How Long After Giving Birth Does the Period Come Back Again?

Updated on August 25, 2008
L.K. asks from Los Angeles, CA
43 answers

Just wondering, but how long after giving birth does the menstrual cycle start up again? My daughter is now 4 months old and I am breastfeeding. Not that I miss it, but just wanted to know all though i'd imagine its different for everyone???

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yep, different for eveyrone. I breastfed both of mine past 2 years. W/my first it got it back around 15mos with my second around 9mos.

Congrats!
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Reno on

My daughter is 8 1/2 months and I still haven't had mine. My dr's haven't seemed concerned.
Best,
S. G.

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J.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,

Took mine until baby was 8 mos old, 3 months after we stopped breastfeeding.

Everyone's different. Enjoy it while it's gone. :-)

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G.V.

answers from Las Vegas on

When I was breastfeeding my son a couple years ago, it was exactly 6 months until I didn't get my menstruation. I've read that 6 months is the norm. I'm pretty sure your cycle will come up again in a couple months. :)

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son is 16m and I still nurse some, no period yet. They say it's 'normal' to not get it till 6m after you're completely done nursing. Others may get it at 6 weeks even if they are nursing. Keep it up, it's the best thing for her!

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K.T.

answers from San Diego on

whenever you're breastfeeding so much, your period should be absent. I loved breastfeeding, just be careful not to use this as a form of birth control. I know a few moms who thought it was safe, and well...it wasn't! I got my period back when i stopped producing as much milk, i.e. when baby started solids, etc...

Enjoy it while you can!

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T.C.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Hi L.,

Just wanted to add my two cents. I am a mother of four children. I nursed all of them exclusively until they were able to begin eating solid foods. And nursed them all from one year to 16 months. With every single one of my babies, I got my period by the time they were all 7 weeks old. With my first child, I had just finished bleeding from her being delivered...had one week of normal, then my period came, isnt that terrible? It pretty much was a bummer! I know that there are women out there that would say I didnt nurse frequently enough, well, my babies were all in the 95th percentile or more in weight (well, at least while they were little babies). I nursed them on demand and it didnt seem to make a difference for me and not getting a period.

One of my friends had to wein her babies so she could get pregnant again. She never got a period until her babies had completely stopped nursing....so, she went over four years with out a period---lucky her!

The most important thing to remember is that you ovulate BEFORE your period shows up! So, basically, if i would have been having intercourse when my baby was 4 weeks old, I could have conceived again! Thank goodness, that didnt ever happen. Just a thing to think of because nursing is not a good form of birth control for most people...remember, it can happen before your period ever shows up...I have a number of friends and family who were pregnant and never even had a period!

Congrats on your new addition!
T.

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L.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mine did not come back for a month or so after I stopped breastfeeding.

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J.F.

answers from San Diego on

Took me over a year with both of my girls! It started when I stopped breastfeeding! ENJOY!

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G.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.! First of all Congratulations!!! ok so on to your question... everyone is different as is every pregnancy. I have a 6 month old and just barely started my period again just this past month. I am breastfeeding though and I have been told that by doing so it does affect the menstruation process (at least thats what my doctor says). I know that doesn't quite answer your question but hopefully it can give you some idea. Congrats again! Take Care... :-)

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J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,

It took me about 8 months. After I stopped breastfeeding it came in a month or 2. Don't worry....enjoy!!

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H.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

it is different for everyone and every time around. after my first son, i got it back when he was 18 months and with my second son it returned at 15 months.

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M.Q.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,
I breastfed my son until he was 18 months old and I didn't a period until 6 weeks after I stopped breastfeeding!! Over 19 months....no period:)

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,
I can understand your concern - I had my period coming back not until I stoped breastfeeding, so it took 6 month to get back to the old rhythm from before. No worries; you are not sick or pregnant again.....probably. Protection might not be needed, but should be a must if you don't want to get pregnant right away again.

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Y.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Usually when you are breastfeeding you won't be getting your period. I have had 2 children and both times when I breastfed I didnt get it during that time.
Good Luck and congrats on deciding to breastfeed its the best thing you will ever experience and share.

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K.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I didn't get mine for 6 mos! (I actually bought a pregnancy test because I was getting nervous...) It was nice. I sure didn't miss it!

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T.H.

answers from Las Vegas on

L.,
Count yourself among the lucky. I have been breastfeeding since less than 15min after the birth of my son. My period came just 5 weeks later!!! How unfair is that? And it was as heavy as usual for me. And I have had one every month since. Nice and regular.
Enjoy the freedom,
T.

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A.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter was 3 days shy of her first birthday when mine came back... but it's different for everyone.

Isn't breastfeeding wonderful?

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R.L.

answers from San Diego on

I breastfed for 8 months. It first came back around 6 months but didn't come regularly until 8.

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L.A.

answers from San Diego on

My period came back at different points with each of my four. Around a year if I was breastfeeding.

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A.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

With my first daughter it didnt come back until I was done breast feeding. I am breast feeding again, I have a three month old and I am looking forward to not getting my period again until I am done breast feeding this baby!!!!

