Breastfeeding prolonging your period?

Shedonna - posted on 01/26/2010

I too, nurse a 4 month old baby boy...I haven't had a period at all.

Jessica - posted on 01/19/2010

Yeah, most women do not have their period while they breastfeed. It will come back shortly after your baby is weaned though.

Heidi - posted on 01/19/2010

My daughter is 7 months and I just started my period. I only breastfeed for 4 1/2 months. I had called the Doc and he said not to worry that everyones body is differernt. If you are taking birthcontrol it can prolong it also. I say just enjoy the peroid free life for a while!

Wendi - posted on 01/18/2010

My Daughter is 9mo and i still breast feed and i got my 1stperiod when she was 7mo and than i haven't had on sence.

Katie - posted on 01/18/2010

Breastfeeding does throw off your period. You most likely won't get as long as you continue to breastfeed on a regular basis. My mom breastfed me and all 5 of my siblings until we were 12 months old and she said that she usually got her period around the time we were 9 months old. I am still breastfeeding my 11 month old and I have not gotten it yet. I researched it online and found that it is very common to not get it especially if the baby is sleeping in bed with you at night, which mine still does.

Arena - posted on 01/17/2010

my daughter will be 3 mo on the 28 and i havent had one since i stoped right after birth and with my other daughter i was on track with mine i never missed one so it really just depends on your body at the time but i have heard that some people dont have a period the hole time they are brestfeeding

Natalie - posted on 01/17/2010

I was period free for 13 1/2 months -- it was like heaven. Read 'Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing' for really good information on breastfeeding as birth control and periods while nursing. If you follow the rules (breastfeeding on demand, no pacifiers, nursing at night on demand), the average no period window is 14 1/2 months.

Teija - posted on 01/17/2010

I usually don't get my period back until I wean, at about 1 year. Be careful, I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd the month after I had my 1st period.

Jessica - posted on 01/16/2010

Hello Nicole. I just wanted to add my 2 cents lol. With my first baby I had my period 6 weeks after I had her, and I breastfed exclusively until 4 months. It was a little off, I had immense cramps/ backpain... pain everywhere down there. They were not regular at all until about 1 year after I had her. My son is now almost 6 months. I got my period about 8 weeks after I had him. I was on the mini-pill and I had no cramps, but it lasted about 3 weeks mainly spotting. Almost a month later I got the shot because the mini-pill gave me migraines that lasted days at a time. 3 weeks after I got the shot I had a period that was mainly spotting with about 3 days of heavy bleeding and normal cramping. This period lasted almost a month. 3 weeks after that period ended, just a few days ago, I started another one. This one started off really slow - just a drop or 2 a day - and is slowly, and I do mean slowly, getting heavier. Every woman's body is different. Yes breastfeeding can make you not have a period, but some women still get periods. The type of birthcontrol (you do need a birthcontrol of some sort because breastfeeding is NOT a reliable birth control) does affect your periods too. Some women start taking birth control and their period comes back normal because that's what the pill is designed to do. Some women decide to get the shot, which can make your periods normal or as in my case, extremely abnormal. Some women don't get periods at all on the shot. Don't worry about not having your period. If you are using some type of birthcontrol you are probably not pregnant. I can't say that for sure because it's always possible, but more than likely you're not. If it were me, I would just enjoy the time you are not having your period. :-)

Amanda - posted on 01/15/2010

My period came back 30 days after my daughter wasd born.. Shes 19 mons now, still breastfed and its still very regular- My cramps worsened too since she was born!

Lauren - posted on 01/15/2010

everyone i talked to before i had my two boys told me that breastfeeding would keep your period from coming. that is not how it worked for me. i have been strictly breastfeeding my little boy who is now just over 3 months old and i have had 3 periods already...like they say, its different for everyone

Tanya - posted on 01/15/2010

I have two children, with my son I got my period at about 9 months, when he was nursing less and getting into solid foods. My daughter is 8 1/2 months and I just got my period. I am still breastfeeding her, but she is also more on solid foods. I still breastfeed every 3-4 hours during the day (about 5 times) but she is taking less since eating solids. It definately depends on the person! Anyway it happens, as long as you are not bleeding WAY more than normal, is ok!! :)

Verity - posted on 01/15/2010

I exclusively breastfed my son until he was 17 months old. My period returned 7 weeks after his birth.

Ashlee - posted on 01/14/2010

My little girl is six months i still have yet to see a period

Shanah Cheyenne - posted on 01/14/2010

My son is almost 11 months. I never got my period after he was born. However, I became pregnant again when he was 7 months old. So if you don't have one, don't worry. But just remember its not impossible to get pregnant while breastfeeding either.

