Question: Nursing and periods

[jimblejamble]

If you reduce the amount you breastfeed enough to get your period back and then start nursing more often again, will/can your period go away again?

edit: Not including pregnancy.

[firewoman]

It has never worked that way for me. However, my period comes regardless of how much I nurse. How many months postpartum are you?

[jimblejamble]

13 months. I got my first pp period just last month.

[Mosaic]

It's possible, but somewhat unlikely, mostly because we moms don't really control the nursing relationship. The little ones have to do most of the work. We can offer more often, but they may not nurse more or more often, at least not consistently enough to keep AF away. Growth spurts have been known to mess up/miss cycles but don't do enough to keep them away for any extended period of time.

[Llyra]

It is definitely possible. I had random bleeding, three times while the twins were nursing, before AF came back for real. The first time was at about four months, when DS was getting supplemented via SNS because of his lousy weight gain, and his nursing decreased sharply in frequency (because the stupid formula was filling him up). The second time was around 10 months, when DD2 nightweaned herself. The third time was at about 13 months old, when I nightweaned DS. But I didn't settle into regular cycles again until they were 16 months.

Each time, it would be totally random-- I'd spot for a few days, maybe go heavy for a half a day, and then it would disappear, and then maybe come back a week later or something, or maybe not for three weeks, or maybe disappear entirely. And each time, after a few "periods" that were obviously not really my regular AF, it would completely go away again.

[Llyra]

double post, please delete! Sorry...

[crunchy_mommy]

Doesn't sound likely to me, but then again I have had fairly regular periods since 9 months post-partum despite DS nursing several times an hour all day & night.

[Marissamom]

my period came back at 3 months, when we were still nursing constantly. I did have one longer cycle, 6 weeks between instead of 4, when I went back to work, but I don't know if it was from stress or because while at work I was pumping every 2 hours to get enough milk, when she only nursed every 3-4 hours at that point. I think once your period starts back up for real there's no way of reversing it, but sometimes you may end up with irregular cycles.

[mossimo12]

I was wondering the same thing. My period came back when my dd was 24 months old. I had it twice and now this month nothing.

[jimblejamble]

Interesting. Well I'll keep waiting...not that I want it or the cray cramps back, but you know...

[sunnygir1]

With dd I began menstruating again at 13 months pp and my cycle was completely regular after that even though we breastfed until 27 months.

With ds I had spotting one day a few months ago and then my first "normal" menstruation this month at 13 months pp. I expect that I will have regular menstruation from here on out despite the fact that the boy nurses CONSTANTLY!

[Heba]

Yes, there is anecdotal evidence that this is indeed possible if nursing is reduced, and then increased.

[jimblejamble]

Well, looks like I just spoke too soon. Thank God for 800 mg ibuprofen!

[Usually Curious]

Thanks for posting this. I came to this forum w/a similar question. I have six kids and with the first five my cycle came back between 6wks and 4 mos pp. It was regular until my next pregnancy. With #6 my cycle came at 6wks, then nothing. Again at 8 mos, now nothing. I've tested twice - both negative and my period was 9/18.

I've been doing this for 21 years and thought it was old hat. It's really disconcerting.

[Contrariety]

I'm beginning to be convinced that this is the case. i have had irregular cycles since 5 mos pp, but the last two were completely normal. DD has suddenly ramped up nursing the past few weeks for whatever reason and now I'm two weeks late. Even though DH had a vas, i have been paranoid about it and broke town and tested today. It's negative. I can't help but think the long cycle is because she is nursing more frequently the past few weeks.

[Usually Curious]

I just got my cycle yesterday. My last was 9/18. Who know when my next will be.


My issue may be complicated by perimenopause, though.

[treegardner]

I have no idea, but I just got my first PP period this week at 27 months with no noticeable decrease in DS nursing.

[sraplayas]

[pumpkin]

My period came back while DD was still nursing like crazy and before we started solids. It's not just how much they nurse of my period would still be gone.
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[JudiAU]

I've never heard of someone losing their period again but most people would NOT regain their milk supply. You'd probably have to reduce your nursing a lot to get back abnormally. Depending on age, I wouldn't assume you could get baby back to bool.