benefits to mother of bfing once period has returned

[mainlymayday]

Hi all,
I am still wondering whether to continue with bf - my daughter is 5 months. She has always had one bottle of formula, at night.

Anyway, this morning my period returned (note my campaign to end use of "AF" on the "am I being unreasonable?" board!). I was a bit surprised as I thought bf would stave it off for longer.

Anway, I think I thought that bfing was good for mothers as it stopped their menstrual cycles and the resulting hormone levels were good in some way (helped against some sort of cancer, can't remember what).

As my hormone levels have clearly, and disappointingly, returned to normal, are there still any benefits for me?

Interested to know. thanksx

Yes & even more for your little one!!My periods returned after 2 months as DS dropped night feed so wasnt producing some hormone to warn of periods ( i think but am sure someone else can be far more scientific than that)
As for mums benefits - think its ovarian cancer not sure if breast cancer too, osteoparosis ( gosh I really cant spell!!) & weight loss too.But more important are all the benefits that your little one will get is you continue. Can you hang on in there for another month & then reduce your bf if you need when weaning?

hello. Well my period returned when baby was 4 months. He is mixed fed now ( solids, formula, breast, expressed breast milk - everything really)at 10 mths. I think he is still getting the benefits from the antibodies and me? well, the whole family has had at least two colds/ flu viruses/ chest infections this winter and I have not been ill once. Not a sniff.

my point is that I think it helps your own immunity as well.

that's all interesting, thanks.

I think you must be right about my immunity. I have been weirdly healthy this winter!

I will carry on for the time being. Going to have to reduce to twice a day when I go back to work in April but it seems like there are still some benefits for me too.
x

Your period returns if you go without bf for long periods of time at night. Mine came back at 5.5 months although I excl. bf until 6 months and still bf ds who is now 2.8 yo. It depends on your body too.

Slightly or very overweight women usually get their periods back sooner than skinny women. I have a size zero friend who didn't get her period back ages and ages after me, though we both bf.

Yes, there are many many benefits for the mother. Never my main reason for continuing bf, but certainly important to know these.

Look up kellymom.com, she gives a list as does Dr Jack Newman.

Dont have to "make" a bottle in the middle of the night....grab baby & just latch on.

Spare hand to hold a book whilst breast feeding would be engaged if you were holding a bottle

ah yellow rose, that's why then. She's just started sleeping through...

And you can also eat while bf, as you've got a free hand, or even type messages to all the lovley ladies on mumsnet!!

I was breastfeeding ds exclusively, up to 6 times per night, am not overweight (but not skinny either)... and my periods were back at bang on 6 months. And almost immediately regular. I was so surprised I thought there was something up with me rather than it was my period. So the variation on this among individuals is enormous.

mainlymay - yes the sleeping through and one bottle of formula would both contribute to your hormone changes.

berolina - me neither I am not huge, a bit overweight.

But periods in young girls tend to start sooner in bigger girls. Skinny or very underweight girls don't have periods, like a friend of mine who suffered as an anorexic and only got her first period when she was 17.

I think it must have some biological reason that very skinny/underweight women may be less fertile.