Nursing and Periods

I think it varies from person to person. I cut back when my daughter was 9 months old and got my first period when she was 10 months old. It didn't take long for me to get it once I considerably cut back in breast feeding. I wasn't on any birth control pills though. I have to admit it was nice not to have a period for that long. : )

J.,
With my last child, who is now 21 months, my period started about two weeks after I stopped nursing. I was also taking a low dose BC pill. My period almost to the day stated at its normal time of the month. If you don't see anything after four weeks I would consult a doctor. You may already be pregnant.

Hi,
I nursed with my first child until about 1 yr, starting the weaning process at about 9 months. I got my period back helter skelter around the 9 month mark (February). I think I only had 3 periods before I got pregnant again (intentionally) with our second. After 12 months of BFing her, I have stopped and got my period back within 2 weeks...My sister in-law never got her cycle back between pregnancies. So, everyones different, but hopefully this helps a bit...

your guess is as good as ours on this. it could be tomorrow that you get a period and then every 28 days later o it could be 6 months from now. usually birth control will regulate it and id think after taking it 3 month stop and the next three month your period should come regularly and then you can start trying.

My period started about 6 weeks after completely stopping breastfeeding around my first child's first birthday.....once you stop breastfeeding completely, I'm sure that your menstrual cycles will get more consistent. BTW, you can still get pregnant while breastfeeding, esp if you are only feeding your child 1x/day.

Good luck!

J., you will likely get your period back soon now that you are no longer breastfeeding, it often happens within 2 months, especially if you stop taking birth control. The no hormone birth control you use when breast feeding does something to prevent your normal cycle from returning. I got one period when my son was 9 months old. I was still breastfeeding but it was soon after I returned to work and pumping is not the same as breastfeeding on demand. I also stopped taking birth control at the same time. I didn't get a period the next month and then the following month I was pregnant. It doesn't work the same for everyone but I'd be surprised if it didn't come back soon or you may be lucky and get pregnant without ever seeing another period. :)

Hi J.! First, Good work on nursing for as long as you have! I nursed my son for 16 months. I am pregnant with our second. I never went back on birth control after the birth of our first son. I would have a random period here and there while nursing but nothing consistent. I got pregnant when he was around 14 months - even then I continued to breast feed for a couple more months. I do not think it takes long to get a period once you stop nursing but I think when the nursing becomes infrequent you are more apt to get pregnant again and get your period. Hope this helps.

Hi J.,

Not having a cycle was great however I started getting concerned. My son is now 2 and I just recently started my cycles again. I nursed him as well for 8 months. I went to see my OBGYN and she sugeested stopping the pill for a few months to make sure nothing was wrong however when I stop taking (December 07) the pill nothing happend. She was concerned about pre-menopause as well as ovarian failure. I thank GOD none of that is true. Well, I have had two cycles since then. You body may need time to adjust. I suggest seeing your doctor. I hope this helps.

J.: I breastfed my son who is now 4 years old and never got a period. When my son was 6 months old I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, now 3. They are only 13 months apart. (She came 2 1/2 months early so that's where the difference is.) So, I don't think actually getting your period is necessarily something you need to worry about if trying to get pregnant again. If you want to get pregnant again right now, or anytime soon -- just do what you have to do to get pregnant!!! Nature will take its course and you may not experience another period, but just end up pregnant again! Good Luck!! I have truly enjoyed have my children so close in age and they are closer than I could have ever imagined!

I nursed until my son was about 22 months old. I got my first period back at about a year and they were regular within a couple of months. Everyone is different, but once he was eating solid food in earnest, especially meat, things went back to normal for me. Though my new cycle was much shorter than it was before my pregnancy.

Hi J.,
I have three delicious little ones who will be 8, 6 and 4 by the end of July. I breast fed all and did not have my period throughout all three breastfeeding experiences. My period took longer than I would have liked (2-3 months from the time I completely stopped) to come back, but it didn't stick around for long as I was soon pregnant again. My advice... don't worry. Honestly, you don't need the period itself to get pregnant again (at least that is my understanding)- everything else is cycling as it is supposed to, and when it did come back, it was with a vengence.

Best of luck!

Hi J.,
I'm an OB/GYN triage nurse and I have this question asked many times. Personally I have a 10 month old daughter and I have yet to receive my period. My last period was August 15, 2006. I nursed my daughter for 6 weeks only. So I need to go on Provera to start my period. That's a different story. However that just goes to show that many either get their period and it's normal, they have a period or two and then nothing, or they don't get their period at all.
If you're on Microgestin which it sounds as if you are, that is what we give patient's who are nursing but want to be on birth control. Perhaps you need to contact your Dr regarding coming off the Microgestin. If you come off the Birth Control, your body may take upwards to 3 months to get back to "normal". But as soon as you discontinue the pill, you're probably going to get a period or spotting right away because you don't have those hormones tricking your body anymore. Meaning having a period naturally on its own. Since you and DH are wanting to conceive soon, I'd give your OB a call about discontinuing the birth control. Once you discontinue the pill, see how your periods are at that point. I'm going to guess that the birth control is why your periods are "acting up".
For those that discontinue nursing without taking the pill, we advise them that it can indeed take 3 months to get back to a routine menstrual cycle.
Best wishes to conceiving another child!
H.~

With my first son, I got my period at one year. It became regular pretty much right away. I got pregnant a month after his second birthday. He weaned midway through my pregnancy. It's completely possible to TTC while still nursing.

Hi J. -

I nursed both of my children and was still nursing them when I got my period back, exactly a year and a month with my son and about a year with my daughter, on the other hand one of my friends nursed and got her periods back in 6 months so everybody is different. From what I know you can still get pregnant even if your are not getting your period regularly, but your doctor would know more about how the low dose birth control pill might effect all of this.

Good luck
R. A.

no telling when you'll get your period. everyone is so different its really hard to have a set standard. but if youre nursing part time and on the pill it will probably stay away. try stopping the pill while part time nursing and see if it comes back. but i would suggest to have a couple regular cycles before trying to get preggo.

Hi J.,

If you want to have another baby. Get off the pill and go for it.

When you have your next baby, let your periods come back naturally before you start the pill.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

What type of birth control? Progesterone only or estrogen and progesterone? You don't get a real period on the estrogen based pills, you get withdrawal bleeding. With those, it would just be an indication that the hormones don't drop to a low enough level for you to have withdrawal bleeding.

Otherwise, if it is the nursing, I have heard of lots of people who have gone for 2 years and longer with nursing and the average being 14 months. For me, mine came back at 5.5 months PP, but my cycle is A LOT longer than it used to me.

Finally, just because you haven't had a period doesn't mean you wouldn't be fertile. If you are interested in having another child, I would ditch the pills and see what happens. Your cycle will eventually return.

You've gotten so pretty good advice. I nursed too and can't remember when I got my period back. All to soon if you ask me but at any rate nursing is natures birth control. Dosen't always work because of the environment and foods we eat. If you do a little research women only had periods every three years or so because they were either prego or nursing.

No period dosen't mean you are not ovulating so as said before toss the pills and roll with it!

Mine was 2-3 months.