Period when exclusively breastfeeding - is this 'normal'???

[hullaballoo19]

Dd is 3 months old and exclusively breastfed. I wasn't expecting my period to come back for a while because of this but I've come on this morning. I'm probably being silly but now I'm a bit worried! The hormone that makes your body make milk also stops you from ovulating and having periods... looking to hear from anyone else who's had this while ebf - did it affect your bfing?? Thank you

Yes it’s normal. It won’t affect milk supply. Breastfeeding suppresses ovulation but doesn’t always fully inhibit it, especially after 3 months.

Get your contraception sorted if you haven’t already!

Completely normal all of mine were ebf and I think appeared 2-4 months PP, despite them all feeding every 2 hours round the clock

It's fine.

Totally normal which is why EBF isn't recommended as a contraceptive

I’ve had 4 kids and each time without fail my period returned at 5 weeks. I was ebf never gave any formula, feeding constantly, no dummy, co sleeping the lot yet still they returned at 5 weeks and was regular every month after.

I got them back at 4 months with DC2. Carried on feeding him until 2.5y :)

My periods returned six weeks after I gave birth to both DC. Both exclusively breast fed, no problems with milk supply. I wasn't expecting it but was told it was normal. It didn't help that I was anaemic after both DC were born, had to take iron supplements.
I think you will be fine and you could ask your GP or health visitor for advice if you are concerned.

Completely normal.
And it doesn’t stop you ovulating.

I EBF twice, periods started again 4 mths after birth.

Ds was ebf, my period returned 5 or 6 months in. Still bfd him until 3y10mo. It won't affect your supply.

Really reassuring, thanks so much everyone 😊

Very normal. With my first my period came back at 6 weeks and with my second at 10 weeks.

After that they went back to super regular and super heavy.

With my eldest he'd struggle a bit to feed on day 1 of my period. Not sure why, he'd just be a lot more fussy in the breast. It never made a difference to my youngest.

It’s normal. Breastfed mine and my period started 4 months post partum.

The hormone that makes your body make milk also stops you from ovulating and having periods..

This isnt true. Prolactin has no impact on ovulation or periods. Breastfeeding might suppress ovulation and periods due to its high metabolic burden on the body…similar to how elite female athletes exercise regimes can cause ovulation and period suppression. The metabolic burden of breastfeeding is very low in rich western countries where mothers are usually well nourished in that they have access to the extra food needed to support breastfeeding.

My periods came back after 4 weeks with both my ebf children. Apart from being really irritating to me it caused no problems.

Now that I'm reassured, irritation is what I feel 😂

@Discovereads hmmm, would I assume then that I'm no longer getting the calorie burning benefits of breastfeeding? Or at least at a lower level?

My periods came back 4months post partum with all three of mine, I was v annoyed. I also became pregnant with DC2 while breastfeeding DC1 (at 9months) and pregnant with DC3 while breastfeeding DC2 (at 10months) so for the love of god use contraception if you don’t want to get pregnant!

Mine came back 8 weeks PP and I'm still breastfeeding at 10 months. It's fine! Although mine are longer, heavier and so much more painful compared to before baby. I think it must be hormones!