Getting Period/fertility While Breastfeeding?

I just had my 4th child and was only able to breastfeed for 5 weeks. My other 3 I did breastfeed for 1 yr and did not get a period until a few months after discontinuing breastfeeding. My peroids were infequent for a little while. They say you are more fertile after having a child. Hope it was helpful.

I didnt get my period again until my son was 6 or 7 months and then it wasnt regular. He is almost 13 months now and it is finally regular but it is different for everybody

My son is 10 months old and still breastfeeding, and I still don't have my period. My period didn't come back with my daughter until 3-4 months after I stopped breastfeeding, she was 10 months old when I stopped and I got it when she was 13 or 14 months old... My best friend is breastfeeding and hers came back when her son was like 4 or 5 months old...

But talk to your doctor I've always heard it is best to wait a year so your body has a chance to relax. A few of my friends who became pregnant right after their baby was born (like before a year) had complications during pregnancy, labor and some even had miscarriages...

but lots of people don't wait and have no problems...
I would just make sure to get 2 thumbs up before getting pregnant again...

Hi S.,
Just a quick response - I didn't get my period back til I attempted to night wean my son at 15 months. That said, a friend of mine was BF and got pregnant when her son was about 6 months old (unintended). Everyone is different, but my advice would be to wait til your daughter is one year, then night wean her. The reason to wait a little bit is that sometimes it is really hard on the mother to get pregnant again so quickly, which has implications for the developing fetus. I understand the rush - I'm having just the one (he is 2 now), partially because I am now 41.

Good luck!

Hi S.,
It varies for every person. I was exclusively breastfeeding my 2nd son and since my husband and I were done with our family, even though I had not gotten my cycle back yet, we were using condoms 100% religiously. Needless to say it was a HUGE surprise when I became pregnant with our third baby (a girl!) when my 2nd son was 5 months old. It was such a surprise that I had no clue I was pregnant again for over 3 months.

Check out this website: http://www.freeopks.com/ you can get 10 FREE ovulation tests or 10 free pregnancy tests or any combination that equals 10- you pay nothing at all and do not give any credit card information or anything. It is from Sacred Heart Mission- a non-profit interested in helping people become pregnant? Anyway, I just ordered the ovulation tests so I can NOT get pregnant- 3 is more than enough for us:) I just ordered them and haven't got them yet but am excited!

I am a 38 yo stay at home mom with a 6 year old son, a 17 month old son and a 2 1/1 month old daughter. My wonderful husband and I have been married 12 years:)

Good luck in expanding your family!

Hello S.,

I had the same questions a few months ago as you are having now. I too am a little older (37). My son just turned 15 months. I bf him until he was 11 months old. We wanted to start trying right away.

I never had a period when I was bf'ing. And it took about 3 weeks after stopping bf'ing before it returned. My cycle was long the first month (like 36 days). But now it has returned to it's normal 31 days. We are still trying and hope that it won't take too long.

Best of luck to you!!!!

It's very different for each woman. I know there are a lot of women that don't get their period for the entire time they breastfeed and therefore do not get pregnant. For me, I was exclusively breastfeeding my first son and got pregnant when he was 3 and 1/2 months old. I hadn't even gotten my period back yet so I didn't suspect the pregnancy until I was already 2 months along. Don't stress over it just yet. You may just be one of the woman that starts menstruating after weaning. Best wishes and congrats on your daughter! :)

It sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice so far. Rather than repeat it, I'll simply add that you should check out Family of the Americas at www.familyplanning.net. They teach and provide materials for the ovulation method of natural family planning: a very simple and natural method of planning or preventing pregnancies that involves charting your cervical mucus. (sounds appealing, I know. ;) but actually very effective) Works to help you figure out when your fertility is returning during breastfeeding as well. I'll mention that the website "looks dated" but the information is very valid and reliable. Click on the "wishing to conceive" button at the top!

And best wishes for another bundle of joy!!!
God bless!

