Nursing & Menstruation

Jennifer - posted on 02/19/2009

if it makes you feel better I am going through the same thing. My son is now almost 9 months and I am experiencing PMS but also no menstruation.

Angela - posted on 02/19/2009

Thank you all for sharing!  I too am very happy to not have a true cycle right now, but also a bit concerned.  I want to know when I'm going to ovulate becasue we are not ready for our third.  Our baby is only 6 months old and I would like to wait at least until Decmeber of this year.  I would imagine with all my PMS signs I will be having it back soon enough.  I have this fear in the back of my head that I am pregnant.  Even though I'm not.  When a women does get pregnant again while nursing still does she have to stop nursing?  Will her milk change?  I would imagine with all the hormones she would need to stop rather soon after finding out.   

Teresa - posted on 02/19/2009

My son was exclusively nursed on demand and didn't sleep longer than 3 hours at a time IF that much and my period started when he was 2.5 months old.  No break for me!

Sarah - posted on 02/19/2009

Every woman is different, although it is very normal not to have your cycle until you are finished nursing.  My son is almost 7m. old and I still have not menstrated as well.  It can come at any time but may not until you stop nursing.

Soffie - posted on 02/19/2009

I have been exclusivly breastfeeding my son of almost 4 months now and my period returned in the 2nd month...A lot less symptoms than before, meaning no cramping and less flow and shoeter lenghts but still getting it every month... sometimes twice a month.:(:(

Laura - posted on 02/19/2009

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, it can take far longer to begin cycling again. If you are "ecologically" breastfeeding (sometimes called "attatchment parenting"), this means that you give no supplements of any kind--no pumping/bottles of breastmilk, no water, no formula, no pacifier--and it usually means that as long as you keep up this on-cue feeding/parenting style, you may not cycle for quite a while. If you do choose to supplement in any way, know that this can lead to issues with supply down the road, and can bring a return of your fertility earlier than you perhaps expected.



The length of time your baby sleeps at night also has an effect on your fertility. If your baby is sleeping for four hours or longer at a time, the chance that your fertility will return within six months of baby's birth is much greater. We had success in encouraging stronger signs of fertility by helping our fourth baby learn to sleep longer at night (he was 2 and had the verbal skills to understand) and making sure I was sleeping soundly for at least 6 hours each night in true darkness.....but that might be another post all together. ;)



In my experience, I have gone for as short as 10 months after my first child--with supplemental bottle feeding, my working double and triple shifts to make ends meet, and frequent overnights away from her--to as long as 26 months after our third--with ecological breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and a few other factors thrown in there. New to me this time around is an apparent very early return to fertility. Katie is our fifth child, and she is a tremendous sleeper, thanks be to God! I've seeing definite signs of my fertility returning for about a month (spotting, increase in fertile-type mucus, etc.). We are prayerfully discerning the timing of our next baby.



I hope this helps!

Christine - posted on 02/19/2009

Melissa, this just happend to me a couple of weeks ago and sure enough I started my period again.  I had a significant drop in production.  He had enough to eat, but I couldn't pump for the life of me.  I increased my water intake, and started drinking mother's milk tea.  I think I am about where I was before, production wise.  I eat oatmeal with my son once and a while and this helps...why is that? 

Don't give up on nursing.  Remember- supply and demand.  You will return to 'normal' soon enough.  I thought it was great not having my period for almost 2 years!!!  I was sad though when I got it...it made me feel like it was the end of him being a baby... :(

Melissa - posted on 02/19/2009

My daughter just turned 9 months and I still haven't had my period although I've just started noticing PMS type symptoms and it seems to have coincided with a drop in production which I am trying to counteract.  I really want to nurse for a year at least.  I'm curious to see if the symptoms go away if I start producing more again.  Either way, I've recently realized that I haven't had my period for a year and a half - pretty great if you ask me! :-)

Nekreiea - posted on 02/19/2009

yES i HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM DID YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR. i THINK i HAD START SEEING MY PERIOD LIKE WHEN MY LITTLE GIRL WAS LIKE 8 MONTHS

Gina - posted on 02/19/2009

My daughter was 6.5 months old when I got my period and my daughter was exclusively breast fed

Krystal - posted on 02/19/2009

i got pregnant with my daughter when my son was only 4 months old, exclusively breast fed. i did not get my period. i did not get a period from the time i got pregnant with my son until my daughter was 14 months old.