Roxanne - posted on 01/14/2010

Mine is 10 months old and I just got my period. I stopped nursing him last month, and I'm sure had I still been nursing that I would have prolonged getting my period further, but we want to work on #2, and I needed to start ovulating for that.

Heather - posted on 01/14/2010

Yes, it is true! Breastfeeding is a natural God-given birth control to allow a decent spacing between children. I have not had my period since June of 2007 and here we are in January of 2010! I found out I was pregnant July of 2007, had the baby April of 2008, and breast fed her until she was almost 11 months (about a month after I found out I was pregnant again). I never had an actual period before becoming pregnant again though. I do, however, remember feeling INCREDIBLY hormonal the month before. So, from early February of 2009 to September of 2009 I was pregnant for the second time...and from September 2009 to present, I've been breast feeding and still haven't had a period. I don't miss it at all!!

Nicole - posted on 01/14/2010

I breastfed exclusively and my period returned 4 months postpartum. It came came every month after.

Sarah - posted on 01/14/2010

I never had my period the entire time I breastfed. I breastfed my son until he was 15 months, the month after I stopped is when I started having my period again. I found it as another blessing of breastfeeding!!

Sarah - posted on 01/14/2010

I never had my period the entire time I breastfed. I breastfed my son until he was 15 months, the month after I stopped is when I started having my period again. I found it as another blessing of breastfeeding!!

Tiera - posted on 01/13/2010

I breastfed, and my period didn't come back for over a year with each of my babies.

Gabi - posted on 01/13/2010

Breastfeeding has nothing to do with your period. My period didn't start until my son was 7 weeks old...it varies after you have a baby. I had a friend who didn't have her period for almost a year, and another who has a 10 week old and still hasn't re-started hers yet. It varies, nothing to worry about! :-)

Cecilia - posted on 01/13/2010

Yea I am not on the pill so I am hoping to be able to not have any periods for a little while longer! :-) But it is def good to know that it could still be coming any day and can even last for a long time!

Jackie - posted on 01/13/2010

i'm also on the mini pill (cos thats the only one u can take when bf'ing) but my OB said to get back on the regular pill as soon as I was done both b/c it would be more effective, but it also controls the consistency of the period better. So basicallly its totally a crap shoot while you bf...but stick with it...its SO GOOD for the baby.

Aliza - posted on 01/13/2010

not to kill the positive mood but its different for everyone. it didnt work for me. I got my period when my son was seven weeks old and I bled for the better part of the next three months, while I was exclusively breastfeeding. after that no period for two and a half months and than a period that lasted almost three weeks. when I was bleeding it wasnt heavy the whole time but it was definitely there. my son is almost seven months old and Im still breastfeeding. I have been on the mini pill since around the time of my first period and my OB says it could have thrown things off for some women. just a good thing to know...

Cecilia - posted on 01/13/2010

yea I guess it is all in the give and take of our body lol. That makes sense that it would be heavier, so I am glad to be able to know that in advance...I am glad that my conclusions or hypothesis turned out to be correct, or possibly correct because like every baby, every body is different! thanks!

Jackie - posted on 01/13/2010

I have talked to several people and myself included did notice that when my period did come back it was much heavier than pre-baby. For me this is still true even after it being back on a normal schedule for 5 months now. I stopped nursing completely last month when my daughter turned one so i am hoping maybe it will start to slow down...but I cant' really complain, I went 19 mos without one =)

Autumn - posted on 01/13/2010

it is different for everyone. if you dont get your period it is perfectly fine as long as you are nursing. i have read in tons of nursing books and pregnancy books that it can take some people up to a year or whenever they decide to stop nursin before they get their period again. i breastfeed my daughter and i didnt have my period til i quit nursing her about 2 in a half months ago. but like i said it is different for everyone

Cecilia - posted on 01/13/2010

I wonder if that means that when I do get a period it will be really heavy...Does anyone know anything about this? That's glad to know that I get extra months without having my period! :-)

Casey - posted on 01/13/2010

i'm bf and my girl is 3.5m n no period! yay!

A - posted on 01/13/2010

I haven't had a period since I had my soon and he's 8 months old now.

Cecilia - posted on 01/13/2010

My son was born on Dec. 5. I am breastfeeding and still have not gotten a period. Also I was not bleeding very long after I had him. I think if you breastfeed it can make you bleed less, but I am not sure. I know a common myth is that when you are breastfeeding you cannot get pregnant, which is not true, so maybe that myth came about because breastfeeding moms did not get a period right away. I was actually just thinking about when I should get mine the other day.

