Starting Your Period After Breastfeeding?

Right after.

Literally. Like 2 weeks after I stopped bleeding from the birth.

So you know... breastfeeding is NOT effective birth control

As you see, it is different for every woman, every time. I've had 4 kids and it's been a different length of time after each one before my period came back, but it's always been while still breastfeeding.

With both my kids, I got my period, WHILE still breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding, IS NOT, IS NOT, IS NOT, "birth control."
Keep that in mind.

Getting your period does not indicate if you can get pregnant or not.
Then there is ovulation. Which some women do get even if periods are existing or not or varied.

Lots of women, get pregnant, WHILE breastfeeding.

You need... to speak to your OB/GYN about birth control and about your periods/ovulation.

You can get pregnant even tho you're not having a period.

Mine came back when my daughter was 5 months old and breastfeeding like every 5 minutes.
It is not birth control. PLus your period will come after you have ovulated, meaning you may only know your cycle has restarted after getting pregnant. Something my ob says happens way too often.

With my first 2 it came back around 6 or 7 months. They were exclusively breastfed with no supplements or pacifiers, all on demand. They stayed regular from that time on. With my third I had spotting on and off every couple weeks and at 6 weeks PP I had a full and proper period and they stayed that way. She was also 100% exclusively breastfed with no supplements or pacifiers just like my other 2. No idea why they started so fast with the third! So annoyed that they did too.
I breastfed them all well into toddlerhood. I got pregnant with the second and third while breastfeeding.
Everyone is different.

With my first, I didn't get my period until 5 months after I quit. With my 2nd, I got it when she was 5 months old and I continued to b/f for 7 more months after that... If you're worried, I'd get on a progesterone only b/c.

With my son, my period started exactly 28 days after he was born. He nursed for two years.
First daughter, I believe it came back around five months. She nursed for 14 months.
Second daughter, it came back around six months. She's 16 months and still going strong.

I do know women who don't get their periods back while nursing, but I know a lot more who got it back a lot sooner. And don't forget that your first period comes *after* your first ovulation, so you'll want to have a plan in place before you get that first period.

Just be careful - you ovulate BEFORE you get your period back, so you're fertile before you get the notice you're back in the game. One of my best friends got pregnant while breastfeeding before she got her period. Turned out great for her, but it was a big surprise.

I had a super-light period three months after weaning my kiddo, and then the cycle was pretty regular/normal after that. Are you on the mini-pill now? I switched back to regular birth control during the last couple of weeks of weaning - I didn't want to take any chances.

It has varied.
1st - 7months (She was BF for 12 months)
2nd - 14 months (He was BF for 16 months)
3rd - ?? He is 8 months old now. :)

Not something that I miss at all.
My sister on the other hand - her cycle returned at 2 months - she is still BF (he is 6 months now). (She was amazed when we had this conversation.)

So, I think it varies a bit. :)

About 7 months after I gave birth. I breastfed for almost 2 years. But you do know that you can get pregnant almost immediately after birth, even if you are nursing, right? Two of my friends have children that are 10 months apart, and yes, they were nursing :)

Wow, your lucky. Mine never stopped, even after breast feeding all my kids for 9 months.

I have two children and both times my period came back while I was still *exclusively* breastfeeding (no formula, no solid food). My period came back at 2 months postpartum with my first child (though I didn't have my next period for another 2 months--breastfeeding can delay ovulation). With my second child I got a little longer; 5.5 months. Breastfeeding is definitely not reliable birth control! Some women don't have their periods return for over a year, but you can't count on that for birth control...

For me it was 18 months give or take a few weeks for all three of my children. I was lucky! Many of my friends had theirs at 3 or 4 months postpartum. One friend got pregnant again before she had a single period. And I actually hadn't finished breastfeeding, mine breastfed a good while beyond when my period stopped.

So many things can affect it, but primarily its about your own body and metabolism etc.

At any rate, plan on birth control as soon as you are sexually active again! Breastfeeding alone won't cut it. :)

You could try tracking your cycles, charting mucous and taking your temperature every morning to try and recognize when you start ovulating, but it can be a lot of work when caring for a small baby! Birth control might be easier. Good luck!

Get a good barrier method immediately or you will not get your period at eight months from delivery. You will be very pregnant.

I would say I started about a month after I stopped breastfeeding.