Period?

Hi, I wouldn'y worry. I also breastfeed exclusively and I didn't get my period until after my daughter was 3 months old. I also had the symptoms you are describing. Keep in mind that breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories a day so that could contribute to your hunger. Good luck!

I breast fed both of my boys and did not get my period for over a year.

Hey R., are you still nursing? I never got my period while I nursed. That doesn't mean you can't get pregnant though- I would take a test and then if you are still not sure- contact your OBGYN. God Bless

I have nursed all 4 of my boys. My period never returned until each of them were COMPLETELY weaned, and then it came about 4-6 weeks after that. I just stopped nursing our youngest who is now 15 months about 4 weeks ago, still no period as of yet. Now this is not everyone.
I know women who exclusively breastfed and got pregnant with out getting their period first. I know of women who got their period once solids were introduced and the nursing schedule was reduced.
So test if you are unsure.

R.,
Good for you for bf'ing! It's a natural (although not 100%) birth control, so many moms (including me) don't get a period until you introduce solids and nurse less. So don't panic yet! You may be tired and hungry because you're not eating enough and sleeping enough. You'll need to eat more to produce your milk- 500 calories daily more than normal I think. Be sure you're eating well for your calories, because the nutrients in the milk come from your nutrition. Sleep when you can, and enjoy this time. Many blessings!

I nursed exclusively for 15 months, and I didn't get my first period until my daugther was 11 months I wouldn't be too concerned yet.

My daughter never latched on but she is 9 1/2 months old and I'm still pumping for her. I have only had one period since she has been born (last month) and I know I'm not pregnant because I had an IUD placed after she was born. From what I understand some women don't get their period until after they stop nursing; while, for some it returns quickly after giving birth. Even if your period hasn't returned and you're nursing, it is possible to get pregnant. If you're in doubt, you may want to pick up a home test to check. Good luck.

S.

I think as long as ur feedin then u wont get ur period or at least that is what i thougt.. call ur doc. to be safe or take a test one of them will tell u what u want to hear... hope it goes well...
J.

It varies when you can get it back. I breastfed exclusively for 6 months & then continued nursing until 27 months. I got mine back once when he was six months and then regularly at 11 months old. The hunger is actually one of the things I noticed right away when I had him. Every time he ate, I was starving withing 30 minutes. And it didn't stop until he was on a regular diet of solids around one.

Only way to know for sure is to take a test & then be very careful.

Hi R.. I breast fed my daughter for the first year. I didn't get my first period until she was ten months old. It is normal to not get a period if you are breastfeeding.
Keep in mind that although you may not get a period you can still become pregnant!

Again, sounds normal to me. I didn't get my first period until my son was 9 months old. (Two months ago) I wouldn't worry unless there is a reason. YOu can get pregnant nursing, but nursing and taking care of a toddler are exhausting and can leave you cranky and hungry. Good Luck!

No period while you're exclusively breastfeeding is perfectly normal. I didn't get mine back after my daughter was born for at least 9 months. That was after 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, and continued breastfeeding when she started solids.

Super cranky, tired and hungry could be the effects of having to take care of a newborn and a 3.5 year old. Sounds like you could use a little break - a few hours to yourself. Is there anyone who can watch the kids while you get pampered - mothers deserve it much more then they ever allow themselves to get it.

But it could also be pregnancy - you should consult your midwife/dr just to be sure.

Hi R.,
Sometimes you can get it only when you finish breastfeeding. You may get your first period when you start give her other food, but not while you are nursing exclusively.
I guess you are tired, cranky and hungry because you are just had a baby, probably sleep depraved and don't have time to eat normal healthy meal, and need some energy to function.

It is very possible you could be pregnant again if you were not using any form of birth control. My husband and his sister are 10 months apart... my mother in law was under the impression you couldn't get pregnant breastfeeding, but you can! I would recommend taking a pregnancy test just in case- or call your doctor. I breastfeed both my kids for 6 months exclusively and it still took 3 months after I stopped to get my period back- oh those were the days!

Hello R. my name is M. i am also a SHAM i have a 1&2 year old sons they are 12 mo apart i also breast fed i never got my "first" period turns out i was pregnant my advice would be to talk a test...

