Shorter cycles and bleeding for longer after having 3rd child last year

[Erber]

Typically I have 38 day cycles and bleed for 3/4 days, the first day is generally quite heavy then it's relatively light bleeding for the remaining 2 or 3 days. My periods didn't really change at all after my 1st or 2nd children were born. I know my cycles are longer than 'normal' but it's never bothered me as I don't have any other issues, they've always been regular, I'm not a fan of periods so I quite like not bleeding as often and I have 3 children so I'm certainly not infertile.

My 3rd was born March 2023 and ever since my periods have changed. I exclusively breastfed but my periods returned when she was 17 weeks old. I was hoping to get a bit longer than that but it is what it is. Ever since my cycles have been shorter, around 30-32 days and I bleed heavily for 7-10 days when it seems to come to an abrupt end. I never see pink or brown blood anymore, it's bright red and heavy for the entire time.

I'm 32, so hopefully not going through the menopause anytime soon. My 3rd is now 14 months old and still feeds maybe once or twice a day, but I work full time and she's at nursery so some days she doesnt feed at all whereas other days she will feed in the evening or through the night. I'm not on any contraception as the only contraception I can use is the combined pill which they won't give me while breastfeeding. I've tried the mini pill, injection and implant and all of those just cause me to bleed constantly. I won't let them fit a coil due to the fight I had trying to have the implant removed. Myself and my partner have split although still living together, so I haven't been sexually active since she was born so there is absolutely no chance I could be pregnant.

My period only ended on tuesday after bleeding heavily for 8 days. Yesterday I started spotting which has continued today. I never usually have any spotting or mid-cycle bleedong so it's another thing that is unusual and I'm getting very fed up with it now. Has anybody had anything similar in the past and what did you do about it? I'd need to take a day off work to see the gp and I find them incredibly unhelpful anyway, especially when it comes to womens issues. Usually I'm just told to wait 6 months to a year, then the same when I go back. Basically I don't want to waste a day off just to be fobbed off.

Are you up to date with smears?

Yes I should be, I had one in 2022 a few months before I found out I was pregnant. Everything was fine at the time.

Heavy periods can be a sign of anemia, (which then ironically caused iron levels to drop further!) I’d ask for blood tests if you haven’t recently had any done.

That might be worth a try. I was prescribed iron tablets during my pregnancy, they gave me a box and then never retested my levels or followed up on it in any way so I don't known if they ever improved or not.

That’s good - I also had v heavy periods after DS was born last year. Very heavy and my cycles were actually longer - usually 26-28 days, they were 30-34. After about 6 months they settled and now they’re back to where they were before.

I'm glad they settled down! I was hoping that would happen with me but I'm not sure how long I'm supposed to wait. I got my first postpartum period in July so it's almost a year now.

I’ve had a similar change after DC3, even more frustrating as my cycles weren’t as long as your to start with. I’ve gone from bleeding 5 days in a 29 day cycle to 7/26. Very very heavy the first two days then light for 5 more. Feels like I’m constantly pre-menstrual or on. I’ve also had some fatigue and headaches. Spoke to a very helpful female GP and I’m now waiting on bloods for anaemia, thyroid and early menopause signals. I’m 42 though.