really, does breastfeeding help with not getting pregnant? - Page 2

[elisheva]

I did everything right - all the timing was right (cosleeping, nursing ondemand, no supplementing with anything, yada yada...) and I got my period back at 4 weeks with ds1 and 8 weeks with ds2. With ds1, I got pregnant at 12 mo postpartum (still nursing, though not exclusively). With ds2, I got pregnant at 5 months postpartum - nursing exclusively. It does happen for some people even if you follow all the rules.

[tireesix]

Elisheva, you would be one of the 2% it doesn't work for.

People also keep mentioning periods, nursing isn't a guarantee that your periods will not come back. With DD1 I got my periods back at 9 monthsish, with DD2 it was slightly earlier and with DD3 it was at 4 months post partum. If your periods return, you should not rely on the lAM method at all, one of the rules with LAM is that you have no sign of periods. If at 6 months, there is no sign of periods, the baby is still exclusively breastfed etc, you can continue to use LAM until 9 months, but that seems to be the top end and only if you follow the rules.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by Limabean1975

Seafox, you may actually not have your period back. There is something called a "sixth week bleed" that seems like a period, but is not, that some women get. I think any bleeding within 56? or 60? (can't recall) days post-partum is still considered pp bleeding (even if bleeding stopped then re-started).

I googled a bunch when I had what sure seemed like a period at 6 weeks (fresh blood, 4-5 days, heavy), and that's what I read.

It COULD be your period, but it might not be! I'm thinking mine wasn't since I'm now 11 weeks pp and no sign of another period.

ooh, that would be nice! I'm surprised my ob/gyn didn't mention that as a possibility. I did have more cervical mucous a week and half before it though so I'm not too hopeful. It was the shortest lightest period though that I've ever had, so even if I do get it every month I won't complain too much!