I breastfed exclusively and I did not get my period until my daugter was over a year old! It sounds like your crankiness, tiredness, and hungriness is all due to the breastfeeding and hormones. Try to lay down with your kids or put your feet up even if its just for 20 or 20 minutes, i know you are busy but this will help. Also, try to eat small meals throughout the day, and drink lots of liquids. I hope this helps! as far as a birth control, I took the mini-pill or micronor when I was breastfeeding, it doesn't harm the baby.

R.,
When you breast fead a baby it is suppose to be like taking birthcontrol. Your periods will be abnormal as long as you are breast feeding. I breastfed all of my children. The youngest I breastfed for 3 years. After a year when I started to introduce whole milk. My periods became more normal because she wasn't breastfeeding as much. You may want to take a test however it is probably normal for you to have an abnormal period. Best of luck and I hope that this helps.

T. L.
Mother of 3

With my experience that sounds pretty normal. You burn 500 calories a day nursing which can boost your hunger, and I didn't get my period until I stopped nursing with my last 2 babies, even with supplemental formula feedings. I wouldn't sweat it yet, but I would be careful if being pregnant isn't what you want yet. The MYTH about not being able to get pregnant while nursing is just that, a MYTH!! Good luck.

R.,

My daughter was born almost 7 mos. ago and I too breastfeed her exclusively. I haven't had one period yet & am definitely NOT pregnant. A medical professional told me that some women don't have periods while they breastfeed because the body's resources go to feeding the baby instead of shedding waste. That's not to say that you couldn't be pregnant. Since you don't typically have periods if you're breastfeeding exclusively, it makes it hard to tell when or if you have ovulated, thus upping the chances of an unplanned pregnancy right away after giving birth. My midwife told me not to believe the rumor that you can't get pregnant while you're nursing. The best way to tell is to take a prg. test.

Also, being overly hungry and nursing your baby alot seem to go hand-in-hand. Babies hit their growth spurt around 3 or so months & nurse like crazy, which depletes your body's resources and makes you hungry and thirsty. It sure affects me that way! Up your caloric and fluid intake a tiny bit, have a little extra protein and see if that helps you out. Cranky and tired could be from both being hungry and having a 3+ month old too. I remember that being a tough time. They need more entertainment, but there's not a lot you can do with them yet, which can really wear on you.

Good luck!

R.

sounds like a normal breastfeeding mom to me. i got my period after 3 months with both girls, but alot of my breastfeeding gf's didnt get theirs until they stopped nursing. everyone is different. but you have to use condoms or a mini pill because its very easy to get pregos right after a baby, take a test, and go fro there, good luck

I am sure it is different for everyone. After my first son I breastfed him and didn't get a period until he was about 9 months old (around the time he was eating enough baby food so I did not have to nurse him as much). My second is almost 6 months old and I still have not had a period. That said, as my midwife said to me, if you think you might be pregnant, there is no harm in taking a pregnancy test :-) Good luck with your little ones!

Although there is always a chance of your being pregnant, I would say it is slim if you are exclusively breast feeding. I exclusively breast fed for 6 mos and then slowly introduced food. I didn't get my period for a year after giving birth (I breast fed 18 mos) As for you symptoms, breast feeding will make you super hungry and tired. I'm sure the stress of caring for 2 kids can lead to crankiness ;) Good luck with everything!

Periods may not return for up to 6 months when you breastfeed. I wish I was so lucky. You can always take a pregnancy test to rule it out.

I breastfed my son until he was 16 months. I didn't get a period until he was 9 months old!

It was my understanding that breast feeding holds off your period?? (it has been over 4 years, hard to recall) but you can still get preggo. Call your doctor maybe??

As soon as you stop breastfeeding it will come back.

It can take up to 6 months before your period returns. Sometimes even longer. The cranky, tired, and hungry could mean that your period is coming soon, more than you're pregnant again. Breastfeeding is a natural form of birth control but once you get your period back, you definitely want to consider another form so that you don't get pregnant right off. Good luck!

