Breastfeeding mum's - has your cycle returned? What's the average?

Lydia - posted on 01/24/2013

hey im lele, n i still breastfeed and my son turns 1 on the third of next month(feb.). i started back my cycle three mos ago n everyone of them ran on 28 day cycle like i normally do. but the start of the new year i was due to come on on the 25 of the month but so far its not here!!!! its looking like my body is preparing for another child.. im gone wait a lil longer before i test but i think i know, not the way i planned to be, mixed feelings right any advice anyone?????

Tracy - posted on 11/20/2012

My baby is 12 months old and I still breastfeed him, I just notice I started my period? Can that be right.

Amber - posted on 03/31/2012

16 months and still no return cycle

LAMPRINI - posted on 01/09/2012

my period returned 8 months after for 5 days and since then nothing again

Alishia - posted on 01/05/2012

i currently have an 8month old and still no sign of my cycle. This is my third child and with the other 2 my period was back by 3 months...(with my second child i was still nursing at that point). This is the first true booby baby i have so i am not really surprised that it is taking longer than the last two for everything to kick back into gear, i just wish it was an easily calculated thing. Unlike you, i want to know so i can avoid gettign pregnant again. for me 3 is enuff (though if the universe deems it necessary for me to have another i will go with it). So i think its a case by case thing. You may be ovulating and just not having a period (that is possible too). Maybe the best way to find out would be an ovulation test kit thing....keep track of whats going on with the body. Just an idea :) good luck with it all :) Love and light

Amber - posted on 12/15/2011

Your usual has already showed with your three children. I am one of the unlucky that get periods the entire time I breastfeed :) Hoping that this time, my fourth child, that maybe I will get lucky in between breastfeeding and depo, not looking likely LOL But what has happened with your other children is what is likely to happen again, it is the way your body functions. Good luck!

Billie - posted on 04/19/2010

Every womans body is going to be different. I started spotting at 6 months we I started feeding her solids and she slowed in the nursing aspect of it.

Roeshell - posted on 04/16/2010

I don't get my period while I'm breastfeeding but in saying that you can still fall pregnant and I do a pregnancy test once every three months even though I am on the mini pill but I conceived 2 of my children while on contraceptive pills. with my 1st child I didn't get my period at all. I stopped breastfeeding 1st when he was 18mths to try for 2nd child the week after I did a test a found out I was pregnant and after the birth of my 2nd my period came back when my daughter was 5mths and she wouldn't take the breast. With my last child who is 10mths and still breast feeding I haven't got my period yet but still do pregnancy test every 3 months.

Jessica - posted on 04/01/2010

I'm not much help here but my period came back at 6months. Its now 9 months and I havent had mine for last month (march). My period before that wasnt all that normal. In feb I spotted at the begining of the month for like a couple days and then nothing and then I had my period at the end of the month. But now nothing. I wish you the best of luck!

Torrie - posted on 04/01/2010

3rd bubba and at 8 months she came back...9months for the first 6months for the second...and even now at 9 months had a little one (still breastfeeding) not that Im planning on having another 3 is enough. but every woman and every baby is different

Courtney - posted on 03/31/2010

My daughter will be 10 months on the 23rd and my period has still not returned! Thank goodness!

Jessica - posted on 03/31/2010

I breastfed my son till 13 months (by then it was just in the morning and I got my 1st period about a week after stopping completely. I stopped then because wen wanted another baby and I got preg within a month, now I am the same - 9.5 months and no period and I want to try for another so am considering stopping BF soon, since my body obviously does not do it's thing while feeding - now no nighttime (not for 3-4 months) and 2-3 feeds per day depending on if I am working.

Kris - posted on 03/31/2010

ds has never sttn, and nurses every few hours around the clock. i still got af back at 6mo this time. when he was 8mo we got pg again.

Amber - posted on 03/31/2010

I bf my 1st two babies and never had a "period"/bleeding but got pregnant when both girls were 9 months old. My 3rd is now 9 months old....so needless to say I am being extra careful!

Tina - posted on 03/31/2010

Most of you are all so lucky! With my daughter, who I am still breastfeeding at almost 10 months, AF returned at 3 months PP right on the dot! With my last son, I do believe it was right around the same time and he too was exclusively breastfed! UGH!

Elizabeth - posted on 03/30/2010

Mine hasn't returned yet and I've been breastfeeding/pumping quite regularly since he was born, about 9 and a half months ago. I was actually curious about the same thing, because I'm starting to become anxious, also wanting kids somewhat close in age.

