Breastfeeding and covid vaccine

[mandymd]

Hi

My daughter is 5 weeks old and last week I had my first covid vaccination (Pfizer).

I'm exclusively breastfeeding and my period started a few days ago, alongside symptoms of painful period cramping.

I was surprised to have started my period considering the fact that I am exclusively breastfeeding.

I'm wondering whether there is a link with the vaccine which I had a week ago.

Has anyone else who is breastfeeding experienced an unexpected (and unwanted!) period following the vaccine?

I don't know, but my first period came 6 weeks or so after birth with my first child. So it does happen.

This was ebf before covid, btw!

I have heard periods affected by vaccine but it can come back any time while ebf so it will be really hard to say whether it's that.

I'm ebf now (gave some bites early on) and DS is nearly four months but I have not had a period despite having both vaccines since he's been born.

Hard to say.

I'm past the BFing stage, but my periods came back after 8 weeks with DS1, 7 years ago. It's very unpredictable.

I did notice heavier periods after getting the vaccine in the spring. So I think it does impact.

It may have made a difference, but I guess you'll never know

Thanks. Reassuring to know others have had period while ebf.
I've read that if you do have periods while breastfeeding it can reduce milk supply. Was this the case for anyone?
(I'm a first time mum btw so learning as I go at the moment!)

I don't know, but I ebf both of mine and my periods returned after 5 / 6 weeks. My doctor said it's more common than people realise. Some just seems to get 'lucky' and dodge their period until they stop, I just want one of them!

Up to 6 weeks it can actually be part of your lochia so may not actually be a period yet.

Then again you might just be unlucky. A friend of mine has four children, all were breastfed yet she always got her period back within 8 weeks.

My period came back 5 months after having DS, finally starting to get back to normal 10 months on. EBF, only morning and night now but I noticed no difference in supply, when I had my 1st vaccine I was BF a lot more than I am now.

I have very regular periods and I am still BF my almost 3 year old (I can’t remember when I had my 1st one) no effect on my supply he was a Chucky baby.

*chunky 😂

I had my first Pfizer vaccine dose when daughter was 3 weeks old and was EBF - I was still bleeding from birth which didn’t change.

Had my second dose when DD was 3 months old. Period started a couple of weeks after that but I think it was due to DD going through the night so bigger gap between feeds rather than the vaccine.

I'm sure my periods came back quite quickly after I had my babies, after 6 weeks or so and I was ebf. I'm still feeding my youngest at 3 now and it's never had an effect on my supply. I know some women have reported issues with periods after vaccines but it also could be unrelated.