Jackie - posted on 01/13/2010

I didn't get my first until my daughter was 10 months old...it can def happen, especially if you are bf'ing exclusively.

Tiffany - posted on 01/13/2010

I thought that my period would come back around the 6wk mark too.. But my daughter is now a little over 11wks old and I still have not got my period. I read that it is normal.. and I read on babycenter.com that you may not even get it back until around 20wks.

Gillian - posted on 01/13/2010

I am a registered nurse and a breastfeeding mom for 4 months now. You may or may not get your period for the entire time you breastfeed. If you do get them they may or may not be regular. Helpful right? I personally have not had any sign of a period since before my child was concieved, it has been a nice year and a few months and i dont really miss it! Please remember this does not mean that you can not get pregnant. Precautions should be taken to avoid getting pregnant right away as your body needs time to heal and recooperate to be ready for the next pregnancy (if that is what you choose). Talk to yor healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of hormonal (shot or pill) versus nonhormonal (condoms) method of birth control. And it should go without saying (but I will anyway) that the rythem method is not a comprehensive method if you are not having a regular cycle! Good Luck and Congrats, enjoy every second with your little one, it all goes so quickly!

Heather - posted on 01/13/2010

My son is 13 months old and breastfeed and I still have no period. I am not looking forward to it returning either.

Marlene - posted on 01/13/2010

Don't miss mine either!!!

Rachael - posted on 01/13/2010

I've been breastfeeding for 7 months, and I haven't had a period since the end of August in 2008 (when my son was conceived). My doctor said it's very common for a woman never to get a period as long as she's breastfeeding, and not to expect it until I'm done.

Marlene - posted on 01/13/2010

My son is almost 11 months and I still don't have my period.

Patricia - posted on 01/12/2010

My son is 7.5 months and I have only had one period. I went to my doctor and asked and she said it was completely ormal to miss your period. she said it was surprising to her i even got one. usually moms who breastfed wont get theres for a year or two years. everyone is different but thats the only one i have gotten.

Beth - posted on 01/12/2010

I was almost a year without a period with my first boy and am going on 8 mths with no period with my 2nd....very normal! Make sure you use some sort of birth control- yo ucan still get pregnant even though you arent havving a period...my 2nd boy is proof of that- they are 17 mths apart and we were not planning on having them that close! OOPS! :)

Lori - posted on 01/12/2010

I breast fed my first son for 2 years and didn't have a peiod for four months after he was weaned. My second son was bf for a year and I got it about a month after he was weaned.

Alicia - posted on 01/12/2010

With my first son, I didn't have a period until he was a year old. Now, with my second, he's almost 14 weeks and still no period.

Colleen - posted on 01/12/2010

Hello! I didn't get my period back until my son was 14 months. I think it is different for everyone.

Elissa - posted on 01/12/2010

Hi,

I breastfed both my babies exclusively (no bottles) for 6 months and even when they started solids still did not get my period for 12 months. If you supplement feed with bottles you may get a period. If bubby is six weeks old though and getting all his nutrition from you I wouldn't expect to see a period for a while.

Nicki - posted on 01/12/2010

MIne is 6 weeks old and I just started mine, but with my first it never came and they gave me a shot to start it because of medical things they needed to treat but don't let them do that I think it is what caused me to dry up! Anyway I hear that it can cause you to not have one...I only wish I could be that lucky! This period has however been very light and short compared to what I had before baby, so that could be because of breastfeeding, maybe they will atleast be easier while bf!!!

Stephanie - posted on 01/12/2010

I have a 13 month old that still nurses regularly have not gotten a period yet. I spoke with my doctor and she said this is not uncommon or worriesome.

Sandy - posted on 01/12/2010

I didn't have my period for an extra 6-7 months after birth with my first child whom I breastfed for 11 months. An extra 5-6 months after birth with my second whom I breastfed for 15 months exactly. I wanted to go longer with both ,but didnt happen.

Krystle - posted on 01/12/2010

i had my girl in october and have been breastfeeding exclusively. i dindnt get a priod till dec and it was light and only 4 days, this jan i had spoting for a few days and now nothing. so for me, no breastfeeding isnt prolonging my periods at all

Courtney - posted on 01/12/2010

My son is almost 8 months old and i have only had 2 periods since he was born.I think the only reason i had them was because i went on the pill, couldnt remember to take it then i went on the shot.each period happened after each birth control..But i was always told if u breastfeed, most likely u wont have a period