is it normal to still get cramps when BFing at six months?

[Booyhoo]

as title says really. ds2 is six months now and i still get cramps when feeding him. not at every feed but most days i would feel somewhere between mild and slightly painful cramps. usually happens in the morning time. but sometimes later in the day aswell. has anyone else experienced this? does it last throughout bfing?

Do you mean the vice like sensation you get with the let down reflex ? If so I'm still getting that at 9 months. It's not all the time....most of the time I don't even get a sensation of fullness or the one boob massively bigger than the other anymore (no need for a safety pin on the bra strap here !!), but if DD has been bit off food and just wants breastfeeds, after a couple of days we're heading back to that familiar old feeling. Ooooch !

no i mean period like cramps. it feels like its the first few days of my period but as of yet i havent had a period.

No I've never experienced that past the first few days after the birth. I would ask your GP about it.

No, it sounds like after pains to me and in my experience they have gone within a month or so of birth. Also would agree to look for specialist help but not sure if GP would be helpful, have you tried one of the breastfeeding helplines?

thanks belgo, i hadnt heard of anyone else experiencing it. will make appt tomorrow.

I've not experienced this and have had a quick look online and can't find any references to it either. It happens in the early days as the BFing hormones encourage your womb to contract back down to its pre pregnancy size; why it should still be happening 6 months PP is a mystery to me. Have your periods returned yet?

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly, but I would say ask your GP or speak to one of the BFing helplines.

no, no periods yet.

It's definately cramping, rather than nausea?

yes definitely cramping, exactly the same as period cramps

I've found a reference on kellymom that says "all women experience uterine contractions during breastfeeding, although they are usually to mild to notice" I assume this means after the initial post partum period.

Perhaps you are just more sensitive to it?

I know a midwife who posts on another thread; I'll point her over here; she might have an idea for you!

hello.

Funnily enough I do not what you mean as I got these for ages, probably till about 5 months. Not every feed though, and more after a busy day. Mine was more of a dragging than a proper cramp.

My opinion on this is that you should have a midwife or gp check your abdomen for any sign of a bulky uterus [have a feel in other words]. That will remove any niggling worry that there are retained products or a low grade infection - both of which are hugely unlikely at this stage.

After that I'm into the world of educated guessing, which I would guess at a body that is higly sensitive to it's own hormones and enthusiastic in it's response to oxcytocin.

thanks lackadaisycal

oh tree, thank you. i will ask gp to have a feel then just to make sure all is ok.

Yes do. It's always a good idea. tmi I am sure but I found it was worse if I was constipated!! You?

I am wracking my brains to think if something like fibroids, ipelvic inflamation or a retroverted uterus could make this type of thing more likey - but that would be waaay outside my knowledge base and total guess work. Might be worth asking your GP if there is any link between this discomfort and those things though. Then all bases are covered.

We need a resident gynecologist around here!

no constipation.

Always a bonus.

snort

Is there a resident gynae on MN?

Good that it isn't nausea, as that usually means another pregnancy!!!

I like your description there tree "a body that is higly sensitive to it's own hormones and enthusiastic in it's response to oxcytocin."

Keep us informed booyhoo, as I'm quite interested in the answer (hoping to start my breastfeeding counsellor training sooooon) as well as being a nosey bugger

well another pregnancy would be an immaculate conception as OH has been in the falklands since ds was 11 days old and there sure as hell wasnt any action before he left!!

i will let you know the verdict. i'm also looking into doing that lackadaisycal.

i didnt think my body could get enthusiastic about anything anymore.

I get this from time to time (7months down the line)...but not consistently. Been thinking its the return of periods for ages!

yes logrrl, thats what i was thinking but its been too long now with no sign of period.

mine isnt every feed either but often enough to notice that there is no period to follow.

oh, I've had this since DS was born - 8 weeks tomorrow. my mum told me i shouldn't feel any 'after pains' with my first child, so I thought about starting a thread on here about it glad i'm not alone!

this is my second child. i never had it with ds1.

we're just both highly sensitive to our own hormones arolf