When Does Your Period Return After Having a Baby

It might just be that all the original bleeding didn't get done. With both my kids, I started again after about 6 months. I breastfed both. I would talk to the OB

I bled for almost two months after my first child and I was breastfeeding...didn't have that at all with my second. No words of wisdom, just that it can happen. I had a C-Section, don't know if you did or not.

I bled on and off for 8 weeks! If you are bleeding through a pad every hour call your ob!!! I believe you are ok!!!!

I breastfed too (a lot !), and got my period when my baby was 7 weeks old. I had only stopped bleeding from the birth a few days earlier. My doctor said it was rare, but I was one of the unfortunate ones to get my period back so soon. She said as long as the bleeding wasn't heavier or longer than a normal period to not be concerned. If it is, then you should see your doctor.

Mine returned right away with both of my children. I had the typical bleeding post pregnancy for 5-6 weeks stopped for a few days and my cyle had already started again. Which means yes you can still ovulate when you are breastfeeding exclusively and on a schedule:)

L.

I did the same thing after my daughter was born. She's now 3 months old. I stopped bleeding a few weeks after she was born, then a couple days later it would return. It kept going off and on until she was about 6 weeks. My doctor said that was normal.
After my son was born I didn't actually get my period until he was 9 months old and I was breastfeeding.

My period did not return until after I stopped breastfeeding my son, which was when he turned one. I am no medical expert, but that seems too early for your period to start, especially if you're breastfeeding. (However, I have had friends who have had periods while they are breastfeeding. If you're not breastfeeding a lot, I think your period is likely to start sooner.)Maybe the bleeding is still from giving birth. Even though I had a C-section, I had bleeding for quite awhile after giving birth (don't remember how long, but 4 weeks doesn't seem out of the ordinary); sometimes I bled while I was breastfeeding. A friend told me that your uterus contracts during breastfeeding, so that's why you bleed. I definitely would check with your doctor just to be sure.

Hi N.!

You family sounds precious!!
I think I bled for about 3 weeks and I bled heavily. My kids are 12 and 15...so it must have made an impact.

My best advice is don't take our advice from Mamasource! Please call your doctor if there is any question in your mind and I think most of the moms on here would agree.
But I understand how it is when you just want a point of reference....

The main reason I wrote is this.......I just want to say that I got pregnant while I was nursing my FOUR MONTH old daughter, so BE AWARE in case you have started your cycles again. :)

B

Hi N.,

It is not uncommon to stop bleeding and then restart again a few days or even a week later. It usually indicates you are doing too much. It really does take a good 6 weeks to recover from birth. I would suggest you slow down and stop lifting anything heavier than your son. No vacuuming, etc...
I am a mom of 5 and am one of the unfortunate ones that no matter how much I breastfeed (I am an on demand nurser)I usually start a period at 6 weeks. My last baby was born in July 07 and sure enough, I started around 6 weeks. For you it could be possible, but my midwife told me it is very rare. You would only know for sure if it happened again next month.
Hope that helps! :)

I pretty much bled for 6 weeks...until my pp visit! I didn't get AF until 10 months. Thanks to nursing!!!:):):) (My son is a year and I'm still nursing, so even now my periods only last 2-3 days and are barely there. Oh I love it!)

It can take up to a full year, before you start having regular cycles, also the same goes with the body recovering from pregnancy

Funny you should ask.... I just got mine and my baby is 8 months old. after almost 2 years without a period I almost don't know how to deal with it!!!

With my first I bled off and on for the first 6 weeks, first period at 9 months. With my second I bled for about 4 weeks, first period also at 9 months. I was still nursing/pumping all day long at 9 months, but by that time my baby was consistently sleeping for a 7-8 hour stretch at night.

Everyone is different. I had mine about two weeks after I stopped from the intial bleeding. I also breastfeed and had a period every month.

Hi, dear N., I wouldn't worry about it, cause I remember it was like at baby 4 months when I got bleeding again and nothing happen I just continue breastfeeding till she got 6 months old, But if your bleeding is heavy you better consult your Gyno .

I have 4 children and I found after my last baby (7 months old now) I had light periods for about 3 months after I stopped bleeding. Since then I haven't had a period. I breastfeed also. I think it's not abnormal to have periods but if you have pains or anything different you might call your dr.

