Return of periods while breastfeeding

[elliott]

Hi folks
This is my first post, though I've been lurking for a few weeks.
My question is this: has anyone else experienced NO missed periods at all in spite of exclusively breastfeeding? After the birth of ds, I bled for 4weeks, then 2 weeks later I had my first period!! At that time was breastfeeding about 2 hourly day and night. My cycle pretty much established itself back to normal straight away.
I have never met anyone else this has happened to, all my friends had months and months without periods. I just wondered whether anyone else has experienced this.
DS is now 10 months - I b/fed exclusively for 16 weeks and stopped completely at 6 months. When I introduced solids (16 weeks) he underwent such a personality change that I now feel he may have been hungry much of the time before, and wonder whether my supply was always a bit marginal, and that the return of my periods is an indication of this (not to mention feeling somewhat cheated of one of the rewards of b/feeding!!). But that may be for another thread so I'll stop there.
Look forward to hearing from you

eulalia, thank you for your kind words, however none of it really adds up for me. I kept waiting for him to get down to 10 minute feeds, as the books assured me would happen once feeding was well established, but it was not to be - we were still going strong on approx 40 minute feeds every 2 hours-ish at 3 months!! Ms Bountiful I was not, I think.
I thought that the suppression of lactation was due to prolactin damping down the hormones that make you ovulate - so wondered whether less prolactin might mean earlier periods - but it is a long time since I read about this so may have it all wrong!

Eulalia that would make sense for me as both dds were very efficient (5 mins each side) feeders. However the skinny/fat thing doesn't apply as I was v. underweight first time and v.overweight second time.

I'm glad to hear I'm not alone with the early periods! Can anyone help me with this? I have been breastfeeding exclusively for 3 months now and have just got my first period. I found that a few days before it started my baby started having only really short feeds and would fuss and even bite when I tried to make her take anymore. I have heard the flavour of the milk can be affected by period hormones and I wonder has anyone else experienced this and if so how long does it last. She is still fussy and I'm worried. Also will this happen every month???

Just as I thought my post-pregnancy loss was beginning to dry up - I think I'm having a period. Is this possible?? Dd2 is not yet 6 weeks old and fully breastfed. She is an extremely efficient feeder and sleeps through the night - although thats in theory a good thing I do worry that she's not getting enough milk and that has been compounded by the return of my periods. Should I wake her up and try to feed her more in the night??? I'm confused. She's gaining plenty of weight and seems happy and contented.

Enid - if she is gaining weight, has proper nappies (you know plenty of wet and dirty!)... + happy and contended - I would not worry.
DD also did her nights (1030PM to 7AM) at 6 weeks... but my periods came back when she was 11 months old though!
Are you sure they're back???

Enid, my periods came back when ds was 6 weeks, just 2 weeks after the post-partum bleeding finally stopped! It was definitely a period - followed by another about 5 weeks later, then every 28 days ever since! A couple of other folks on this thread has had similar experience, but before that I'd never known any breastfeeders with periods returning so early.

I was exclusively breastfeeding too, with feeds about 2 hourly day and night, so it may not even be anything to do with the long night without feeding. Just bad luck. As long as dd is thriving with good weight gain and dirty nappies etc, I'm sure things are going just fine. Look at it this way, bad luck with the periods, great luck with the nights!!!

Well, without going into too much detail, my loss has changed back to being heavier and red after a couple of weeks of being very light.

Good to hear yours went through at this age pupuce, I know it seems silly to worry but it just seems so early for her to be sleeping all those hours! And I didn't even do GF this time, honest!

I did worry when I started bleeding again that it might be related to the birth - although it seems a long time for a problem to reveal itself. I guess if you're feeling unwell or feverish, or have pain (other than what you'd normally expect) then it might be worth checking out with the HV or GP - have you had a postnatal check yet?

elliott, missed your post earlier! Its strange isnt it - very reassuring to hear that you were feeding so often and they still came back early. I do feel slightly cheated! I haven't had my 6 week check yet, its next week, so I'll mention it to the gp.

Must remember to mention to dp that I'm obviously fertile again

Message withdrawn

Enid - same thing happened to me. It's not fair is it? Don't waken her during the night if she is feeding well and putting on weight. Which is more important - a full night's sleep or no periods?

Thanks mears, she was weighed on Friday and had put on a corking amount of weight and is generally a happy bunny so I'm going to start letting myself enjoy those unbroken nights!

sb34, unfortunately in my case periods bear no relation to fertility - ds is an ivf baby.

Should you get periods when breastfeeding?

mine returned when dd was 9 mths old, I breastfed her till she was nearly two, though only exclusively (no solids) for 5 mths.

Mine came back at 8 months, when ds started cutting feeds out of his own accord. We are all different. Some are 'lucky' and don't get them until they stop b/f'ing, and others get them almost immediately.

All situations are normal!

Periods returned when ds was 9 months old. This was after I stopped expressing for him when I was at work and let him have formula during the day and breast morning and night. He would have been having 3 breastfeeds and one bottle each day by then. Ds was still having a breastfeed in the middle of the night until 7 months.

Periods have yet to return following birth of dd who will be 9 months old next week. I returned to work (part-time) when she was 6 months old and stopped expressing for her when she was 7 months old. She stropped feeding through the night at 6 months old so I'm not entirely sure that amount of feeding is actually affecting the return of period (on otherwise!)

Thanks, i was abit worried, i got a heavy period after 3 mths and i am still totally breastfeeding!

hi just had what i think was my 2nd period my lo is 3months. but their really light over 2 days with really bad cramps my 3rd baby and b/f is this norm ??

I'm just so cross, DS is 12 weeks and 1st period arrived today - he has reflux so feeds little and often (5 mins every 1.5-2 hours) and has never gone more than 5 hours overnight. So I don't even get the luxury of a good night's sleep! He does use a dummy though...
Also, he has been extra-fussy the last few days and my boobs are v-e-r-y floppy, ie, not much milk, and nipples are so sensitive, I've gone from expressing 5-6oz at the morning feed to just 1-2oz too, I'm really worried about this as I really don't want to give up yet. Is this all down to having a period??

I could have just bumped this very old thread!

Google+Mumsnet are blooming marvelous!

my boy is 14 weeks and I also just got my period. I'm not exclusively breastfeeding, topping up at night with Formula but I still stupidly believed the myth of not getting period while doing so. I guess that means the other saying of not getting pregnant while breastfeeding is also a myth?!? Doh! Fingers crossed I'm not yet:-)

my boy is 14 weeks and I also just got my period. I'm not exclusively breastfeeding, topping up at night with Formula but I still stupidly believed the myth of not getting period while doing so. I guess that means the other saying of not getting pregnant while breastfeeding is also a myth?!? Doh! Fingers crossed I'm not yet:-)

Mine returned today and my little one is 8 weeks old. I'm exclusively breastfeeding and he is 13lbs now so I know he is getting enough food. I guess it's just one of those unfortunate things!

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