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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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Original poster

Help! 4 weeks PP breastfeeding and starting my period.

25 replies

LDNLCN · 17/03/2023 22:34

I have had a bit of a journey with breastfeeding. DD was in NICU so unfortunately I couldn’t try breastfeeding until 5 days after birth. I had no help with expressing when in hospital so it was overall a slow start. Once DD was out of NICU she wouldn’t latch, so it wasn’t until 2 weeks after birth with help from a lactation consultant (and nipple shields) we managed to get her breastfeeding. I had been pumping and topping up with formula once a day if I hadn’t pumped enough. Now she is 4 weeks and I’ve managed to get her mostly breastfeeding with her just having a bottle of expressed milk once or twice a day.

We’ve been really lucky, DD is now sleeping 4-5 hours straight. Meaning I’m not feeding between 12/1am and 5am/6am. Even then I’m waking her up to feed because my breasts are engorged. I reckon she would sleep until 7/8am if allowed as it’s happened before.

Anyway, today I’ve started getting cramps and spotting. I’ve read the fact DD is sleeping long hours this could lead to my period starting. I am just worried I’ve finally got my supply up that is now going to tank due to starting my period.

Has anyone had their period start soon after birth and been okay with continuing to breastfeed?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RandomMess · 17/03/2023 22:41

Yep my very heavy periods returned very early every time

I managed to feed my 10lb babies no problem'

Original poster

LDNLCN · 17/03/2023 23:20

Thanks for the reassurance! So needed to hear that. We're your periods regular? I was really looking forward to a few more months of no period

OP posts:

RandomMess · 17/03/2023 23:34

Yep came back like clockwork 😭🙄

Original poster

LDNLCN · 17/03/2023 23:49

Well I guess you can't have is all 😭

OP posts:

Anoisagusaris · 17/03/2023 23:53

Yes I breastfed my 3 babies for between 11-15 months and my period returned fairly early each time - not as early as you but still very early for someone exclusively breastfeeding (and feeding on demand).

cantstandmuchmore · 17/03/2023 23:53

When did your PP bleeding stop? Could it still be that cussing you cramps?

My DS never went any length of time and I still got my period back after 4 months and here I am 18 months later wishing there would be a supply issue to stop him from being able to feed all night....

You'll be fine, good luck for your continued journey.

mrshenny · 17/03/2023 23:54

My periods started 3/4 months pp after my daughter started sleeping 10 hours overnight. My overnight supply dropped because I didn't pump, when she went through the 4 month regression I needed it back and thankfully we did okay, don't think it was quite the same and I wish I'd have pumped at least once overnight. I fed her till she was nearly 14 months so think we did okay!! xx

Opine · 18/03/2023 00:05

I’ve exclusively fed all of my babies on demand and have restarted my periods at exactly 5 weeks PP. Thera usually a few days of lochia stopping and then a period. They’re like clockwork thereafter.

I don’t notice a drop in supply personally but once the baby is older, past 6/7 months, they can fuss a bit a few days before my period and whilst it’s happening. I take it everything goes back to normal quite quickly after because they settle again.

just to say, huge well done on establishing BF after such an ordeal. I take my hat off to you. You should feel very proud of yourself 🥂

inthegoodlife · 18/03/2023 00:19

Yep, same here. They came back both times as regular as clock work despite breast feeding on demand - no expressing.

CheekyHusky · 18/03/2023 00:27

I too thought my period had came back at 4 weeks PP. Actually, I had retained placenta that had become infected.

If your supply has also dropped or a
has been slow to pick up, then this could also be because of retained placenta.

Original poster

LDNLCN · 18/03/2023 00:28

cantstandmuchmore · 17/03/2023 23:53

When did your PP bleeding stop? Could it still be that cussing you cramps?

My DS never went any length of time and I still got my period back after 4 months and here I am 18 months later wishing there would be a supply issue to stop him from being able to feed all night....

You'll be fine, good luck for your continued journey.

It definitely feels like period cramps. The spotting has stopped, however. Lochia stoped about a week ago so it's more than likely good old mother monthly.

OP posts:

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 00:33

DS was in NICU and bfing was a bit hit and miss for a week ot two. I had my first period 4 weeks pp but we got to ebf and he bf until very nearly 2.

Original poster

LDNLCN · 18/03/2023 00:34

Opine · 18/03/2023 00:05

just to say, huge well done on establishing BF after such an ordeal. I take my hat off to you. You should feel very proud of yourself 🥂

Oh wow okay, that's good to know! Definitely feeling much more reassured reading everyone's replies.

And thank you so much. I was determined to give BF a go. It has been quite the journey and we're only on week 4.

OP posts:

Original poster

LDNLCN · 18/03/2023 00:35

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 00:33

DS was in NICU and bfing was a bit hit and miss for a week ot two. I had my first period 4 weeks pp but we got to ebf and he bf until very nearly 2.

Thanks for your reply. That's incredible! Well done. I hope to do the same 🤞

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 18/03/2023 00:39

I had ‘periods’ for the first five months of pregnancy and then they resumed about 6 weeks after DS’s birth, I was not best pleased. But didn’t seem to affect my milk supply, BF for about 15 months

DramaAlpaca · 18/03/2023 00:43

My periods came back after 4 months of ebf but my supply wasn't affected.

Be careful though, I was pregnant again three months later!

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 00:45

It requires a certain amount of bloody mindedness but good luck.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 00:49

Oh and he had reflux to add to the fun. Very common in prem babies. Get meds ASAP if it's a problem. DS slept on his front with a breathing monitor after checking with the GP and HV.

Original poster

LDNLCN · 18/03/2023 00:59

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 00:49

Oh and he had reflux to add to the fun. Very common in prem babies. Get meds ASAP if it's a problem. DS slept on his front with a breathing monitor after checking with the GP and HV.

Blimey! That's a lot. She has colic but not too too bad (touchwood). No one tells you this stuff before you have a baby! BF is hard graft (for some)!

OP posts:

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 18/03/2023 01:05

Honestly once we were sorted which took a little while, it was fine. Am glad I did it and he's a healthy teen.

mightymam · 18/03/2023 01:17

EBF from birth and my period returned 6 weeks Pp. We tried for baby number two when baby number one was 8 months old and I then fed throughout pregnancy until first child was 3 years old! Our bodies are amazing. You'll establish your own supply pattern soon enough. Enjoy the baby sleeping and get some sleep yourself.

Flittingaboutagain · 18/03/2023 01:46

Tandem feeding a toddler and newborn here. My periods came back within 6 weeks and I wasn't EBF by then (that came later!). They were regular for a few months and then all over the shop for another few and talking to breastfeeding mums in my support group it's very individual.

liveforsummer · 18/03/2023 07:13

I was still bleeding from the birth until 6 weeks - it wasn't constant, would come and go. Didn't actually get a period til bf massively reduced at 6 months. I wasn't aware it affected supply though?!

Glitterstars · 20/03/2023 20:31

im ebf and had first period at 3 months but now gone 2 months without one so think my body is just getting back into the swing of things but very annoying not knowing when it’s going to happen again

0MammaBear0 · 02/11/2023 08:05

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one, DD latched onto the breast very easily since she was born and I've been exclusively breastfeeding on demand every few hours and I've just got my period 4 weeks after having her. I think we deserve a little bit of a break lol

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