That is totally normal. You may stop and start again for several more weeks. This is not your period. After you finally stop bleeding it can vary greatly from person to person on when you will begin to get your period again. Most people will not have a period at all until they are done breastfeeding, and it can even be several months after you stop. Hope that helps.

It's pp bleeding as the other posters said. I nurse much longer than average (about 2 to 2 1/2 years) and for my first I never even got a period, just pregnant again :) My second was about 2 1/2; my third was 19 months and I already got my period back with my fourth and 16 months.
I did not notice a change in my periods while I have been nursing but then I have been nursing and/or pregnant for the past ten straight so maybe I have forgotten.

Hey there, when I had my first child I did the same thing. I bled for about 3 to 4 weeks or so and stopped for about a week and then started up again and bled for another 3 to 4 weeks. The second time I started bleeding was not really my period it was still just post partum bleeding. I didn't think I was ever going to stop, but my doctor didn't seem concerned. Hope this makes you feel a little better.

I beleived my cycle returned 4 weeks after having my last child. After 6 weeks and no cycle, I would see my gynecologist just to make sure everything is well.

My bleeding returned like that too after I had my daughter. It isn't a period and there isn't anything to worry about unless it's heavy or cramping. You just need to get more rest!
With my son, my period returned after 11 months and with my daughter, it was 14 months. As long as you're still nursing, it can take a while for it to come back.

It takes about 6 to 8 weeks but ofcourse you have that crappy after bleeding and sometimes that can last 8 weeks. Hope that helps.

J.

Hey girl, call your DR.!! If he/she is not alarmed, don't sweat it, but considering the problems you had with your pregnancy, you might want to call and make sure you are doing okay. Can I get my cookie sheet back now?lol Okay I just read what you wrote, do you need some help? I can come over and help out if you need me to, please call me!

The six week thing, doesn't happen for everyone. I know that I would start my period about 5 weeks post pregnancy. I was a nursing mother too, but this never stopped my periods from coming.

That is exactly what happened to me. About 3 weeks of lochia, one week off, and then I got my period one month after my daughter's birth. Don't freak out. It just happens that way sometimes.
Best wishes,
E.

First of all, Congradulations on your new arrival!!!

Every woman is different as is every pregnancy and recovery. It is not unusual to start your cycle that early. You need to chart it and if it continues to be irratic, or you are bleeding a large amount, call your ob/gyn. They can make an educated decision on what your best options are.
Jillian

Hang in there what your doc said is true but that is the average woman and we are all unquie. If the bleeding persist give your doc a call the only stupid question is the one you didn t ask my mom always said Good luck

N.
Dont freak out!! I did the same thing. I stoped bleeding around 8 weeks , then I was ok for a month and started to bleed again. I thought it was my period it was only about 4 days long and pretty light, I STOPPED AGAIN and a few weeks later started again. But after that It was really gone for about 6 months because I was breastfeeding. I asked my dr. She said sometimes that just happens your body is still crazy and to take is easy. BUT WATCH IT.and if it gets so heavy you are soaking pad through call your dr.
L.

i bled for several weeks after having my baby. you may of started to heal and it stopped bleeding and lost a blood clot and started bleeding again. This happend to me...

I didnt have a cycle for six months after my baby girl.

I breast fed her for those six months.

After i stopped BF her i started one week later.

you should be having your six week check up in a few weeks ask your doctor. if your bleeding a lot and concerened call your doctor (Obgyn).

Please do not be afraid but at the same time, take this seriously. Call your doctor and find out what he/she thinks. Something similar happened to me and I had retained placenta. Retained placenta is very serious.

everyone is different. i bleed right after of course due to having a baby but then about a month later i had a long period. it sounds totally normal. brest feeding doesnt always mean that your peroid will be prolonged. i asked several people the same question. dont fret its normal. sucks though.

I think it totally varies depending on each person. But the same exact thing happened to me after I had my last baby...started bleeding again a week later. But it was just like a normal period, and then I didn't start again until after I stopped nursing almost a year later. It was just a one-time fluke. :) So, maybe that will be the case with you too. Some do menstrate while nursing though.

