How long until your period returned?

[mt_gooseberry]

Just out of curiosity, how long did other nursing moms go without getting a period while nursing?  What kind of nursing did you practice (that is, did you supplement with formula? do any pumping? night wean?)?  How long did you nurse?

I read that if you practice "ecological" breastfeeding (basically pure breastfeeding with no supplements, pacifiers, etc) you can go as long two years with an average of about 14 months without AF.  I wouldn't know, because I got pregnant without ever having my period return at 10 months postpartum while nursing pretty much exclusively, although we had introduced solids and used a pacifier occasionally.

Anyway, how long have you been able to put it off?

[organicmom3]

Breastfeeding exclusively, I did not get a period for about 5 months.  They were low flow and shorter than my usual until about 8 months when he began eating more (2 meals a day- pureed foods).

[crunchy_mommy]

DS never had bottles or pacifiers and didn't eat solids (well, didn't eat more than an occasional bite or two) until 14mos. He nursed 20+ times a day and all. night. long. So he was not just exclusively and ecologically BF, he was also excessively BF. Surely that should have held AF back for a good year or two, right??? NOPE, not for me!! AF returned by 9mos. I was so bummed. Though it was a little lighter & much less painful for the first few cycles at least!! (And we have been TTC #2 since he was born but have had NO luck... it's all kind of ironic, really... )

[peainthepod]

With DS I nursed exclusively until 10 months (he had no interest in solids before then) and always ecologically and still got my period back by four months.

With DD we're at six months of EBFing and no period so far. I'm hoping I can stave it off a little longer still... I love not getting periods! 

[latinmom]

There is crazy variability. I had friends who supplemented, etc. who took a year or more to get it back, and I exclusively nursed TWINs on demand-no bottles nothing but me- and mine came back at 6 months. Not fun!

[woodchick]

Nak-

20 months PP after both births.  Ecological breastfeeding, no paci, very occasional bottle, solids around 7 mos, no nightweaning until after AF returned.

I thought it interesting that it was exactly 20mos both times. What are the odds of that?

[erinmattsmom88]

With dd, AF came back at 5 months, but she was not EBF. With DS, AF came back at 10 months. Just had second visit from AF last week. Her visits were almost 7 weeks apart. They have been short, for me, at 7 days apiece and have been very heavy and painful. I have been EBF'ing him nonstop with him not eating much for solids. No paci or bottles for him.

[Orionsmama]

8 months. EBF. I only pump about 6x a week when I work. 3 twelve hours shifts I pump 2x each. No problem with supply as of yet. I do notice a big decrease when I let myself get dehydrated though. No paci and only a bottle from Dad when I am at work

[MnMtm]

24 months here. Hoping for the same this time around!

[isabchi]

18 months with my first, 16 months with my second. Both were  Ecological Breastfeeding, no paci, no night weaning until after 2 1/2 yo or later, started solids around their 6mo (BLW, no bottles, no even sippy). My oldest just self weaning at almost 6 yo and my youngest is no even  close to weaning at 2 1/2 yo

[LaurenS]

17 months after DS1 and 17 months after DS2. No bottles, no pacifiers. Solids started about 9 or 10 months. I'm curious if it will be 17 months this third time around. Currently DS3 is almost 6 months old.

[Sharon, RN]

DS #1- EBF, no pacis, started solids around 9 or 10 months but didn't really eat solid foods until after 12 months.  AF returned around 10 months pp.

DS#2- EBF, no pacis, started solids around 10 months and REALLY got into them fast.  Still nursing.  AF came back around 13 months pp.

I'd almost be willing to get pregnant again to avoid AF.  Almost.  

[Kedrosami]

EBF, no bottles, no paci. Introduced solids around 6 months but not in significant amounts till 9 months.

First AF around 9 months, then nothing, 2nd AF at 11 months, nothing, then pregnant again at 13 months. Totally wonky--good thing we wanted another baby!

[Anna Phor]

13 months for me--and I am a WOH pumping mom, so plenty of bottles in our house. In fact I'm pretty sure that weaning from the pump was what triggered it. Kid still nurses around the clock on days that I'm home and all night long all the time.

[beebalmmama]

I don't know in some ways it seems arbitrary.

My first ds was EBF, did take a paci, nursed around the clock and started solids at 8 months. AF returned at 7 months.

Ds2 was EBF, took a paci, nursed overnight 2-3 times a night and started solids at 7 months. AF returned at 13 months.

Go figure.

[angelpie545]

I don't exactly remember when it was with my girls, but my son is 13 months old and while I've had a little breakthrough bleeding and some cramping, no full-fleged AF has reared her head yet.   Ds was exclusively breastfed until about five months when he started solids, and is still breastfeeding about 4-5 times a day.  I'm pretty certain I won't get AF back until he's weaned, and who knows when that will be.

[pixelmixel]

Exclusively breastfeeding my son, AF returned at month 3 postpartum. I am now 6 weeks pregnant (and my baby is 5 months old.) !!!!

[MamaJenese]

no bottles no paci, 11 months and 14 months.

[annie2186]

My oldest daughter in my siggy is my adopted step daughter

DD2 - I EBF for the first four months and then ONLY nursed at night until about 8 months when I dried up (I had to go back to work - no money for pump) and I got my AF back at exactly 10 months.

DD3 I EBF until about two - she wasn't interested in solids really until about a year - got my AF back at EXACTLY 10 months! I think it was within a day of DD2's AF return.........

RANDOM

It will be even crazier if I get it back at 10 months exactly again. For me it doesn't seem to be effected by much..........It's pretty crazy I didn't get it back for about 2 months after completely weaning at 8 months.

[sortacrispy]

It didn't ;)

My first son weaned at 15 months, I ovulated 10 days later and got pregnant the first try. My second son is now 11 months old and no period in sight.  In September it will be four years since I've had a visit from my period!

I have been fortunate enough not to have to supplement with formula with either boy, so they were exclusively BF until solids were introduced at 7 months. DS1 never took a binky, DS2 did but only sparingly. I coslept at least part of the night with both until they were around 8/9 months old, when they night-weaned. They were both fed on demand.