Period While Breast Feeding

Hi J.,

I got my period nine weeks after giving birth--I only had a week off from the bleeding that I had after my C-section. I was breastfeeding. I think this must happen differently for every woman.

All I can say to you if you had no period for almost 8 months is: "LUCKY!" :-)

You must be a champion breast-feeder. Again, "LUCKY!" :-)

My baby is 5 months and I already have had my period for the past three and am still breast feeding.We all just get it at different times, completely normal.

That is perfectly normal. I start my period about two months after I give birth. I have two boys and I breastfed both of them for a year all the while having periods. So it's nothing to worry about (it's just not fair :) ).

HI J.,

Lucky you, to go 7.5 months with out a period! I always got my period by the time my babies were 6-7 WEEKS old! UGh, it was terrible! But, it never seemed to mess with my milk supply. YOu are lucky and normal! The only thing I had issues with what would I do for birth control....

Some people tried to tell me that I did not nurse "the right way"-- on demand! Well, they are wrong about that one too.

Every bodys body is different and you are lucky that you had so long with a period!

Good luck,
T.

In my experience, it wasn't a problem. I nursed for 21 months. I got my period about half way through. Enjoy it! I miss that closeness-my son is now 7 years old. It goes sooooo fast.

I have breastfeed all of my children until a year. With each one, I have gotten my period at about 6 months after they were born. My milk supply was fine with each. Just remember, now that you have your period, you can get pregnant. Good luck.
P.

It is normal it is just some of the hormones going away I believe. I started during breastfeeding and a couple of months later my supply decreased, but I don't know if that was related. I think it was stress more than anything.

Hi, J..

I have a 14-month-old who I've almost completely weaned. My period came back four months after delivering my daughter. My milk supply didn't really drop off so much. I think what hindered my production was when I didn't eat much (translation: too busy to eat).

Just as long as you're eating well and drinking lots of fluids, you should continue to produce milk.

Hope that eases your worries!

E.

I don't think one has to do with the other. I got my period about 5 weeks after giving birth. I breastfed my daughter till she was almost 1 years old. It's a supply and demand thing. As long as she continues to breastfeed you will continue to produce milk.

Your milk won't change at all and keep breast feeding till at least a year, great job so far. Many women get their periods while nursing at 6 weeks, 90% get it by 6m, 10% won't get it till completely weaned and even some months after that. That's why you see kids that are 10 months apart...

No your milk shouldn't decrease. I breastfed my son who is now 8 till he was 16 months old and got my period back when he was 12 months old. With my daughter I got it back when she was 5 months old. There is no rush unless you want there to be to get her off breast milk (: enjoy your beautiful daughter!

Very normal. You can get your period while breastfeeding. I got mine at 18mos with my first child and around 9 mos with second. I breastfed both past 2 years. Your milk should not decrease unless you are nursing less.

Best wishes,
M.

Dear J.,
You should feel blessed you have gone this long with no period..I had my 3rd baby in August, have been breastfeeding and still got my period at 6 weeks ! In fact, I have nursed all my kids and my period still comes right at 6 weeks, I know, I am soo lucky! Your milk should be fine, you probably know, but you can still get pregnant while nursing and not having a period. Good luck !

Hi J.,

Congrats on your daughter. I dont think that it is anything that you need to worry about giving up unless you or she is ready to do so. On a personal note, I got my period 11 weeks after I gave birth - I too was in shock as I thought it wouldnt come for some time. But it turns out 30% of women get their periods soon after birth, 30% wont get it for several months and the rest never get it while breastfeeding. That is why they say not to use breastfeeding as a gage for birthcontrol.
Anyhow, I continued breastfeeding for 14 months. You may find that around the time of your period your milk supply may temporarily decrease, but on the whole it should remain the same. I would recommend that you drink lots of fluids (water) and breastfeed her as you normally do.
I wish you the best of luck.

J.,
A friend referred me to the book, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and FAM (the Fertility Awareness Method), similar to NFP (Natural Family Planning), which might have some good insights for you. I learned (from her and other trusted resources) that breastfeeding does not equal no periods. However, if you're exclusively breastfeeding with no supplementation (such as binkies, bottles, food, etc), and nursing every 2-3 hours in the day and 4-6 hours at night, your chances of becoming pregnant are very slim (about 99% effectiveness, better than most birth control). I believe this is directly related to the return of your menses, as well, but I could be wrong there.
But, once you start adding ANY supplementation, your chances of ovulating and having your period are significantly increased and this should no longer be used as a form of birth control.
I, personally, had my first and only period between my children around my son's first birthday and still haven't had it since my daughter was born 13 months ago. I know every woman is different (I have a friend who's family is VERY fertile and starts their periods early no matter what they do), but I do believe my delayed/non-existent cycles are partly because of breastfeeding my children for an extended period.
All the best,
N.

Breastfeeding can delay the return of your period after giving birth, but it does come back eventually, especially when the baby starts having fewer feedings each day. Nothing whatsoever to worry about. It shouldn't affect your milk supply at all either.

Hi J.,

Both of my kids were breastfed 100% and were great eaters, too. With my daughter, I started my period at around 3 months and my son, I started just when you did- into my 7 month. Actually, I thought it was a little weird that I DID NOT have it for so long. Your body knows what's it doing though. I wouldn't be concerned- just ask your doctor about it during your upcoming visit or if it bothers you more than you feel you can wait, call their office. I think your perfectly normal. And, make sure that you are taking a birth control pill that is meant for breastfeeding women, or you use some other type of birth control because breast fedding doesn't prevent pregnancies. And, to answer your question about your milk supply, you'll be just fine. Worrying can reduce it though ;)- so like I said, if your concerns are greater than not, do something about it now.