Hi there,
From what you describe, it sounds as though you are a normally lactating mother of an exclusively breast-fed infant. Breastfeeding a hungry infant suppresses ovulation - Mother Nature's way of naturally "spacing" pregnancies - and this means that a woman who is nursing frequently (every 2-4 hours) will not menstruate (if you aren't ovulating, you don't have periods). Many breastfeeding Moms do not resume their normal cycles (ovulation and having their periods) until they start either feeding their baby solids, or switching to formula (not recommended), because that is when they start breastfeeding less. When your body adjusts to producing less milk, that is when you will start to resume having periods. It's why a lot of nursing moms get their periods when their babies get to 6 months: the babies start eating solids and nurse less often, milk production drops and suddenly you get your period (it happened to me like that!). This is all completely normal, and it means you've been doing a great job nursing your baby!

Also, when you are nusing frequently, you need a little more food than usual, because you are - more than ever! - eating for two. That's why some folks call the first months of nursing motherhood "the fourth trimester". You should probably keep taking your pregnancy multivitamin, and consider taking extra calcium, and upping your calorie intake (i.e., if you are hungry, definitely eat more). If you are not eating enough food, that can definitely make you feel cranky and yucky and hungry.

All of that being said, if you have had unprotected intercourse, there is a small chance that you could get pregnant, even if you are nursing. Nursing an infant provides some natural protection against pregnancy, but it is not foolproof, especially if your milk production varies at all (i.e. if your baby doesn't nurse frequently or regularly). You might want to get a home pregnancy test and take it, just in case. If nothing else it might just reassure you to take it, so that you know one way or the other. Good luck!

If you breast feed exclusively, some women do not get their cycles back anywhere from 6 weeks to 18 months. Most will get their cycles back when their baby is about a year old or at least eating solid food on a regular basis. Now remember that you will ovulate before you get your first period, so if you don't want to get pregnant you should think of some kind of either barrier method, ie condoms, or birth control. There is a progestrone-only pill that is ok to breast feed with. So live it up without having to worry about sanitary pads for a while!

It can take as long as you are breast feeding to start your period sometimes. Hopefully that's it. Good luck.

It could take 6-9 months (halleluja!). It depends how long you breastfeed exclusively. I started supplementing around 3 months but I think my period came back at 6 weeks. I was disappointed - thought I'd have more time without it. I would take a pregnancy test just to be sure but if you're not, enjoy your time without it. Good luck!

It's my understanding that one does not ovulate when breastfeeding, and therefore does not have a period, either. That's what my experience has been - I gave birth 4 months ago, breastfeed exclusively, and have not had a period yet.
Cranky? Tired? Hungry? Me, too. I think it's the sleep deprivation (causing the crankiness and tiredness) and the extra calories used for breastfeeding. You're really eating for two now...about 900 calories more per day than you're used to.
Can you get a full night of sleep once in a while? Maybe have your partner take a feeding at night (if you're pumping breastmilk for bottle-feeding) and you go sleep in another bed, undisturbed, for a good 6-8 hours? (If so - put a towel under your breasts, because you WILL leak).
As for the hunger - just make sure you're eating filling, balanced meals with healthy snacks in between.
Also - try to get out for a walk once a day. 10 minutes a day can help with the crankiness and re-up your energy level.
Hope this was helpful! Good luck to you!!!

I've been breastfeeding for 6 months still no period-last month my husband thought I was because of my mood swings so I tested for him but nop....

Well R., everyone is really different. I breastfed exclusively and my period did not return until nine months after I delivered. Then I went 7 weeks before having a second period. I got an IUD. Then you don't risk a second pregnancy when you have a newborn. Does not interfere with sex at all and can be easily removed and fertility restored.
Take care,
M.

R.,
Some women don't get a period at all as long as they breastfeed exclusively. I nursed exclusively and didn't get mine for almost 7 months after I had the baby, around the same time I started having trouble keeping up with pumping at work. Hope this helps.

I am in the same boat, and my OB told me that it's quite possible that I won't get a period until I stop nursing, so don't panic!

as long as you're breastfeeding, you won't get your period. Your OBGYN should've explained that to you...However, you can still get pregnant (I have a friend that did), so don't assume it'll serve as birth control.

i exclusively breastfed my daughter for the first 9 months of her life and i didn't get my period till after she started to slow down on her nursing, and i was not pregnant. nursing can stop your period in some women.

at this point i am on the mirena birth control and it has almost completely stopped my period all together, which i love!! it doesn't hurt your milk supply either, if you were hoping to continue to nurse and get on a birth control.

