Menstrual Cycles Worse/Different after Babies?

[sunnygir1]

My ds is 11 months old.

I had a really bad week last week; in and out of depression-like symptoms. Miserable, but then I would pull out of it and feel normal. After the worst day I got some light bleeding, the first since my postpartum bleeding stopped.

It may have been stress-induced, but I wonder if my emotional/mental struggles last week were PMS symptoms. I never had it like this before, but maybe things are different now? I used to have some bouts of depression, but haven't had anything notable for years.

I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences.

[Vancouver Mommy]

My periods continue to be regular and fairly light, but I have noticed more hormonal mood changes, much to my chagrin. I had never been aware of any PMS type symptoms prior to having kids, now I have at least one day of being in a foul mood.

[Maine Mama Doula]

I definitely have stronger PMS symptoms since having my three children. I'm always extremely emotional about 5 days before I start (usually angry) and my cramping is worse now too.

[mkmoro311]

My cycle went from 30/32 days to 26/28 days. Fewer cramps more moodiness for a longer pms duration

[mimim]

My cycle changed with each baby. PMS got a bit worse, my cycle became shorter, and my periods got lighter and easier, although the first few postpartum periods were heavy and intense.

[NewMoonMum]

I also remember my PMS being HORRIBLE since after DS was born.
I had always been prone to weepiness before DS, but now I can go pretty nuts with moodiness That never used to be an issue!

[MammaB21]

My cycles used to be 28 days, really heavy bleeding for 8 days with really bad menstrual cramps. Since DD my cycle has lengthened to 32 days but shorter bleeding time (6 days at most) and virtually no cramps (okay, I guess they are there but pretty mild in comparison). I guess you could say my PMS has gotten a bit worse but I think that can also be attributed to more stress in my life and just not handling the hormonal changes as gracefully. DS is 3 weeks old and hopefully I won't have a period in a LONG time, but I'm curious to see if things will change again.

[tireesix]

I have found my PMS has eased. I have PCOS and pre children my cycle when regular was around 8 weeks (but sometimes there was nothing for up to 12 months and other times I would just bleed for months).

After baby number 1, periods went to a 6 week cycle (every 6th Sunday between 10 am and 12 pm would be the start) and after baby number 2 it changed to a 5 week cycle (every 5th Friday between 3 and 5 pm would be the start, well, those are the times bleeding would start without fail).

I could tell I was pregnant if bleeding hadn't started within a couple of hours of those times and was right every time, how weird and precise is that?????

[Mamabeakley]

Also, I think a lot of times cycles will be different when they first come back, and then stabilize as they become more regular.

[MujerMamaMismo]

I wanted to kill everyone in the week leading up to my first PP period. I was 10mths PP and didn't even think that there was a possibility of regaining my fertility given how insistently DS was nursing - basically hourly, day and night! The hormones that broke through that were obviously very strong!

Anyway, since then I have had a very regular period with no pain and very little PMS. Prior to becoming pregnant I had very little PMS but would have a day or two of pretty miserable cramping. The other big difference is now I get intense pain around ovulation and can feel when the eggs are preparing to pop and pinpoint the exact moment I ovulate.

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by MujerMamaMismo

I wanted to kill everyone in the week leading up to my first PP period. I was 10mths PP and didn't even think that there was a possibility of regaining my fertility given how insistently DS was nursing - basically hourly, day and night! The hormones that broke through that were obviously very strong!

Anyway, since then I have had a very regular period with no pain and very little PMS. Prior to becoming pregnant I had very little PMS but would have a day or two of pretty miserable cramping. The other big difference is now I get intense pain around ovulation and can feel when the eggs are preparing to pop and pinpoint the exact moment I ovulate.

Yay! There is hope that I may not need to be medicated to keep from being impossible to live with the week before my period!

Thanks for all your responses. It helps to hear others' experiences.

[HeatherB]

My cycles themselves (bleeding and pain) improved *significantly* after my first was born and returned to similar (if not better) states after I started cycling again with each subsequent pregnancy. However, I *did* notice more "PMS" mood symptoms as my cycles approached (for the few months I had them) before getting pg this time. It was really different for me, but then again, maybe I was already in a better frame of mind and it was a bigger change than it used to be? Or maybe I am more self-aware and therefore noticed it? Or maybe a few years ago my DH didn't annoy me so much.

FWIW, I only had a handful of cycles before getting pg again, and it was the first ones that made it the most obvious.

[cappuccinosmom]

After my first birth, my periods actually got less painful. Regularity didn't change, I was always like clockwork. Over the years my cycles gradually went from 28 to about 34 days long.

After my two miscarriages though, I started noticing hormonal insanity showing up as PMS, and my periods got longer, more heavy, and painful. Vitex helps a lot with that.

[Gena 22]

This was something I wish someone had told me before birth. YES!!! My cycles changed totally, at least for 7 months, and even after, there were occasionally differences.

My AF came back 14 months PP, since I was breastfeeding my twins. 14 blissful, even-keeled months. Then the ravages of AF. Not only was I way more hormonal, but the bleeding was really, really heavy. Both calmed down in time, but it was a big shock. Like I was bleeding out and going through a monthly divorce. Neither was enough to call in professional help, but had me worried.

Good luck, yes, it's normal!