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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

When did you start AF again?

51 replies

lazycow · 21/12/2005 17:18

This is just a question to satisfy my curiosity really. Of those of who who breastfeed or breastfed when did your period come back?
Just interested as I exclusively fed on demand my ds for 6 months (still bf now though only 2-3 times a day as he is 13 months and eats loads of solids)and yet had my first period when he was 3 months old. I have had one every month since though they are ligher and less painful than pre-pregnancy. I know it really varies but was wondering if anyone else had this sort of experience.
Ds was never a really hungry baby - he probably fed 6-9 times in 24 hours, though 9 was more when he had growth spurts. 7-8 times was more normal. He never slept the night until he was 11 months so he fed quite often at night too(usually 1-2 times sometimes more).
Mind you I also bled for a lot of my early pregnancy so I only had the last 6 months of my pregnancy and 3 months after the birth (9 months total) free from the curse. Maybe I'm just bleeder

OP posts:
Pagan · 21/12/2005 20:43

DH was 7.5 months when I got pregnant with DS and I never had a period. I was still bf her up until the very day I conceived. BF DS for 6 months but still no period however I was on the minipill and this was probably the reason according to my doc. I came off the minipill and periods started about a month later so about 10 months after DS was born. They are lighter though.

spruceylucy5 · 21/12/2005 20:45

I breastfed for 17 months and got my period 2 months after I had given birth, on my birthday, says it all really!

muminlondon · 21/12/2005 20:45

9 months. It came back about a month after I reduced bf to once or twice a day (in fact, dd stopped feeding for nearly a week and I would have stopped if I hadn't expressed twice a day). I was much thinner then.

TIPEXmascracker · 21/12/2005 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueshoes · 22/12/2005 09:27

Breastfed for 17 months. Started AF 2 months after stopping bf-ing. So had a good run of freedom from flow - almost 2 years! Bled throughout first trimester. Thin but was very "rounded" post-pregnancy and took 1.5 years to return to pre-preg weight.

MummyDayDream · 22/12/2005 10:11

MNet strikes again, I had just logged on to post about this very issue!!!!! Ds is 20 weeks, and having had such horrid periods after dd was born, it's been with horror that I've recognised the dragging, achey tummy feeling all this week. Guess it'll be Christmas Day. Or Christmas Eve, as it was after dd was born (she was then 22 weeks). Tbh, it's making me feel really low, as if my body has let me down - but I guess that's hormones - I think because I'm bf I'd hoped that my body would give me more of a break!
Sorry, I sound rather pathetic, I know.....

MummyDayDream · 22/12/2005 11:11

Sorry - I'm such a sad git that now I've killed this thread!
Forgot to say before - am now lighter that I was pre-pg, although still with waterbed tummy look - soooo attractive...... What's the theory with body fat - that if there's a reasonable amount, your body thinks, "Wahay, time to get going again" or what? - Hmm, not a scientific turn of phrase, but still.

walkinginawelshmumwonderland · 22/12/2005 11:22

Mine came back at 7 months - when I stopped bf in the night. I'm a stone thinner than I was at this stage with dd. Just had one and it was incredibly light and last about 2 days, but they were always pretty light though.

Eulalia · 22/12/2005 12:02

No 1 took 13 months to return, No2 took 18 months, No 3 only 4.5 months old and not returned. I have normal cycles in between.

TWP · 22/12/2005 12:24

nearly nine months and nothing at all. Still BF twice a day and occasional nights when teething. Am slim but 32. Hope to concieve again without having one, that would be nice, it does happen sometimes I am told

Nettee · 22/12/2005 18:39

8 months and then another one 7 weeks later. Still breast feeding.

foundintransleightion · 22/12/2005 18:57

ds is 7mo, still basically fully bf, in early stages of weaning (ie bit of finger food at lunchtime).
Had my first period a month ago, very light, and actually thought it was probably a 'one-off'. Started the next one just under a week ago (so about a 24-day cycle!) - seems all back to normal.

foundintransleightion · 22/12/2005 18:59

I'm 28 btw. And I do think I have more body fat than before pg - I weighed 49kg pre-pg, about 56 now and just rounder all over.

teabagsandwine · 22/12/2005 19:44

a very tiny show when ds was 2 months & a light one at 6 months. I am still BF 3 times a day. I was outraged each time! I forgot they existed.

mrsdarcy · 22/12/2005 19:50

sazhig, what's a mooncup?

DD is 5 months, fully bf and still no sign of AF.

mokola · 22/12/2005 20:42

Been bfing for nearly one year now and no af yet. I am overweight and have always had irregular periods anyway. Quite glad really!

Tamz77 · 22/12/2005 22:40

Still breastfeeding ds (2.4 yrs) and af returned just after he turned 2. Which - including pregnancy - gave me almost 3 yrs off. Bliss.

Gracesmum · 23/12/2005 04:23

i started periods again after 12 weeks. breastfed for 9 months and i am a curvy (sexy) lady. mine are heavier than ever and i feel more irritable than before pregnancy. oh the joys of being a woman.

Eulalia · 23/12/2005 08:33

Hi Mrs D. I found this (never used it myself)...

The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup around two inches long and made from soft silicone rubber. It is worn internally like a tampon but collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing. Unlike tampons the Mooncup is not a disposable product, so you only need to buy one.

The Mooncup will hold 30ml of fluid, which is roughly one third of the average total produced each period. A light seal is formed with your vaginal walls allowing your menstrual fluid to pass into the Mooncup without leakage or odour. You will probably find that you need to empty your Mooncup less frequently than you currently replace towels or tampons.

More here mooncup info

Original poster
lazycow · 23/12/2005 14:50

It is good to see there is a variety of answers. I am most def not thin, so maybe the weight is a factor - looks like another reason to lose weight-sigh

OP posts:
ohKARMAallyefaithfulMOTHER · 23/12/2005 19:16

lazycow, with ds I bf for 17 months & never had a period. Even when I was ony giving him a bedtime feed only. 2 wks after the final feed & felt like I was ovulating & 2 wks later had first period. Interestingly, I was painfully thin & unwell. Now I'm bf dd who is 4wks. I'd assumed I'd not have any periods like last time but now that I've read there might be a link with body fat I'm a bit depressed. I'm now a healthy size 14 (& would like to lose a bit of weight) so I wonder if my cycle will return sooner. We shall see.
BTW, I used the mooncup years ago & it was a right faff, IME. It leaked quite a bit & I hated the fact I'd leave public loos with blood on my hands (sorry about the TMI) after emptying the bloody thing.

edodgy · 23/12/2005 19:59

with dd1 I bf on demand for 14 weeks and started my period at 10 weeks not bloody fair!!

edodgy · 23/12/2005 19:59

oh yeah and i'm fat lol.

Passionflowerinapeartree · 23/12/2005 20:01

Six to eight weeks after the very last bfeed for all three. At the end they were on only one feed and I fed until solids were established at about seven months for each.

Passionflowerinapeartree · 23/12/2005 20:09

Am thin and had DD3 aged 30 if this helps.