breastfeeding and your first period?

Terri - posted on 10/28/2012

Mine came back 3 months after birth while exclusively breastfeeding. I had bad cramps the day before and tender breasts a couple weeks leading up to it. Milk hasn't seemed to change at all.

Rachael - posted on 10/23/2012

I breastfed for 15 months and starteds having periods at around 13 months. I think this may have been because I started to only feed my son at night. I was so upset when I got my periods back though, it must have been the hormones lol but make sure you enjoy your tampon free days while they last! :)

Paula - posted on 10/22/2012

Comforting to read all the replies. DS is 16 mo old and was EBF until 6 months when he started solids and 10 months when i went back to work he has been nursing after daycare, at night and early morning, just this past week i've been getting terrible horrible pains like everything inside is trying to fall out just a slight tinge but no "period" i'm wondering if this is the return :( i'm in a lot of pain like labor pains (no way i'm preg...trust me) lol I also had complications after birth with RPOC and went through a lot of hemmoraging, failed surguries (D&C) i had an ultrasound a few weeks ago and they reported everything was okay with my ovaries, tubes and uterus. It feels like everything is pooling up or something very heavy abdomin, very bad pains, I hope i dont hemmorage at work. I hope that it's true what i've been reading that the first one was the worst and this is not what its going to be like from now on!

Marissa - posted on 11/07/2011

My bub is 5mths and ive just got my first period and omg its bad. Never had anything like it in my life this is my 3rd baby.

Ana-Marija - posted on 01/30/2011

I got a period 2,5 months after delivery and my son now have 8 months and we still are breastfeeding. Didn't have any symptoms, no belly pain, no weigt loss :-(, and milk supply was and still are ok!

Katie - posted on 01/23/2011

Funny I saw this I just started today and my baby is 5 months old. My milk supply has not been affected. I my self have been concerned about this.

Ramona - posted on 01/23/2011

Lucky you! I got my first period after a month of giving birth...Can you believe it!! But my fellow breast feeding friends didn't get it until almost the end of the first year or whenever they started weaning. Usually it happens then because there is a change occurring in the body. But everyone is different because like I said I had it throughout the entire time I breastfed... But whenere I did have my period my milk supply would lessen. I could really see the difference when I pumped...I would get a few ounces less. Hope this helps.

Diane - posted on 01/22/2011

With my first 2 kids I got my period back at 9 months, with the twins it was 15 months. It will really depend on how often and how nuch your baby is nursing. It's completely normal to go for a very long time without it if you're nursing on demand so I wouldn't worry at all, as far as unusal symptoms go I'd say the only thing is that it seemed to get easier after each baby :)

Harmony - posted on 01/22/2011

It has been 21 months and I just barely got mine back. I have started working part time and my baby is feeding a little less but still alot at night. My period was actually lighter than it used to be with less cramping. I guess it's trying to ease me in lol! It has been nice but it is good to feel like a normal woman again!

Lissy - posted on 01/21/2011

9 months I got it back

Catherine - posted on 01/21/2011

I have a 20 month old and a 8 week old, I have not had a period since before the birth of my 20 month old. I am loving the freedom of that as well :) Not looking forward to having it return.

Heidi - posted on 01/20/2011

With my first, when I was pumping at work, mine came back around 5 months. However, with my second when I was breastfeeding on demand it was around 18 months, which is about when we started to night wean.

Courtney - posted on 01/19/2011

My period did not return until the week before my daughters 1st birthday and she had been sleeping 8-12 hrs a night for months.
I had no symptoms, it just started and basically went back to normal cycle straight away.

Keri - posted on 01/18/2011

My daughter is 19 months and I've had one period about 3 months ago... She only bf's 3x a day. I've also lost a lot of weight and wonder if that's why I'm not getting a period.. Anyone else have this..??

Jennifer - posted on 01/18/2011

Lucky you! I went 8 months without a period with the first one, and only 4? months with the second. I never noticed any unusual symptoms or changes to my milk supply.

Kristi - posted on 01/17/2011

Don't worry Lisa H! I have 2 daughters, ages 2 3/4 and 7 years old. I exclusively breastfed and then nursed at night (still nurse my little one day/night). My first time around, my period did not return for almost 3 years. With my second, it just came back recently. Never any supply issues or anything else really. I guess I don't feel quite as slender because I get that darned PMS bloat - LOL - but other than that same old, same old. And no warning whatsoever with either period coming on. Lame!

Jo - posted on 01/17/2011

I got mine back when my son was 9 months old. He's now 3 years, 7 months and still breast feeding.

