Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Women's health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Menstruation question for extended breastfeeding mamas...

26 replies

theescapeladder · 22/11/2022 23:16

I'm currently continuing to breastfeed on demand my (very demanding and boob-addicted 🤭) 15 month old DS. We're co-sleeping and he pretty much helps himself to it overnight ☺️

My periods have not returned yet... sounds crazy but I'm starting to miss them.

Is it something I should be worried about?
Any of you mamas had a similar journey? When did you finally get your cycles back?
Thank you in advance for sharing 🙏🏻

OP posts:
beaniesq · 22/11/2022 23:32

Very similar experience with DD1, periods returned at 14mths. Then again with DD2, periods returned at about 18 months but without any real regularity...

It's a very unique experience for each woman and each child. I am a Doula and I have some EBF clients who begin to menstruate within a couple of months and others go for a couple of years without any sign.

As long as your general health is good and you're not in menopause, they'll definitely come back eventually! X

SpinningFloppa · 22/11/2022 23:34

Enjoy it, mine returned at 5 weeks with all 4 of my children despite ebf 😒 I felt cheated

Womanconflicted · 22/11/2022 23:40

Mine came back at 4 months with 2nd child ebf
3 months with 3rd child ebf 😭
1st baby mixed feeding, basically period returned at 8wks pp.

honestly, I wanted to cry! So no help, sorry. Different for each woman, but apparently night feeding keeps the hormones at bay longer

ChandlersDad · 22/11/2022 23:42

I think about 18 months both times, but was proper EBF so co-sleeping and on demand through the night which kept it at bay I think.

MistyFrequencies · 22/11/2022 23:44

Mine came back when they stopped feeding overnight. For baby 1 that was 18 months. Baby 2, 3 years!

SpinningFloppa · 22/11/2022 23:45

Co slept with all of mine as well no dummies or formula at all and feed through the night still returned, really it’s different for everyone

Original poster
theescapeladder · 22/11/2022 23:45

Thank you @beaniesq . I'm quite fit apart from my hypothyroidism (preceding pregnancy) - but test frequently and my levels are well controlled. Even before/during diagnosis, when my thyroid went haywire, my cycles were like clockwork. Will try not to worry about it ☺️

OP posts:
Original poster
theescapeladder · 22/11/2022 23:51

Thank you @SpinningFloppa. I sympathise. I was looking forward to have a break after a lifetime of periods but without them I just feel a bit flat, like I'm constantly on PMS 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
theescapeladder · 22/11/2022 23:52

Thank you @ChandlersDad @MistyFrequencies @Womanconflicted . Yes it does sound like it's an individual thing!

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 22/11/2022 23:55

I EBF'd both of my children, and my period returned at 4 weeks postpartum with both. Then like clockwork every month. I never got a break at all.

DramaAlpaca · 23/11/2022 00:13

Mine came back at 4 months with all three of my children despite ebf. I was quite annoyed about it after DC1, but on the plus side I wanted another baby quite quickly and was pleased to be able to get pregnant again at 7 months postpartum.

It really is an individual thing and every woman is different. There's a wide range of normal. As has been said above, night weaning is often the trigger for ovulation.

SundayAtDevilDirt · 23/11/2022 00:48

18 months with both

lifeinthehills · 23/11/2022 01:06

Mine all came back between 15 and 20 months. No impact on fertility.

HappyAsASandboy · 23/11/2022 01:09

Mine returned at 18 months, 23 months and 17 months after birth. In all cases I was still sharing a bed with my babies and breastfeeding on demand when with them (though back at work full time).

Got2besoon · 23/11/2022 01:20

About 18 months here.

Ladida01 · 23/11/2022 02:26

Mine didn't return until approximately 2 years after the birth of my 3rd child. So nothing after the birth of first DS, until 2 years after my last . I loved it and it is perfectly normal

Delphinium20 · 23/11/2022 02:31

DDs were breastfed 2+ years and I got my period when each were 18 months old. I think it was because they went down to one nap at this time, so breastfeeding has whittled down to before nap and before bedtime.

MixedCouple · 15/07/2023 21:02

My BFF had no periods for 18months PP as she also nursed on demand.

kagerou · 15/07/2023 21:07

18 months for me too , I thought I was starting to miss them and worried there was something wrong but as soon as they came back I wish they'd F off again 😔

MixedCouple · 15/07/2023 21:08

Your lucky my period came back 6weeka postpartum. I bled for 4 weeks had a 2 week break then Bam!!!!

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 15/07/2023 21:36

SpinningFloppa · 22/11/2022 23:34

Enjoy it, mine returned at 5 weeks with all 4 of my children despite ebf 😒 I felt cheated

Yeah, me too. Probably not quite that early but 7-8 weeks each time (3) despite EBF.

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 15/07/2023 21:37

Something feels very wrong about having a sleeping baby on your chest and feeling your period leaking everywhere.

Ladida01 · 10/11/2023 11:27

EBF all 3. Mine stopped after my first was born and didn't return until 2 years after number 3. Obviously it didnt effect my fertility. But I didn't miss it at all

BertieBotts · 10/11/2023 11:29

18 months with DC1, 4 months with DC2 (!!!) - but he was having top ups, so that may have been why.

Can't even remember with DC3 sorry! He is 2 now, still feeding and I am having regular periods.

Delphina17 · 10/11/2023 11:33

Lucky you!! Mine came back at 9 months PP, though my DD was feeding a lot less by then, probably only 3-4 times a day. Enjoy it while it lasts :)