:o )

i exclusively breast fed on demand after my 1st child was born. i never had a period before getting pregnant when she was 3.5 months old. to rule out pregnancy take a test and if you aren't planning to add to your family right now, find a birth control method that works for you. (they make a mini-pill you can take while nursing)
good luck!

my son is 3 months old and I am exclusively breastfeeding as well. Don't worry, no period is NORMAL when you are breastfeeding.......it'll come back when you stop. My sister's son is 11months old and she just stopped breastfeeding a month ago and her period has just started coming back, albeit irregularly. No worries, just enjoy being period free!!!

You usually do not get your period again until after you stop breast feeding. Another benifit.

I know that being tired, cranky, and hungry were all normal for me when my daughter was 3 months old! You have a lot going on remember. My period didn't return until I stopped breast feeding at 5 months. I think it's pretty normal to not start again as long as you continue breast feeding. I too was often worried that I was pregnant during that time though. It's tough when you don't get that monthly reassurance and your hormones are still out of whack from birth and breast feeding. If you are really concerned just take an at home test or talk to you doc to clear your mind. And, as far as being "overly" hungry, I say EAT! Breast feeding takes a LOT out of you. I think you need at least 500 extra calories a day so don't feel guilty about eating extra (healthy) snacks. You need all the energy you can get. Congrats on your new baby and good luck!

I have a 3 mo. old daughter too!! Born Sept. 6. Yours? I'm also breastfeeding exclusively and also haven't had a first period yet. I think when you are breastfeeding it takes longer for your period to return, and sometimes it doesn't return until you are done (depending on how long you nurse). But super cranky, tired and hungry... while they COULD be signs of pregnancy, could just as easily be signs of being postpartum. Why not ease your mind and take a home pregnancy test? Good luck.

If I were you I would make sure I wasn't pregnant... I got pregnant at 3 months after having my first no supplemental feedings and no period. If you aren't and don't plan on having a third child I would definitely suggest some type of birth control. As far as when your period should be back to normal I would have no idea, since after my second I got an IUD right away and still don't have a normal period she is 1 year old.

Hi R.,
The same thing happened to me after my last baby...I was thouroughly freaked out. My Dr. told me it was normal and not to worry about it. If it got close to the 5 month mark then to call them back. (Unless of course you take a pregnancy test and it comes back positive)
It takes a little longer after each baby for our bodies to get back on track. (It's to bad we can not enjoy the fact of having a little extra time without having a period...instead we panic. Good luck
T.

I don't know what is "normal," but I do know that different women are different. I had a hard time breastfeeding and had to supplement and didn't get my period for 6 months. I have a friend who breastfed a lot and got her period in 3 months.

I felt cranky, hungry and tired for 2 years after my daughter was born. For me, it was all related to a lack of sleep and the demands of motherhood.

Hi R. -

First congratulations on you new little one, as you know its such a wonderful time in your life with lots of ups and downs but well worth them all!

I also exclusively breastfeed both my children and I didnt get my period until I started to ween them. I always thought that you didnt get your period when you are nursing but can defintily get pregnant . If you are worried, take an over the counter pregnancy test to ease your mind, you have enough to worry about with a brand new baby and a toddler. If you are still concerned, definitly call your OB.

The tired and craniness can also be from your hormones which are still pretty out of wack while you nurse, and its only been 3 months so you are still adjusting. I felt it was harder going from 1 to 2 children then it was when I first became a Mom. Take good care of yourself, it can get crazy with 2 now. So make sure your eating enough and drinking lots of water.

Best of luck to you and your family.

Jen K

My two boys are two years apart. I had only one light period between kids, after 13 months of breastfeeding, and became pregnant on the next cycle. I breast fed my first until my second pregnancy dried up all the milk at 18 months (he unlatched and said "all gone". I said "all gone?". He said "Yep, no more").

I breast fed my second until he was 16 months old, and didn't get my period for 13 months yet again.

Every woman is different, and some will go a long time without a period and some will not. Just keep in mind that you may ovulate before you menstruate, so birth control is important unless you want to be pregnant again so soon.