Two Cycles per Month

Hormones in birth control pills (and some IUDs, the shot, the Nuva Ring, ect) can cause the issues you are describing. The new pill might help, and it might not. But it does sound like it's pill related.

It is normal to have irregular cycles, but the other symptoms you described may be signs of other issues. (Some could be serious.) I would suggest you make an appointment with your doctor. (Especially because the weight gain you describe is bloating and is not normal weight gain after weaning.) It could be pill/hormone related but I would have your OB check you out. Over the years I had to switch pills several times. There are many different strengths of the progesterone/estrogen combo pill. YOu may need a lower or higher dose, or one that goes more with your cycle like tricyclene.

I'm sure you will find the right birth control that works for you!

you have lots of other options besides bc. there is the nuva ring, and different types of implants, there is even the shot. now with the implants my understanding is that you can have a fertile egg but it cannot attach because your body has a foreign object that makes carring a baby unsuitable. the shot and pills made me feel so icky all the time also. talk to your doctor about your options. there is a girl condom also. good luck.

Definitely understand your issues. When I weaned my daughter back in July, it was almost the end of the year before my cycle got back regular. I was having a couple of cycles a month and bleeding and spotting in between. It was crazy but I figured it was just my body getting back on track. I'm not on BC so I can't comment from experience on that element but your body is probably trying to adjust to those hormones also while getting everything else straight so it may be a couple of months before you're feeling somewhat normal.

I gained weight when I stopped breastfeeding, too. Your body isn't naturally burning as many calories as it did when you were breastfeeding.

The same thing happened to me when I was on BC and quit nursing. My OB took me off BC for three months to let my body regulate before trying something else. I am still of BC at the moment because I prefer how I feel off of it. You may also want to have your thyroid checked. This could all be due to the BC, but I found out that my thyroid levels were off after I had my second child. That could definitely cause the weight gain. Good luck and I hope you get it all figured out soon.

i was having two cycles per month and it was due to my BC not being strong enough. are you on a tri-level hormone type? my ob had to change me to a bc that is a constant level of hormone. when the tri-level dips to the lowest point was when i was having extra bleeding. i feel like it's just our bodies having a stronger reproductive cycle than other women. lucky us! talk to your dr. i imagine if it is a bc that is safe for you to breastfeed on it's probably got a really low amount of hormone in it to start with. it may just not work for you.

It does sound like you are having a reaction to the progesterone in your BC. I would suggest you look into a copper IUD or start charting your cycles to avoid intercourse while fertile.

Great book for charting: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Dr. Toni Weschler

GL!

I remember when I weaned my daughter that my cycles were screwed up for a couple months. Like you I even had 2 periods in one month. but I talked to lots of my friends and they had messed up cycles at first too. The weight gain can be explained from the BC and also because you are not breastfeeding anymore. You are not burning as many calories as you were while breastfeeding. But there are lots of different kinds and doses of BC you can take so you should see what else the doc. can give you. Good luck