to normal. I think it depends on the person.

H.

Yes, it has to do the the frequency of breastfeeding that puts out the hormones that repress menstruation. Usually they recommend a low dose contraceptive to feel "for sure" that you won't get pregnant again. This pill doesn't work well if you're not breastfeeding, and the reg dose pill interferes with milk production.

There is a formula of how often to breastfeed to keep menstruation at bay, but I honestly don't know what it is as its been some time since I was breastfeeding.

Yes, it's normal. I got mine every month while breastfeeding. Like everything else with a woman's body, everyone is one their own schedule.

Yes you can get it and it's totally normal. And you can get pregnant so be careful if you aren't ready for the next baby yet!

Absolutely! I understand that it usually takes longer to come back if you are breastfeeding, but it just varies for each woman. (Sorry you didn't get a longer break, though!):o)

One of the previous responses said you can get pregnant when your period starts again. However, I have a friend who got pregnant before she ever got her period after her first child (she breastfed, too). Breastfeeding is not effective birth control!!

I just got mine and I'm breastfeeding my 10 week old. I was surprised too.

Yes you can, everyone is different! My sister has had 4 babies & has gotten her period 6-8 weeks after each delivery. So frustrating! Especially since I have had 5 babies & my period started after I nursed each one. I nursed each one for a year (& then some). I even had an over 3 year break from my period b/c I was pregnant, nursing, pregnant again & nursing. (Yes, you can get pregnant while nursing- I did twice!!) Hope this helps.

yup, that is normal in some women. I got mine back right after the "birth bleeding" with my 1st and 2nd babes, and that was aweful, but it waited 6 months to come back w/ my 3rd. Also, breastfeeding isn't a good "birth control" especially if you are having periods... I found out about my 2nd when my 1st was only 6 months. So, watch your cycles if you aren't ready for another!

It is normal to have your period when you are nursing, usually when you start to give your baby other foods, and nurse less. Just because you had a period this month doesn't necessarily mean you will have one ever month either- with my first son, I nursed for 18 months, and had periods on and off after about 6 months. With my second, once I had a period, they just kept coming!! Good luck nursing! :)

Yep, its normal. My daughter was almost 7 months when I got mine. It just depends on your body and hormone levels.

Yes! Yes! Yes! and you can get pregnant too!!!!!!!

I was also surprised when I started my period even though I was breasfeeding and my daughter was only 3 1/2 months old. It would have been nice to go longer but at least I can go back to tracking my ovulation and know each month that I'm not pregnant again! :)

Hi, I also got my period when my son was only 4 months old and I was breastfeeding only. I guess it just happens to some of us 'unlucky' ones. My sister didn't get her period until her daughter was 15 months!