Embarrassing Question...

Updated on November 10, 2006
E.H. asks from Urbandale, IA
19 answers

Well, my first question might as well be an awkward one! I'm breastfeeding my son, who's 7 months old, and up until now, I haven't had my period. I just started it two days ago, and it is the heaviest period I have ever had! Is this normal? It's just a little alarming how heavy the flow is, and it really hasn't slowed down in 2 days. Any feedback would be great!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks to all of the responses! Things are much better now, I think I was just dealing with the initial shock of it all...you know, our bodies have to go through so much, it was a nice perk not having my period for awhile! All well, all good things must come to an end!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Sioux City on

my first period after my baby was rather heavy and clotty. they said it was normal, but she put me on birth control and had me triple up one day double up the next and then regular after that. so yes I guess it is but I would talk to the doc. if it gets to out of hand. even too uncomftorable because they should be able to help control it. good luck, that sounds horrible. Chris

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.S.

answers from Des Moines on

Hi E.! I'm H.. I had the same thing after I stopped breastfeeding my daughter. I don't mean to give TMI but my 1st period went on for 10 days & it was the heaviest I had ever had. Hang in there! My one after that was back to normal.
Have a good week!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from South Bend on

Hi E.,
I know exactly what you are going through. With my first child I used formula after only a couple weeks of breastfeeding, I had severe depression with her. This past time with my son I have been breastfeeding and I just had my first period at 11 months(sons age). It too was very heavy, I was soaking a pad every ten minutes or everytime I stood up. I ended up in the ER with it and they put me on Birth Control pills, actually they had just started me on them a couple weeks before, I have history of ovarian cysts and was diagnosed with them again. Anyhoo, they told me to take 2 pills a day, one in the morning and one at night. Now of course talk to your doctor first, but after a couple days the bleeding completely stopped. Now a month later I had my second period and it seemed heavy, I just started my regular pills instead of taking the last two sugar pills and my period lasted 4 days. So, it is somewhat normal. Call the Dr.'s office and ask to talk to a nurse about it. They will either talk to the doctor for you have you come in to make sure there is nothing serious behind the bleeding. Hope this helps and if you have anymore questions about anything let me know. Sincerely, K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Omaha on

Yeah it is Normal. That your period is Heavy.I can get that way sometime. Mine is heavy sometime too and I have two kids one is almost two yrs old and my second one is 3 months old so.
It does get crappy at times so just hang in there just try to lay down much as u can whenever ur baby is sleeping it kinda helps the Period quite a bit. and as long u aint Getting huge Mucus.*the blood* that hospital always tell u after birth you should be fine

nothing to worry about

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

YES, this is normal. I had the same thing with my second one and was very alarmed. However, my mother and later my dr. agreed that sometimes your period takes a while to get back to "normal" after having a baby. One thing to remember, though, just because you aren't having a period while you are breastfeeding, you can still get pregnant! Your body is ovulating, it's just not producing all the other stuff to actually actually create the flow. My first one was like yours....very heavy and I couldn't go anywhere! But, after a few more, it did become a bit more normal. I would suggest that you do sort of keep a diary, though in case it doesn't and your flow still remains heavy. That's what the dr. will ask you to do if you have any regularities anyway.

Hope this helps and congratulations on being a new mom!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Charleston on

I had the same experience but it occured at about 3 months after I had my daughter. The Dr said that it was perfectly normal and my grandmother (grandmas always have an explanation) said that while breastfeeding she always had her period. I read an article that said you can begin having a normal mentraul cycle after 6 months of breastfeeding. Also if you were on any form of hormonal birth control before getting pregnant, your periods might be worse because they are not being regulated. Hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.

answers from Omaha on

That's not embarrassing at all! I didnt get my period again until my youngest was 9 months. I was breastfeeding (and still am at 16 months!) and it was VERY heavy-so were the next few cycles. As my doctor assured me (because I never had that with my first) than every body and every pregnancy varies. I would expect that your next few will be heavy but they will get back to normal.
Yay for breastfeeding!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.H.

answers from South Bend on

I'll tell you the same thing my sister told me when I asked this question. You're a woman now! As pleasant as it sounds... This is normal. You're body has been pent up for a long time so it has to clean itself out. I thought I was going to bleed to death! If it doesn't slow down by the fourth or fifth day you may want to contact your physician, but I think you'll be fine.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

This is normal, just be glad you made it to 7 mo. I started my period right away--even while I was breastfeeding.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.L.