This really just depends on your body. you can start right away or you can take up to a year after stopping breast feeding... it just depends. I bled for about 4-6 weeks after each one of my 3 boys so you may have had a lull and then some more is passing but just give your dr a call if you are concerned.

Good luck

I had this happen with my 2nd daughter and a little with my 5 1/2 week old. It may just be that you're bleeding still from your delivery, not that you're starting your period. When I asked my dr. about this after my daughter was born, he said it was totally normal and not to worry. But, if you're concerned or anything, call your ob. Hope that helps!

Have your health care provider check you out just in case. Sometimes bleeding again that soon is a sign that some of the placenta is still attached.

Been there, done that. :-(

N. J, You really need to contact your doctor. Normally when a woman is breastfeeding after you stop the initial bleeding from delivery, you should not have a period or begin bleeding again until after you have stopped breastfeeding your baby. Since you have begun to bleed again and you are breastfeeding your baby, Contact your doctor immediately!!

I have a feeling this isn't a period, but you are doing too much, and it's bleeding from the birth again. Try resting a little more!

Sometimes it says that if you are doing too much physically, then you can start to bleed again. Check to see if it is heavy bleeding. My daughter is 2 1/2 months and I am breastfeeding as well. I had some spotting off and on during first 6 weeks. So I knew when I needed to try to rest a little more.

I bled for about 4 weeks after having our son and thanks to breastfeeding I did not get my period back for about 6 months. Loved that.

my understanding is it is different for everyone. If I remember correctly I blead for several weeks after my daughters birth. Some people don't have periods while breastfeeding. I did. Then when my doctor put me on a birthcontrol pill that I could take while breastfeeding, he said some people don't have periods while on this pill. I did. I actually had 2 periods a month for the first year of my daughters life, one normal, and one light. If you are worried about it you could ask your doctor, but I don't think at this point it is anything to worry about.

I did the same thing and thought I must have started my period, but my son is 14 weeks and I am still breastfeeding and have not bled again since my 6 week check up! Everybody's body is a little different, but you are probably still just bleeding from the contracting of your uterus, from delivery! Good luck to you.

N.,
I bled after the birth for about 3 weeks, some days slower than others. I also breastfeed my first and I am now four months pregnate with my second and I never got a peroid. I feel as some of the other ladies you may be doing too much. If you are feeling very tired and are hurting it never hurts to contact your OB and just ask. I would think it's all normal. I have had friends that have started their period a little more quickly than others due to stress.

Like other posters said, it's not unusual to bleed for a couple of weeks after having a baby.

I think I bleed for about 3 weeks initially. I BF and did not get my first period until 12 months later.

Everyone is different. I breastfeed my children for 2 1/2 years, each, and my period returned long before they were 6 months old. If you've been bleeding this long I would recommend you call your OB. With my second child I bleed for 6 weeks! Then some tissue came out, and the bleeding stopped. Turned out a very small piece of the placenta had not come out.

Dear N.,
Congratulations on your new baby!!

There is only one hard and fast rule about your question and that is---call your OB! Your bleeding is not so uncommon, but it could also be indicative that something is awry.

So--always--when in doubt---call the doctor or his nurse. Your local hospital probably has a nurse line for questions like this. Worrying about it can affect your milk and your babies health.

Have you been back for your check up yet?

About me---I am a 70 great grandmother. I breast fed my babies, as did my sisters and my daughter. Enjoy!
D.

I have one child, 2 yrs old, and I breastfed him, and looked forward to having no period for months and months (so I had heard)!! I began having mine between 2-3 months after he was born. Boy was I disappointed. So much for getting excited! I nursed for 14 months. Much luck with continued breastfeeding!

You probably just haven't stopped bleeding yet. It took me 7 weeks to fully stop.

After having my son in November, I had bleeding on and off for 5-6 weeks or more, and it would stop for days and then start back up also. So you shouldn't be worried, especially since your baby is only 4 1/2 weeks. My OB told me (and I've read) that if you're breastfeeding exclusively, you won't have a period until you finish breastfeeding or until the baby is older and is mainly eating solid foods and only nursing a few times a day. What you're experiencing sounds perfectly normal, so I wouldn't worry if I were you. :)

E.