In Light,
J.

i breast-feed exclusively for 6 months and then continued after i introduced solid food until my son was 17 months. and got my period back 8 weeks post partum! i was so bummed! but i experienced no loss of milk supply. dont worry. some women just get it back sooner. at least you wont have to wonder if you are pregnant again every month!

And you can get pregnant while nursing even if you havn't gotten your period back! so be careful regardless!!!

I have a 10 month old. And 2 months ago started my period also. The lactation consultant said this is normal and your hormones are just leveling off and getting back to normal and your milk supply will stay the same as long as you continue to nurse the same number of times. I know it sucks to have your period again!!

Everyone body is different and it tends to different from every women some get their period really early compare to others. your milk supply d=should not decrease unless you stop breastfeeding.

Everybody is different. Almost all of my friends have breastfeed and some had there period as early as 2 months, some at 6 months, some 12 months. No one ever had a problem with a decrease with their milk supply with the start of their period. My son was 9 months old when mine came back and i had no trouble with my milk supply, I was just bummed that my period started. I nursed him through 14 months.

Mine started 3 months after i had my son and he was also breast fed..just happens..i would notice my supply would drop during my period then come back after..u might want to check out this stuff called Motilium aka DOM ..google it..i took it when my son was 9 months ..2 x's a day for 2 weeks and my supply really built up

For me that always happened at 3 1/2 months and all of my kids weaned themselves at between 8 and 12 months. Didn't really affect my supply at all.

I have had my period since 8 weeks postpartum with exclusive bfing.......Everyone is different.

Same thing happened to me when my daughter was 8 months old. She was exclusively breastfeeding as well. From what I read on La Leche League's website as well as a few others, your period can start up again at anytime even if you are exclusively breastfeeding. For some people it starts up and then stops for awhile before starting up again, or your cycle can be really irregular. My milk supply didn't change at all, so I don't think that you need to worry about that. As long as she keeps eating you should keep getting in milk. My daughter is now 18 months old and still breastfeeds.
Best of luck to you!

Whne babies begin solids your breastmilk will naturallu begin to decrease. However, milk is still their primary source of nutrician and the solids are more for exploritory purposes. Keep up the milk feedings.

Hi J. - I nursed both my kids for at least a year, and my period returned when they were about 6mos. It didn't effect my ability to nurse, nor did it decrease my milk supply. I think it's great you're still nursing her, and I'd say, just keep doing what you're doing! -jessica

Don't worry, it happens. I had my period when my kids were around 8-9 months old and I breast-fed them until they were about 14 months. It just depends on each person since every woman's' hormone levels are unique. But be careful! This means you can get pregnant too = ).

And don't worry, your milk supply won't diminish. It's really more annoying than anything to have your period while breastfeeding.

Good luck!
N.

J.,

Many women have periods while breastfeeding. Some can delay the return of their period for years while breastfeeding but many women get them regardless and at what point they return really varies. My period returned at 4 months postpartum with both of my boys in spite of nursing around the clock. Since your period has returned you can assume your fertility has also returned so if you don't want to get pregnant, you need to use some form of birth control. As long as you keep nursing adequately, you shouldn't have a significant drop in your milk supply. My supply tended to be a bit lower on the day my period would start but my sons would just nurse a bit more and my supply would rebound within a day or two.

:-)T.

It's totally normal to get your period, even while exclusively breastfeeding. While breastfeeding will delay the return of your period, it does not prevent it entirely. I exclusively breastfed and still got my period at 5 months postpartum with each of my two children. It didn't affect my milk supply at all. You should have no problems there.

No worries! I am with my 3rd baby right now, he's 9 weeks old. I have breastfed all 3 of my children and have gotten my peirod within 7 weeks of each of them! My Dr says it's not at all abnormal, and tyhe only reason to be concerned is if I don't want to gwt pregnant again! Otherwise, it's completely normal, that's why there's so many Irish Twins in the world. Breastfeeding does nto always prevent your cycle from coming back, so don't worry! -)

My period started 5 weeks after each of my two exclusively breast-fed children were born and I had no problem with my milk supply. Both were over 10 lbs at birth and I didn't ever have to supplement. My first born refused any solids until he was over a year old and I continued to nurse him until the day my daughter was born - 2 years and 3 months. You are doing great and don't worry about your supply!!

I have breastfed all three of my children and started my period all three times while breastfeeding. It shouldn't affect your milk at all and it's totally normal. That's why they say that breastfeeding isn't birth control because you never know when your period is going to come back. Mine came back when my kids were around 4 months but my neighbor never gets hers until she totally stops breastfeeding. Just depends on the person.

Same thing happened to me - no problem with milk production at all. I nursed her until she was 15 months old. Again with my son, and I nursed him till age 2. Just don't assume you can't get pregnant!

My sister was exclusively breastfeeding and started her period just one month after her initial healing bleeding was done. Some women, depending on your hormones and body chemistry, will still have a period while BFing. I don't believe it will change your supply.

Yes, it is totally normal. It varies for every woman. I also got mine back when my daughter was 8 months. I am curious to see if it will be regular now, i hope to read some of your responses that might answer that question. I have heard that your supply goes down just a bit, but nothing that will cause baby to starve! It sure was nice not having a period for sooo long wasn't it?

I have 3 children and nursed them all for a year. I started my period with the first one at 101/2 months, 2nd one 8 months, and 3rd one at 6 months. My milk supply was fine. It is different for everyone. Good luck