answers from Terre Haute on

Yes, very normal. It kind of builds up. Even though others will say no. But the long u go with out the heavier it is. Mine lasted almost 10 days the first time!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Wheeling on

THAT IS SOOOO NORMAL!!!!! IT WILL LAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE...EVERYONES DIFFERENT BUT PROBABLY 6 MONTHS. IF YOU SEEM TO BLEEDING TOO MUCH AND NOT JUST MORE THAN USUAL THEN YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT SO HE CAN ATLEAST CHECK FOR ANEMIA. I HOPE YOU BEGIN TO FEEL BETTER.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Charleston on

YES COMPLETELY NORMAL. BREASTFEEDING SURPRESSES YOUR PERIOD SO NATURALLY IT IS GOING TO HEAVY TO "CLEAN OUT" THE OLD. ALSO SINCE YOUR CHILD IS 7 MONTHS OLD, CHANCES ARE YOU ARE FEEDING HIM SOME CEREAL AND SOLIDS SO HE MAY NOT NURSE AS MUCH WHICH IS WHY YOUR MENES HAS CAME BACK. DON'T WORRY CHANCES ARE THE NEXT ONE WON'T BE AS BAD. BUT IF YOU ARE SATURATING 2 PADS AN HOUR CALL THE DOCTOR!! THIS PERIOD ALSO MAY BE LONGER THEN WHAT THEY USUALLY ARE. ANYWAY THIS IS NOT MY BUSINESS, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT WANTING ANOTHER CHILD YET AND ARE NOT YET ON BC OF ANY SORT YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO THE GYN TO GET SOMETHING. DON'T KNOW YOUR PERFENCE, BUT IF THE "PILL" THERE IS ONE CALLED MICRONOR THAT IS COMPLETELY SAFE TO USE WHILE BREASTFEEDING. I TOOK IT MYSELF AND IT WORKED I HAD NO UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES. NOW SINCE YOUR MENSES ARE BACK, YOU ARE ABLE TO BECOME PREGNANT. SORRY IF THAT OFFENDED YOU OR STEPPED ON YOUR TOES. I HAVE FOUR KIDS MYSELF ALL PLANNED AND LOVE EVERY MINUTE I HAVE WITH MINE. IT WAS JUST A FRIEND OF MINE THOUGHT THAT SINCE SHE WAS STILL BREATFEEDING SHE COULDN'T GET PREGNANT AND WAS PROVED WRONG. NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE WASN'T READY, BUT IN THE END DONE WELL WITH HAVING THE SECOND.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Charleston on

Hi E., I Still Bf my son who is 19mts old and when I first got my period back after 11mts it was heavier than before, but by the next one it was almost back to what it use to be as light and only 3 days. So if you are not have hugh clots or excessive bleeding don't worry your body is just getting re-adjusted to the hormone change.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

OMG so not looking forward to that. I am still nursing at 16 months and have not had a period yet. Dr. prescribed provera to jump start it but it did nothing but make me crabby...

And just so you know, we're all flubbing through parenting! Or rather, flying by the seat of our pants :) You're not over reacting. Just wait until he has a few more months on him and all of a sudden becomes a monkey! ;)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.J.

answers from Omaha on

That was the case for me both times. I think it's just your body getting back into the swing of it all. Hormones are a crazy thing. ;)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Lincoln on

That wasn't too embarrassing...I was thinking way worse, haha! My first cycle was very heavy and lasted for a little over a month. Then the next one was still heavy, but much shorter. It gets better, promise! Congrats! I wish I would have been able to breastfeed as long as you have!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

It's not abnormal at all. After I weaned my daughter at about 6 months, I had a very heavy flow for several weeks. I kinda freaked out a bit about it. My doctor reminded me that it had been 6 months since I had a period and all that blood has kind of built up. Not to be gross, but that has to go somewhere. Best of luck! :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.

answers from Omaha on

E.,

I had the exact same experience. Nothing for seven months, then lots!! It eased after 4 days for me, but I've never experienced anything like it pre-baby (also my first, and also a boy.)I have had two periods since then, both far more like my pre-pregnancy cycle, except for further apart.

I was also a little freaked out, so I hope this helps. Of course, if you're really worried about it, just call your dr.

K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.

answers from Indianapolis on

Things are okay. I too was breastfeeding and at 3 months after giving birth my cycle arrived. Nobody every told me that once your period comes back that it comes back with avengeance. Things will overtime get back to normal. K.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches