When do your periods return while breastfeeding?

[Wonderland18]

I’m not sure if it’s important enough to pop to the drs about and I can’t find much information online about it but my DD is 14 months.

She still feeds 2/3 times a day but not for long and one dream feed so maybe she’s still eating a lot from me?

I’ve been back working 6 months so I do over 8 hours 4 day’s a week without a feed and I thought that would encourage my cycle but I’ve had bloating and intense cramps for 3 months now with no sign of spotting. Pregnancy tests are all negative as I did double check just in case.

Would it be a waste of the doctors time?
My health visitor was out at 13 months and had no advice about it, it’s just the bloating and cramps that are bothering me really, the longer the periods away the better to be honest.

There is probably little information because it isn't the same for every woman. For both of my children, my periods returned within 6 weeks of birth despite breastfeeding exclusively and throughout the night.

For some people, even one feed a day keeps the periods at bay.

There is no hard and fast rule. Mine was 12weeks FFeeding and BrFeeding.

Having said that, I would go to the doctor if you feel concerned. Don't see it as a waste of time - people go to the doctor for a cold, which really is a waste of time.

I was 6 months and she still wouldn't look at solids at that stage, my friend 2.5 years. It varies massively.

I think it’s the bloating and pain I’m more concerned about, if a period would have came I’d have understood the cramps better.

Seen someone at out of hours the other day (for something unrelated) who pressed my tummy and asked if I’d just taken a period because of how it felt. I guess I’m just worried about internal healing from the section but I don’t know if there’s much they can do.

My DD was a year old before mine came back. She still dines at the booby bar all night as we cosleep and they've never really got back into my own cycle. Hoping to wean in a few months so they may get back to normal then.

“Dines at the booby bar” is 100% what I’m calling breastfeeding from now on 😂

18 months, was a bit disappointed to be honest, after over 2 years in total without one I'd gotten used to it!

18 months with both of mine here. What you explaining seems perfectly normal, have a read of the transition to full fertility here

When DS was 13 months (I bf to 14 months). I'd casually asked the GP what was normal a while before that, and she helpfully said that they wouldn't investigate lack of periods until at least 3 months after stopping breastfeeding

Mine returned like clockwork at 4 months despite EBF a very clingy baby who fed almost hourly. It really is different for every person

My dd is 16 months, feeds about as often as yours, and my period literally just came back yesterday. I'd been having period symptoms for about a month - cramping, bloating, "heaviness", as if I was about to start. I'll warn you, my period went from zero to heavy in about an hour, so make sure you have some decent towels in!

Mine came back exactly one week after I stopped (DS was 14 months). I’d had what felt like intermittent pmt for almost six fucking months after going back to work, so feeding mornings and evenings only.

La Leche League say 15-18 months is average, so you should still be ok. My DS is 11 months and I have only had slight spotting.

Apparently it’s related to feeding overnight- if you continue to feed at night the prolactin hormone remains higher and that is related to your periods staying away.

Oh you mentioned c-section - are you doing scar massage and exercises? Lots of info online about how that can help.

I also had a c section (periods returned at 4 months even feeding hourly)
My periods returned so so heavy and only regulated to a reasonable yet still heavy flow after 4/5 cycles

Not going to lie I’ve done zero massages or exercises during healing, I’ll look them up and give them a bash though!

6 months for me

I can’t remember with my other two but with my current baby it was six months. In the run-up to it I had quite a lot of cramping and pain in that general area, which I was getting a little bit worried about. Then it calmed down and about three weeks later a period showed up. I’ve only had one so far so it hasn’t come back break with any regularity (which I normally am) but I have had some more of that cramping come and go.

Mine returned at 13 months - still BF my 16 month old DD. Much lighter and less painful after having her!

Dc1 - returned at 19 months

Dc2 - returned at 13 months

Both were bf on demand, did night feedings after I returned to work at 1 year (worked the same days/hours)

I'm 10 weeks post birth and I had my first period at 6 weeks!!! I get the feeling this is so early.. I'm breastfeeding on demand. Call that 10000000 times a day! 😂 xx