Jenny - posted on 01/17/2011

I breastfed both of my kids and didn't have a period with either one for about 13 months...I saw it as a blessing!

Jennifer - posted on 01/17/2011

I got my period back probably about six months into breastfeeding. We nursed until 13 months with no supply problems. Good luck!

Anne-marie - posted on 01/16/2011

I got my first perIod wen my daughter was 10 months old then had them every 2 weeks after that. In the end I had to ask my dr for the full pill as my milk supply was slowly getting less and less every period I had. My daughter has now been on soy milk for a month now and has gained a kilo in weight. Through me vetting my periods every 2 weeks she didn't gain any weight and was losing weight. Seek medical advice for ur dr if ur concerned about ur supply.

Star - posted on 01/16/2011

Hi Erika,
You may have a dip in your milk supply when you are on your menses. I don't see other symptoms however if you get pms normally, you might again.
Hope this helps,
Star Lactation Consultant in Humboldt County
http://starsnursingcentre.com/

Kristina - posted on 01/16/2011

I started getting periods only five months after I gave birth to my son. I exclusively breastfed him and didn't expect to get it so soon. I do get worse cramps now then before I had my son, but that is the only difference. Also there was no difference in my milk supply and I successfully breastfed my son for two years.
I have read that it is normal to not get your period for two years after having a baby if you breast feed so maybe if you are lucky that will be your case.

Carrie - posted on 01/16/2011

I started mine the day my son turned 6 months. I had no warning it just happened. My periods were super light and only 3 days for the first two months then they went back to what they were before. I breastfed until my son was 1 year and didn't notice any changes in my milk supply.

Erika - posted on 01/16/2011

thanks for your response ladien.... ehhh unfortunately i've got it today :( exactly 10 months today for my son

Mel - posted on 01/16/2011

11.5 months. My daughter was sick, and refused most feedings for about 3 days ....then it arrived! Yuck! Complete with usual period pains. Don't think it affected my milk supply, as my little one got better and got right back to eating like a little piggy LOL

Stephanie - posted on 01/16/2011

16 months with my dd. My ds is now 8.5 months and no sign of her yet, thank goodness. I'm hoping for a break as long or longer than I had with my dd.

Bernadette - posted on 01/16/2011

unfortunately, mine came back after only three months. Didn't have any unusual symptoms before it started, I didn't even know it was coming until I went to the toilet and there it was. I was very disappointed as I'd been hoping it would stay away a lot longer. And it didn't come back slowly either, it pretty much straight away returned to the same type of flow I'd had prior to being pregnant and was just as regular. I was exclusively breastfeeding, and did so until my daughter was almost 6 months too, so unfortunately this is not a guarantee that it won't return. I had thought it'd take a lot longer, and my mum told me that with each of her babies (she had 5) it had taken between 12 and 18 months to come back so I kind of figured I'd be like her and not have to worry about it for a while. Not so :( It'll be interesting to see how I go this time...

Lisa - posted on 01/15/2011

My son's almost a year old and I still haven't gotten it. Then again, I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and I barely used to get it before.

Victoria - posted on 01/15/2011

I did not get my first period until my daughter was 7 months old. It did not affect my supply. It was very heavy and I had horrible cramps.

Robin - posted on 01/15/2011

My period returned somewhere around 10/11 months. My daughter is 14 months now and it did not affect my supply at all. I also did not have any symptoms prior to it returning. It was kind of a surprise when it showed up (an evil surprise, actually). I was really enjoying being without it so enjoy it while you can.

ASHLEY - posted on 01/15/2011

Mine returned when my son was 8 or 9 months old.

Tricia - posted on 01/15/2011

12 weeks after birth. i was EBF too so i was bummed. i nursed for 2 yrs and milk suppy remained the same pretty much but the more i introduced foods, obviously my supply lessened but that was the goal anyway. i have good genes. only gained 18 lbs and lost it quick except the tummy sag. ha now im 8 lbs less than i was when i got pregnsnt but i also moved out of cold winters and dont put on that extra winter coat. oh and no warning when i got my period and they r heavier. oh what fun.

Amelia - posted on 01/15/2011

After my first child, I didn't get it for 17 months. (I pumped until 24 months.) After my second child, I didn't get it for 13 months. (I pumped only 4 more months after that because I got pregnant again two months later.) After my third, I finally got it when he was just days shy of 17 months, and I'm still pumping about 25 oz a day.

Kristin - posted on 01/15/2011

18 months! 'No' to all your questions here. I'm also suspecting that I still didn't ovulate until several months after that. Everyone is different, very different on this!

