PERIODS and Exclusively Breastfeeding?

[lilmissmommy]

My son is 7 months old. Two weeks after the 40day postpartum bleeding, I spotted. Since then I have gotten my period every single month. I thought exclusive breastfeeding mothers weren't supposed to get their periods.


Any similiar experiences????

[Bokonon]

Sounds pretty normal to me! My son was exclusively breastfeeding and I got my period back at 4 months. With my daughter, it didn't come back until the day before her 1st birthday.

In general, exclusively breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation, but it's not fool-proof.

[Funny Face]

I've exclusively breastfed all my children on demand while cosleeping and get my cycles back at 6 weeks postpartum. Such a downer.

I will say though that I don't think my fertility actually returns for 6 months or so, just AF.

[akind1]

I wish it meant that; I spotted at 6 weeks and 10 weeks PP, and have had 2 AF's (one in March and one in May) and waiting for another. FWIW I am pretty sure my fertility was back with the first one; had full on O pains and EWCF. It is such a bummer!

[LittleLegos]

I think a lot of things can impact the return of periods and fertility. The seven standards figured by Sheila Kippley give a good idea for some. I wonder too if excess weight and estrogen can impact it as well.

Kathryn Dettweiler has a nice article about the return of fertility too.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by LittleLegos

I wonder too if excess weight and estrogen can impact it as well.

Interesting. Mine returned at 2 months PP and 3 months PP. My sister had until she weaned her son to formula at 9 months, and my best friend had at least a year with both her girls. But, they're both closer to a healthy weight than I am. I'm about 28/29 BMI.

[essnce629]

With DS1 I had my first PP period at 6 weeks, with DS2 it was 5 weeks!!!! I think I'm just really fertile! Both pregnancies were totally unplanned and happened from just DTD once without protection. My grandma was the same way-- she breastfed all 7 of her kids and her first 2 kids are just 11 MONTHS apart! So obviously she had a pretty quick return to fertility as well. I don't know about the excess weight thing-- my grandma and I were always very thin. I'm 5'7 and 120lbs with a BMI of about 19.

[Marsupialmom]

Tandem nursing didn't stop my period from coming back after my third. I think it is just how some of us are made.

[lilmissmommy]

Thanks! I thought something abnormal was going on or something! I was looking forward to many period-free months! *sigh* Oh well. I think I just have a very regular menstrual cycle.

[russsk]

I did everything "right" and mine came back at 4 months pp.

[LittleLegos]

I had a big difference between my first two kids. My first was a big nurser, I had 19 mos w/o periods and then another 12 mos or so w/o ovulating. Then I was pregnant with #2. Tandem nursed and periods returned at 9mos. Things I think which impacted the quicker return:
#2 had very different sleep patterns, she slept longer at night
less comfort sucking, I think I had so much milk with the tandem, it wasn't as comfortable for her
Very different nursing personality, so less sucking in all
I was still a "healthy" weight, but was VERY thin after my first for a while.

Another thing I wonder about is milk ejection reflex and also "over" supply. If the baby is getting flooded reguarly, there's probably less sucking overall.

I remember two women talked about NICU experiences and a quick return to cycling. I wonder also if early separation can have and an impact as well, even if nursing then goes w/o a hitch.

Amy

[jennybear]

I'm a healthy weight and got mine at 4 months pp. I don't mind, because emotionally/hormonally I have felt a ton better.

[andlee]

I started birth control at 6 weeks PP (was not taking any chances) and started having monthly periods immediately after. Sucks!

[AutumnAir]

Yup, I EBF DD (and the kid used to nurse for about 20 out of every 24 hours for the first few months) and I still got my period back at 6 weeks PP, literally just a few days after the lochia finally stopped. I think my BMI at the time was about 24, so on the high end of normal. I'm heavier this time around, so that doesn't bode well...

[MamaPhD]

Mine came back when DD was around 15 months old. I was still nursing her but only 1-2x per day at that point.

[Nicole730]

My son nursed every 2 hours around the clock, and I got my period 3 months postpartum. My daughter was nursing every 2-4 hours and I got mine back at 7 weeks this time!

I also was looking forward to at least a year of no periods, as I have to friends who haven't had their periods for years b/w being pregnant and nursing. No such luck here. I know my mom got hers back really soon as my brother and sister are less than a year apart, so I'm going to say it's genetics. Oh, and one of those friends had to wean her daughter at just over age 2, cutting back to one nurse session a day didn't work.

[sunnygir1]

My mama got pregnant when she was approximately 6 weeks postpartum, so I guess she probably would have gotten a period had she not been pregnant. She was exclusively breastfeeding and co-sleeping with her baby.

My sister began menstruating 2 months postpartum with both of her babies. Both times she was exclusively breastfeeding and co-sleeping.

I began menstruating at 13 months pp with my dd, and haven't started yet with my almost 10 mo ds. I just think you can't predict it, and it isn't a very good birth control method.

[monica82]

I pumped until DS was about 11 mo old & had tons stored up.

I didn't get my monthly friend until I quit pumping. Guess I'm lucky/fortunate. I pumped & produced a lot for a very hungry baby. 5 times a day and I pumped at least an average of 10oz every time-so nto sure if that had something to do w/ it.

[hildare]

mine returned at 5 months, but i chart, and it's all over the place. i've had one a month, just not on a consistent date (or even close). i thought to myself, i see how people are surprised with some close together babies!!!

[fruitfulmomma]

It is really just a personal thing, sometimes it happens, sometimes not. There are always ladies who have done all the right things, followed the "rules", and they still get it back within a few months.

As far as weight goes, I have always been "borderline obese" according to those bmi charts, and the earliest I got mine back was about 7 months, I think, with the first one. Last baby it was closer to 16 months.