Andrea - posted on 03/30/2010

My daughter is 9 months and nothing yet. I lost a lot of weight (I was 197lbs at my last doctor appointment before I had my daughter and am now 125), so I thought that it was because of that. Glad to know that I'm not the only one out there who hasn't gotten it back yet. I thought I should have gotten it back by now, but I guess it isn't abnormal not to. I too am breastfeeding.

Stephanie - posted on 03/30/2010

I've only gotten my period after weaning which was at 9 mos with my first and 15 months with my second. Nothing so far this time either.

Dulce - posted on 03/30/2010

My daughter is 9M and I just got mine. I am still breastfeeding.

Susan - posted on 03/30/2010

my daughter is 9 1/2 months and I still havn't gotton my period.

Jennifer - posted on 03/29/2010

Mine returned at 8 months post partum, my other friends got their's about then too.

Kristi - posted on 03/29/2010

I got my first post-partum period in September, 3 months after my daughter was born. It was shortly after I started to wean her off the breast. It wasn't bad at all. I didn't get another period until the end of November & it too was a breeze. I haven't breastfed in 6.5 months yet I still produce a minute amount of milk and have not had another period since Nov., although I did have some spotting a couple weeks ago. I never was regular even before I got pregnant so it's kind of hard for me to say if the production of those few drops of milk make any difference in my cycle or not.

Rachel - posted on 03/29/2010

My little one is almost 10 months and theres no sign of mine yet!

Thrisha - posted on 03/24/2010

at about 6 months with both kiddos(1st &2nd). Both were only BF also.

Marina - posted on 03/23/2010

with DS1 I nursed for 20 mo. Didn't get a period til 15 mo. got pregnant 2 mo after that first period. I bf while pregnant for the first 12 weeks but on the day of wk 12 nearly miscarried and stopped breastfeeding. Had DS2 and he is now 9+ mo and still bf 6x per 24hrs. and eating large meals 3x per day but still no period. I would like to get pregnant again soon but who knows, I was thinking I would but an ovulation predictor kit and see if I even ovulate yet. The other day it kinda seemed like I might be. I was wondering though- is it safe for the baby if I get pregnant with out having had a period to clean out the oven so to speak- since I haven't had a period in so long??

Nidia - posted on 03/22/2010

My son is 9 months and still nothing. Are the women who have gotten their period using oral contraception...I just wonder if it helps your body get into a cycle again?

Misty - posted on 03/21/2010

My little girl is 9 months still nothing yet. We stopped the night feedings at 6 months. So I don't think that was a factor. From what I've read it's just different for everyone.

Sarah - posted on 03/16/2010

mine returned when my son was 5 months old, i fed my daughter for 13 months and it didnt return till she was around 12.5 months i got down to one feed before it returned. This time round im still feeding but also have a period it sucks.

Leanne - posted on 03/16/2010

I have been bf for 9 months now & my period returned when my lil one was 6 months, it has come every month since and is quite heavy and last 7 days, whereas before i had my lil boy it wasn't heavy & would last approx 4 days. Now I just have 2 b careful as we do not want another child 4 at least a few more years.

Laurie - posted on 03/16/2010

mine returned when my baby was six months also for 3 days and nothing since.

Keely - posted on 03/14/2010

Mine returned about 7 months after giving birth.

Mel - posted on 03/13/2010

mine returned after 4 months and was exclusivley breastfeeding. started the mini pill but soon gave that up after bleeding for 3 weeks out of 4 and am currently 16 weeks pregnant with number 2! there will only be 15 months between babies, but who wants a big gap between them anyway!!!

Dale - posted on 03/05/2010

my daughter will be 9 months on the 12th of this month and i only just got my first period 3 days ago and it stopped last night

Shavon - posted on 03/05/2010

Connor will be 9 months on the 8th and still nothing. He is still breastfed and I didn't have regular cycles pre baby so who knows when I will have to deal with the dreaded evil Aunt Flow again.

Tara - posted on 03/05/2010

i got mine at 8 months..well i think thats what it was. It was only for two days and very light. I'm waiting to see if i get it this month..just think it's weird cause thought only get it when you stop breastfeeding and that hasn't stopped yet.

Ashley - posted on 03/04/2010

Don't feel bad Kendra...I'm in the 2 - 2.5 month boat with you, lol! My daughter started sleeping through the night as soon as we brought her home. I checked on her throughout the night, but I didn't wake her just to feed her. I attribute the lack of nighttime feedings as the main cause for my cycle returning so quickly.

