Period returned 8 weeks PP whilst EBF

[katiep193]

I'm currently 12 weeks PP and am experiencing my second period since giving birth. I stopped bleeding (lochia) at 6 weeks but at 8 weeks started bleeding again. I shrugged it off and thought my initial bleeding wasn't quite done yet. However, it did feel exactly like a period. Now I'm 12 weeks PP and it's returned which makes me think I must have started my periods again.

I was just wondering if anyone else had the same or a similar experience and wanted to know what you did/if it impacted your milk/if it was a concern/if you contacted anyone about it?

I'm EBF my little one multiple times a day and all through the night so didn't expect my periods to return so quickly. I am aware it could be completely normal but I can't find any information on it anywhere.

I did speak to my GP about it at mine and baby's 8 week check but she said I should see the midwives about bleeding and moved on. I was discharged from midwife care on my last home visit from them (way back at the start of May) and now baby is 3 months old I don't really think they are the people I need to speak to?

Any advice or shared experience of this at all would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you.

I bled until 5 weeks PP, the bleeding started again at 8 weeks PP and didn’t stop until about 18 weeks PP. I had actually been to the doctor and had a smear test done because I was bleeding for so long + concerned. Smear was fine and doctor reassured it was probably just down to hormones that could be controlled with birth control (which I declined). I am now about 25 weeks PP and have had several episodes of sporadic bleeding. It’s had no affect whatsoever on breastfeeding. Hope this helps!

I had my periods return by 8 weeks pp with all 3 of my dc. Didn't affect breastfeeding at all. GP surprised but not worried. It just happens to some of us.

Mine returned at 6-8 weeks, EBF. GP’s only comment was “oh, that’s unlucky”!

Mine returned after a couple of months despite ebf - I think I ended up blaming it on immunisations as the calpol-induced sleep was one of the longest stretches the baby managed! It made no difference to continuing bf for the next year.

I EBF and my period returned at about 8 weeks too. Then was pretty much back on track, every 4 weeks. I breastfed until DS was 2 with no issues, and actually got pregnant a few weeks before stopping feeding him. I’m hoping this time I get a bit longer before my period returns!

I also fully breastfed, with no long gaps between feeds, and my period returned within a few weeks. Luckily at my first GP check he made it very clear not to assume I couldn't get pregnant while EBF. Frustrating as I was feeding so frequently, don't really understand why it's said that they will stop when they clearly don't for many people.

No issues with milk and continued to breastfeed for about 18 months including whilst pregnant with my next child.

Mine returned after 5 weeks with DC1 and didn't affect my milk supply, in fact it was handy as I wanted to get pregnant again pretty fast. I continued to breastfeed throughout my pregnancy and tandem fed until DC1 was 2.5.

I've got 3 DC and they were all fully bf. Periods returned exactly 6 weeks with all of them. (Lochia for only a few weeks) .
There's only 11mths between my friend and her sister because her mum was told you can't get pregnant breastfeeding!
Only a year between my brother and I as my mum was told the same thing...

This is totally normal but you must use contraceptives if you dont want to conceive again right now.
It means you’ve already ovulated twice and got lucky so far in not falling pregnant.

I thought this was normal. Happened with both of mine. Earlier than 8 weeks too from memory

My periods returned at 6 weeks EBF. I assumed they wouldn’t for a good few months!

But then did two of my friends who both pregnant with a very small age gap whose periods hadn’t come back while feeding!

Thank you so much for sharing everyone! I definitely feel reassured now. Everyone I spoke to made it sound so rare but clearly it isn't! Thanks for making me feel a whole lot better about everything - it's great to hear so many of you continued breastfeeding without any impact as well.

Yep. Lochia for 3 weeks, period returned on the dot 4 weeks, then regular from then.

EBF for 9 months.

second I think I got 4 months before period returned, that time I bf for 18m.