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V.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

mines came back six months after I gave birth. It's not regulated yet because when I finished the first period, it didn't come back the next month. It seems to come every other month. I am breastfeed my 7 month old daughter still. So I have no idea how regulated my period will be this year. I too don't miss having a period but it sucks having to wear pads for period and pads for the breast!

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L.M.

answers from San Diego on

Mine just came for the first time this week after 2 1/2 months and I am nursing/pumping. Good luck!

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am breastfeeding and I am on the mini pill. I have had a day every 2 weeks of spotting, but no full period yet after 3 months!!

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

You are right,it is different for everyone. However I can offer my own experience. I have 2 sons and breastfed each for a year. In both cases I got my period around 8 months. I think because they had begun eating solids and I did one bottle of formula a day, which meant I was feeding less and less. It's likely if you are nursing a lot, you won't get your period until you slow down, usually after 6 months when solid food is introduced. Good luck, and enjoy the no flow while you can.

J.

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L.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I didn't get mine back until my son's first birthday. It was really super light too. That was just a couple of weeks ago and I am still breastfeeding. I am on the minipill too so if you are on that, it could prolong you getting it back too. Everyone is different, but breastfeeding and birth control seem to help it take longer. Enjoy your time off!

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B.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mine came back when Isaac was 9 months. It was really heavy for three or four months. Now, I'm back to normal. I was and am still breastfeeding. I was hoping it wouldn't come back until we were done with that... either way - it is a good break!

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D.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mine didn't come back for over a year. I nursed both of my daughters for 1 year... It's kinda nice to have a long break!

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

It's definitely different with everyone. I know moms who have gotten there's back within 6 weeks, some others it was 6 months. I myself happened to JUST get it back a few days ago...it's been 22.5 months!!! I'm still breastfeeding my almost 2 year old, but I know bf moms who have gotten it back way sooner. It just depends...enjoy it :)

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T.B.

answers from Visalia on

L.,

First of all, I LOVE your name! L..
Congradulations on having baby girl. I have2 girls. One is 16, and one is only 3! It seems like yesterday my 3yr old was a newborn and it makes me want another one when I hear about one or see one, and if I hold one...it's all over---I'm dyin'!!
I wont have any more though, most likely. I'm 46 and single. The single part really doesnt bother me because I raised both gils on my own. The first one he was "there" but not there. The second we had been disowned because of the pregnancy so here we are, and I'm having the time of my life! I love it.

ANYway! Periods come back generally around the 6 mo mark. Yes people are different so dont freak out if yours doesnt. My dad is a doctor and he says it's a six month rule for ANYTHING to heal of "injury". It's true. I have monitored time in these things all my life.

Wendy

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S.T.

answers from San Diego on

I did not have a period for a little over a year or so. Then the damn things came back:) I breast fed for close to 18 months

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

just got mine after nine months. ive been breastfeeding the entire time too.

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I breast fed for 21 months, and my daughter had nothing but for the first 6 months. My period came back at 7 months.

You're right, it's different for everyone. Don't worry about it, but keep some pads or tampons on hand, and don't count on it as birth control!

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H.M.

answers from San Diego on

As soon as I stopped breast feeding it came back heavy!

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J.E.

answers from Honolulu on

I'm pretty sure that as long as you are breastfeeding you won't have your period. When you do decide to stop, then that's when you'll get your period again.

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D.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

With my first baby, it was over a year (yeah!). That was so nice! It was a little shorter with each baby (I have three kids). But I also BF over two years with each.

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I went nearly 6 years without a period as I got pregnant, delivered, nursed exclusively for over a year with my son, got pregnant when he was 13 months, delivered and nursed exclusively 2 years. Everyone is different, but remember you can get pregnant without having a period.

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,
Everyone will be different. With my first i never got my period and when he was 15 months i found out i was pregnant! I was weaning him at the time so it worked out great!
My daughter is now going to be 1 this month and i got my first period 2 months ago. It was SOO light (my periods before kids were only about 3 days and light) the second period was normal for me.
I have a friend who got her period back when her baby was only 2 months old and she was BF. So it really depends on the person. everyone is different!
BUT...you can STILL get Pregnant!!!!!

XO
A.

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R.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Mine didn't come back for a whole year!!!

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M.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

I didn't get mine for about 15 months - it was wonderful!

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K.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.. It's different for every nursing mom, but i didn't have a period until i stopped nursing. It was the same for all three kids, and i nursed each of them for 22 months. However, i did get pregnant right away after i stopped nursing my first son- one period and then wham! :) so be aware!

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M.P.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

L.,

Generally, if you are breastfeeding you will not get your period. Your body stops ovulation because you are producing milk for your newborn. When you stop breastfeeding is when you get it back and can get pregnant very quickly.

M.

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M.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,

As you can tell from your responses, there's a huge difference in timing for different people. Mine started again at about 5 months. It was almost a year and a half for one of my friends. Blatantly unfair, I think. ;>)

Word to the wise though: Don't forget you can still conceive before your period restarts. Another friend is now 5 months pregnant and her son JUST turned 1. Fortunately, they're very happy about it. Just remember to use protection if you're not planning on another little one soon.

Congratulations on your new little girl. Enjoy her thoroughly.

M.

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