Jennifer - posted on 03/04/2010

My baby is 8 months, soon to be 9 months on the 19th and he's still breastfeeding and he's also eating baby food twice a day. I haven't had a period yet and I hope I don't get one anytime soon.

Kylie - posted on 03/04/2010

Iam all for brestfeeding while you pregnant as long as you getting good rest & support why should you choose. On the other hand i totally understand the need to have a break

Kylie - posted on 03/04/2010

Hi Cindy, I too had a miscarriage with an unexpected pregnancy shortly after my first son. My periods never really returned to normal between children because i continued breastfeed during my second pregnancy.
They are more likely to return to normal when there are long gaps between feeds. My second son is now 8mths old and i have just had my first period last week, but Dylan hasnt feed during the night for a couple of months so it will be interesting to see if they return to some sort of regular cycle??. Iam not sure if i want to have more babies my mind changes everyday, i think i might need to have a break for the last 4 years i have either been pregnant of breastfeeding. Good luck

Ainsley - posted on 03/03/2010

I have a 9 month old and still nothing, however I know someone who was breastfeeding her twins and when they were 8 months old she got pregnant again. She blames spending time with her menstruating sister to bring on her first cycle and invaribly got pregnant straight away!

Krystal - posted on 03/03/2010

Alexa just turned 8 months a few days ago.. still no period. im still nursing but only through the night. i secretly hope to get pregnant again "on accident" lol.

Lauralea - posted on 03/03/2010

Mine returned 12 weeks after giving birth - UGH! My son was solely breastfeeding and about every 2-3 hours everyday and several times during the night for the first 4 months so I was very disappointed to be dealing with that again so soon.....

Raquel - posted on 03/02/2010

The average is 8mo although anything goes after 6mo if you are exclusively breast feeding. I swore, and so did my OB, that I was ovulating and should have had one in Jan when my daughter was 6.5 mo old and still exclusively bf. It didnt happen until just now that she is 8mo old. Glad too as I was quite puffy and tender while bf due to PMS. As for regularity, that will vary. If you were regular before pregnancy, typically you are after as well. I can't speak on that from personal experience as this was my first cycle post pardom. Only time will tell for me, but those are the stats. Enjoy shagging while you can without it and it may happen for you!

Jo - posted on 03/02/2010

Hi, I'm in the same boat. I'd love to have another baby and bit closer in age to number 2. After my first son, my period returned about 9 months (maybe?!) and I remember feeling cheated that it wasn;t a full year! This time, DS2 is 9 months and I'm desperate to regain fertility! STill no periods, but as someone said, that doesn;t mean I'm not ovulating.. so might as well get on and try! Best of luck,

P.S. still breastfeeding 3 times a day, but the wee guy has finally started sleeping a bit better and not having a feed at night.. so hopefully cycle will start up again soon. x



N.B. Just to let you know that since I wrote that, I got my period! 9 months and 10 days after giving birth. Here's to ttc no.3 ! x

Jessica - posted on 03/01/2010

My son is 8.5 months and I got mine for the first time a couple weeks ago. I think it started because Kieran started sleeping longer stretches at night, so I've been either nursing him only once at night or not at all (on the occasions he sleeps through). I knew when my cycles were starting again because I felt ovulation pains about a week before my period started. I've heard they can be irregular the first few cycles too. We aren't going to ttc yet, though I'd love to! I want to pay close attention to my cycles though so that when we do start trying (probably the end of this year) I'll know when I'm fertile!

Lindsay - posted on 03/01/2010

I am still breastfeeding my 8 month old daughter and my cycle has not returned yet.

With my first, it returned around 3 months, but I had also stopped breastfeeding by then and was exclusively pumping and formula feeding so that might have had something to do with it.

Janet - posted on 03/01/2010

I am still breastfeeding and my cycle has not returned so I am curious too what the average time for it to return is.

Carolinna - posted on 03/01/2010

From what I know, you are fertile whether your period is back or not. Mine just returned...8 months. Not excited about it I have to say.

Carin - posted on 03/01/2010

I breastfed my first as well and, if I remember correctly, started my period again around 6 months. My second is now almost 9 months old and my cycle has not started. But as you know from your miscarriage, you don't need a period to get pregnant! You can get pregnant fairly soon after giving birth, which is one of the reasons why they want you to wait at least six weeks before having sex.

Natasha - posted on 03/01/2010

Mine returned when my baby was about 6 1/2 months. He was sleeping through the night since 4 months and had started eating a good bit of table food at that point.