It depends on your body and how often you breastfeed. Night nursings are one major fertility suppressant. I breastfeed pretty often (my daughter is 2 months under 2), and I got a period of 14 or 15 months. I had two really light irregular periods before my first "real" period at 18 months postpartum. I don't think I ovulated until the 18 month one.

I had sore nipples before my first light period. A sign of pregnancy if you're nursing at the time is persistent sore nipples.

Oh, someone else mentioned Fertility Awareness (book by Toni Weschler). By using Fertility Awareness you can tell when you've ovulated and when you're pregnant - no testing.

Every woman is different. You don't have to have your period before you get pregnant. How long it took others, is no indication of how long it will take you.

If the pregnancy test is the problem, look at $1 stores and see if they have pregnancy test there (I have seen the old kind where it is not as neat and clean as $15 ones we have now, but seem to be as effective).

Good luck!

With my son, I got mine back on his first birthday (that very day). With my daughter, she is now 12 months and 1 week old and it still hasn't returned, though I've seen signs of possible ovulation or a possible return. I really recommend the Fertility Awareness Method (different then the Rythem Method) and the book on it. http://www.ovusoft.com/

Just a little tip...don't spend a ton of money on name brand pregnancy tests. Go to the dollar store (Dollar Tree or the 99 Cent Only Store) and get some there. They work totally fine. I've used them with all my pregnancies. They only down side is that they're not the kind where you pee on a stick but for a buck, I can deal with that! :)

I never got my period, my son never weaned, and I got pregnant at 13 months. All it took was one ovulation. Good luck!

With all 3 of my children, mine did not come back until I weaned them completely (after 1 year). I think it depends on your fertility before your pregnancy. I was not very regular before. However, after my last I have been more regular than ever and I'm now 38! A dr would probably tell you that if you want to get pregnant again, you need to wean. Pregnancy & breastfeeding do not mix, and if you did get pregnant they would tell you to wean right away.

I did not get my period until my son was over 12 months old. It has been regular since. I know it varies from mother to mother even child to child. I got my period right away with my first one and my mom said she always had hers even with breastfeeding. It just depends on your own body so it could be anytime at all. It may not come until you stop breastfeeding.

I agree that everyone is different. Both of my babies were soley breastfed and I was different with each. I got my period after 6 weeks with my first and not for 12 months with my second. That being said, I had a friend who became pregnant while nursing with no periods at all.

i know that everyone HATES to hear this (even I do), but I have to say it. You should try to relax and not think about it for awhile ( I know that is close to IMPOSSIBLE when you are trying to get pregnant). Just focus on your daughter and enjoy her and continue having "fun" with your husband. Hopefully things will work out. Best of luck to you.

My came back at 10 months, like clockwork for each of my 4 kids. I also breastfed each of them until they were about 2. Everyone is different, but as you introduce more solids, and the feedings spread out, your cycles should return. Good luck.

Your period can come at any time, every one is different. You can also get pregnant before that happens. My first two are 18 months apart! With my other children I didn't start until close to when I weaned them at one year. Good luck!

I BF both of my boys until about 1yo and when I weaned mine returned very regularly like it had been before. I have a friend who also BF and it returned at about 6 months for her. Another friend of mine never had a period and got pregnant accidentally at about 5 months after her second child unexpectedly with twins. All I can say is everyone is differently and you can get pregnant without a period IF you are ovulating.

HI S.,
I started my period after eleven months while breastfeeding my first. It happended right after she slept through the night for a week straight. But, really I think it all depends, my sister in law started at two months, even though she was exclusively breastfeeing also. Mine was regular when it started, though they were more painfull then they'd ever been before.

My mom never had a period at all while she was havng kids, so it is possible!

Good luck with everything!

I just wanted to say that based off a breastfeeding book I read you are not supposed to continue to breastfeed while pregnant with another baby( and trying to get pregnant since you can be pregnant before you know). Breast feeding signals to your body that you are not pregnant anymore and also Oxytocin is the hormone that's released when your baby suckles; it causes your milk to let down. Oxytocin is also what triggers labor contractions. It is linked to causing miscarriages.