Jessica - posted on 01/15/2011

My first period came right after my daughter's first birthday. The cramps were terrible (just the first one), but no change in supply and my daughter didn't seem to react as though the taste changed. Still going strong at 22 months!

Caran - posted on 01/15/2011

i got my first period when my son was 13 months old. I stopped breastfeeding after his first birthday.

Allie - posted on 01/15/2011

My son is 8 months old now and I recently had my cycle return. I didn't have anything but cramping before I started. My supply is still the same. I have noticed my son has begun weaning himself from nursing since my cycle returned. It may just be a mere coincidence though.

Sally - posted on 01/15/2011

Most people I know got several months with close to half getting a year or two of no periods. I got 8 weeks with my first and 6 weeks with my second. Both girls were at least a year old before cramps came back at least.
Lucky me :)

Sandy - posted on 01/15/2011

I breastfed for just over a year, exclusively for 6 months. My period came back when my son was 9 months old. My milk supply was fine; my son was getting too busy and wasn't as interested in breastfeeding full time so he was fully self-weaned by 13 months.

Marsha - posted on 01/15/2011

For my first I did not get my period till about 9 months, and my second around 8 months. It is normal.
It did not effect my milk supply, but the fact that my daughter was not demanding so much is why my period came back.
As for weight, I found I had a harder time losing it, but I think that is just because it was my second and my body tends to hold on to fat... LOL.
I do not think I had symptoms - I never knew when I would get it.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/15/2011

I didn't get mine until 17 months PP. We're BFing 4 times during the day and 2-3 at night. The day before I got it, DS skipped his afternoon feeding and another member of my household got her period. So I think those two things triggered an anovulatory cycle for me. It was much lighter than my usual period, and it lasted for fewer days. But I've heard that the first cycle when you *ovulate* PP is the killer, so I'm still waiting for that one! I've also lost weight steadily as the months have gone on, so I didn't notice any change in that department.

Nicky - posted on 01/15/2011

I have just weaned my 9mth old, previously had been BF'ing overnight only for the past month, still no sign of my period... im the only one in our antenatal group who hasnt had it yet, now that i have weaned her completely (its only been a week) im sure it will come back soon.. darn!

Ash - posted on 01/15/2011

My daughter just turned a year old on December 27th and I got my first period 2 weeks before she turned 1. I had absolutely no symptoms and it was a total surprise!

Jordan - posted on 01/15/2011

My dd is almost 31 months...I had one period when she was almost 27 months, but none since. It wasn't painful, but heavier than I remembered and the mood swings were fairly dramatic (also unusual for me). No effect on milk supply though. It's usually the opposite...your milk supply drops (for one or more of dozens of reasons) then you start your period (your body's way of saying your baby is old enough to have a baby brother or sister!)

Kasie - posted on 01/15/2011

I've been breast feeding for almost 6 months so far, I had my period once and that's it. I haven't had it since. I know it's just the breastfeeding too lol cause I'm single and haven't had sex in over a year.

Kelly - posted on 01/15/2011

I got my period back after 9 months. I felt really run down and thought I was getting the flu. I also had bad back pain I never used to have. My periods are different now.

I think my production ("supply" isn't a good word for what our breasts do. We actively produce milk, we don't store a supply of it for more than a feeding or two) slows down a bit around ovulation and right at the beginning of my period, but at 15 months, my baby is still nursing.
I do get breast soreness from ovulation to menstruation, so I take Evening Primrose Oil every day during those days and it completely gets rid of the discomfort.

Sarah - posted on 01/14/2011

I breast fed and when my son was about 8 week, I got the Merina (SP). I bled for about 3 mths (which is normal time frame for that procedure) then it stopped. I had also forgotten about a period, I started loosing my milk at 10 mths due to mastitis (3 times) and once I stopped nursing I had a period...and it was a WHAMMY. CRAMPS, HEAVY, HORRIBLE period.

Ashleigh - posted on 01/13/2011

my daughter is 15 months and still no [period should i be worried ?

Courtney - posted on 01/13/2011

i got my period when my daughter was 4 months old. then didnt have it agian until she was 7 months. and mine is alot heavier and longer too. but i havent seen any affect on my breast milk.

Leah - posted on 01/13/2011

Mine returned when my son was almost 14 months. I noticed a slight drop in my milk production, maybe 1 oz. less when I'd pump in the day or two leading up to it.

My first one was a doozy. I had horrible, horrible cramps and PMS when I'd never had that before getting pregnant. Gotta love hormones. ;)