Good luck!

Alison - posted on 02/19/2009

ive had three children all exclusively breastfed. I got my cycle back by six months, four months and three months respectively. Different every time as you can see. A good friend of mine did manage to get pregnant before she knew her cycle had returned. She was exclusively b/feeding. She now has two daughters 11 months apart.

Lisa - posted on 02/19/2009

As some of the others have said, every pregnancy and birth is different which affects us in different ways. My periods have taken longer to return after each baby. With my first they came back in 4 months, my second was 8 months and my third was 11 months.

Sharon - posted on 02/18/2009

I pumped exclusively for 8 months with my first born and didn't get my period until month 7 when I noticed a dip in my supply. I think every pregnancy is different. My baby is now approaching 3 months and still no period. No compaints here.

Sheralie - posted on 02/18/2009

My doctor told me it is different with each woman and birth. With my first I pumped for seven months and I didn't have my period until I stopped. My son is six months tomorrow and no period yet. I say enjoy it while you can :P  lol

Mary - posted on 02/18/2009

I have had stuff like that go on. It does sound like you will get it back within a month or two. Or, this may go on for months. :) All normal tho, and to do with hormonal fluctuations, age, amount baby nurses... so many variations.

I say, don't worry about it, just enjoy the money you are saving on feminine supplies while you can! lol

Allison - posted on 02/18/2009

The range is different for everyone and every pregnancy/post-pregnancy. Some women get it back within a few months, and others go 20 months or more. With my daughter, I was pumping at work and it came back at 9 months. With my son, I was still nursing on demand and it came back at 10 months (I was hoping for longer!). So, it just depends. You *could* ovulate without a period, too, so that may have been what you were feeling a month ago.

Linda - posted on 02/18/2009

To Rebekah-  it's unlikely to get pregnant before a returning menses, but not impossible!  I'm a big supporter of breastfeeding for the first year at least, so I don't want to dicsourage you from it.  As long as your son is starting solids, maybe cutting back on night time nursings could help your cycle return faster.  Usually nursing at least every 4 hours while your baby is younger than 6 months is a reasonable means of contraceptive (NOT FOOL PROOF!)  so spacing nursings out could help it return.

Linda - posted on 02/18/2009

I only got mine two weeks before my son's first birthday.  I noticed too that I was getting pms-y at innoportune moments as it approached. (I liked not having a cycle, but I like having only 3-4 days of being irritable instead of whenever.)  It sounds like it might be a few weeks off, but it's on it's way.  If you'd like specific info, look up a local La Leche League Leader.  They can help you with more technical information.  As long as you are nursing, your cycle may be irregular, so I wouldn't rely on timing for a contraceptive, especially that your son is already 6 months old.

Rebekah - posted on 02/18/2009

I also have been breastfeeding and have not had a period yet either, my son is also 6 months.  We would like to try to get pregnant again soon as my hubby is a bit older but because I have not had a period can I still get pregnant?

Christine - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi Angela!  There is no straight answer to your questions.  It varies by woman, and then by each child.  Here is a link to kellymom explaining some things on breastfeeding and fertility.  It is some pretty interesting stuff.  My son is 10 months, and I just recently had my cycle return.  I have been exclusively breastfeeding, but he has recently increased the amount of solids he is eating.  Its funny though, because he hasn't really decreased the nursing sessions that much! 

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertil...

Amanda - posted on 02/18/2009

My OB and my Pediatrician said that I may not get it at all until I'm done nursing...