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Infant feeding

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

Period back when DD is only 9 weeks. Is BF over?

15 replies

chocciechip · 12/11/2011 17:07

We've had a nightmare with BF since she was born - thrush (in fact, I've been on Fluconozole for almost a month now); tongue tie; and now latch issues (BF counsellor thinks she has a small mouth). Despite issues, DD is 95% breastfed. She feeds every 3-4 hours, sometimes a bit sooner. I had to do a lot of expressing due to nipple pain but this was the only way to keep BF'ding.

She has been a good sleeper at night though and from about 2-3 weeks slept as long as 5.5 hours in longest stretch. Sometimes 6 hours and on a couple of occasions seven hours.

Today I think I saw a smear of red blood, coupled with a crashingly low mood which makes me think AF is back. This seems very early and I am so low its unreal.

Is BF over before we resolved everything. I wanted to BF for 6 months and have struggled to keep going. Is there something else I'm doing wrong?

OP posts:
ImpYCelyn · 12/11/2011 17:22

Having a period doesn't stop you breastfeeding. Why would it?

Just keep going.

I BFed until DS was 11m, and he still has an occasional BF now. I had a period at 6 weeks, one at 4 months and one at 9 months. It doesn't always stop them.

chocciechip · 12/11/2011 17:25

I thought AF meant hormones were returning to normal and therefore hormones needed for BF would be affected?

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 12/11/2011 17:28

Some people feed all through pregnancy and tandem feed two children - getting your periods back doesn't mean the end. You often start ovulating again when you have a big gap between feeds, like when a baby sleeps through the night.

Are you both being treated for the thrush?

ImpYCelyn · 12/11/2011 17:33

Nope, you can keep right on going.

organiccarrotcake · 12/11/2011 17:52

Gosh, no, your period isn't going to affect your ability to breastfeed at all.

SOME women don't ovulate until they wean completely, whereas others start really quickly.

SOME women find that their milk drops for a few days before their period but picks up again quickly and this is overcome by feeding more frequently. Many women find no effect at all.

SOME women find that their nipples get a bit sore just before their period. Others don't find any changes at all.

Have you looked into safe contraception while breastfeeding? The mini pill, for instance, is ok, but not the combined pill.

Some other things that flag at me though:

Are you feeling generally low or just with AF maybe returning? Have you spoken to your health visitor about post natal depression?

Has the tongue tie been snipped? If your baby is struggling to open her mouth properly it may seem that it's "small" but may be the TT. If it's snipped you might want to see if it's re-grown.

A month of Fluconazole is a long time. Have you got a review appointment with your GP? Thrush is utterly miserable and if that's still the problem it really needs another look at. It may be that it's not thrush though, and is compression pain from a poor latch which can feel similar to the stabbing pain that you can get with thrush.

There's a lot going on here love, and I would really urge you to talk to someone in person. Maybe your health visitor if she's good with breastfeeding. Certainly a breastfeeding line such as NCT or LLL, or maybe BfN.

You've worked so hard and you CAN do this.

gitinora · 12/11/2011 20:57

I got my period 6 wks after having baby and have had a period each month since, still bf my 11month old.
Having your period will not effect your milk supply.

pooka · 12/11/2011 20:59

Ds2 is 2.2 and still feeding. Periods came back at 8 months (and with dd and ds1).

Hope youre feeling reassured.

Napdamnyou · 12/11/2011 21:00

Exactly the same as the poster above!

Napdamnyou · 12/11/2011 21:01

Oops, same as gitinora. Only have one DS.

MrsMojoRisin · 12/11/2011 21:12

I got my period when DD was 4 months old and I breastfed her till she was 1.

It's makes no difference to breastfeeding

But I agree it is a bit of a bummer in other respects

pipoca · 12/11/2011 21:15

got my first period when DD was 11 weeks and had one every month since..she's 26 weeks now and still ebf.

mathanxiety · 12/11/2011 21:20

Your cycle will have no effect on breastfeeding. It can have an effect the other way round (bfing sometimes means no periods for a lengthy time)

Bfing should never be used in lieu of contraception.

Please take ORganiccarrotcake's advice.

Georgimama · 12/11/2011 21:22

AF stayed away until DS was 8 months. I BF until he was 2. There is no reason to stop BFing just because your period has returned. HOWEVER if you were relying on BFing for contraception (which is not a good idea anyway) you need to sort something.

iwanttomarryjimsturgess · 12/11/2011 21:25

I got my first priod after DD at 10 week spostnatal in spite of her feeding every 90mins day and night. We managed to EBF to 6 months and then after introducing solids fed her breastmilk only til 9-10 months and then occasional formula but mostly breast til 15 months so really this does not mean the end of BF (but make sure you get some good contraception going)

organiccarrotcake · 13/11/2011 22:44

How are you doing, chocciechip?

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