Is It Normal to Resume a Period While Breastfeeding?

My cycle started back up again after my forcepts delivery so quickly that I was afraid I was still experiencing post partum bleeding. My cycle started up again after my ceasarian just as quickly. I may have missed a month, and I BF exclusively. Some women don't start menstuating again until the stop BFing, some for only as long as they BF exclusively, some, like me, never get a break except while actually PG. I can't be certain, however, I actually ovulated, as I didn't keep that close a track except when I was activly trying to get pregnant.

I got my period between 6-8 months with both of my exclusively breastfed kids. It is perfectly normal.

I got my period six weeks after my exclusively breast fed girl was born. The after birth bleeding stopped for about a day maybe two and then I got my period . So yes it does happen. I just don't know why. But I wad told that even though it us uncommon it is nothing to be concerned about.

Mine started back up after only four months. I have noticed that just before it begins, my milk supply almost completely dries up, so something hormonal is going on Don't you just love mother nature?!

Its absolutely normal and you're lucky you went 8 mo without one! Exclusive breastfeeding is also NOT a reliable method of birth control! Even if you haven't started your "normal" period you can still have a cycle and get preggo! I knew a family where the mom thought BF was birth control and had daughters 10 mo apart =) so you are definitely normal and if you're not on birth control go get some!

Mine came back three months into breastfeeding. (and I'm 41 BTW). My OB said sometimes periods come back during breastfeeding, sometimes not. I suspect that your hormones are fine. It can be hard breastfeeding, I hear you about the sleep deprivation! I understand that with all the demands you have in you, you may wonder about your health, but I think a period or spotting would be normal for you.

Not to worry, Melissa. My period came back right around that time too & I was exclusively nursing my little guy. Sounds to me like everything is right on track.....but, GOSH, wasn't it nice NOT having those to deal with on top of everything else for a while?! haha Bless your heart, I feel for you and the sleep deprivation thing. Catch some zzz's when you can during the day....the housework can wait.

It's normal. With my first baby, my periods resumed (though irregularly--sometimes I would skip a month) when he was 4 months old. Then, with both of my girls, it was almost a full year before I started having periods again. Obviously the range can vary! :)

It's completely normal. I breast fed all of my babies for a year, but 4 weeks after I gave birth I would have my first period! I felt so deprived! I got pregnant with the rest of my children while I was still nursing (planned pregnancies) and even tandem nursed two of them because the 14 month old was not ready to stop nursing just because her brother had arrived.

I really cannot believe this myth is still out there, but even my OB, who has been in practice for 20 years was surprised when I told him my story. I always suggest to friends that they practice some form of birth control while nursing. There are BC pills that are safe, or use other methods.

The Duggar's (18 Kids and Counting) are a case in point. I belong to a surrogacy site (I am a gestational surrogate) and when she got pregnant with her 19th child so many women on that site were convinced that she stopped nursing at 6 months to deliberately get pregnant again. That is not the case. She breast feeds for about a year, but when the baby she is nursing is around 9 months old, she will get pregnant with the next one, but then again, they don't use birth control.

With breastfeeding, ANYTHING is normal. Some woman get their cycle back 6 weeks post partum, even while breastfeeding (my friend did with all four of her children). It isn't always when you completely stop.

My first nursed till he was 2 and I was 6 months pregnant with my second. He did not start solids until he was 7 months old. I worked then, and pumped breastmilk for him during the day. I was a teacher, so after the summer vacation, we went back to me pumping for him during the day. He was 16 months old. He wouldn't take a bottle (no surprise, since he HATED bottles and hadn't had one all summer!), so I stopped pumping. He still nursed constantly when we were together (including over night), but the next month I got my cycle. He was 17 months old. By the next month I was pregnant with his baby sister!

DD was exclusively nursed, and we didn't start solids until she was 8.5 months old. She wouldn't eat them, and truly did not eat any solids (despite our giving her little tries of things) until she was 11.5 months old - 2 weeks shy of her first birthday! However, when she was 8.5 months old, she was teething and out of the blue I started my cycle! She was nursing every two hours, except over night when she was nursing every 4 hours (or about). I always feed my babies on demand, so this was shocking - especially considering how it went with my first (17 months). Then....the next month, I was pregnant!

Now Baby 3 is 10 months old, we waited until 8 months to start solids, now at 10 he's decided he'll eat a little bit. He still nurses every 2-3 hours, and he wakes up several times a night to nurse. No cycle yet....

My point is, there is not much difference in what I did with my children, yet cycles began at different times. In fact, my daughter didn't eat solids for far longer than my other two, yet i started my cycle earliest with her. I've never supplemented, nor did I give my children solids early. They always fed on demand (and it was all day, all night all the time) and yet there I was at 8.5 months with a cycle!

Anything is normal in breastfeeding, so if you are starting now, it's not abnormal. They actually say you should only count on breastfeeding as birth control for the first 6 months, so that makes sense that you could start now.

Alas it is normal. I started having periods while nursing with all three kids! Furthermore, it was 2 or 3 months or less, not 8 months. Good luck and keep nursing!

I started mine back up when my boys were 9 months old. I was not exclusively breast feeding at the time (they were on table foods, but still nursing 4-5 times per day).

It depends on you weight and alot of other variables and it is totally normal.

It's normal. I started at six months, post baby.

I learned the hard way, many women told me that YOU never get a period while your breastfeeding or even GET PREGNANT . . . wrong. Every woman is different just as every pregnancy is different. I think its good that your are taking vitamins and eat, of course you have to cause of the milk that you are producing, sleep . . . ugh sleep I can't remember the last time I had a good nights sleep, even a good LONG LASTING shower. LOL! The joys of motherhood, wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. If you still have concern that you started spotting ask your OB/GYN if its normal since your doctors' been with you since the beginning.

Normal. Mine came back after my kiddos started babyfood.

I've heard it's normal and it appears everyone who replied supports you!!! :-) I am one of the few whose period hasn't returned yet and I assume it'll return when I stop nursing. My daughter is 2 and for the last 6 months or so we've only been nursing once a day. Now we're in the process of weaning so we nurse everyother day. I thought my periods would have returned long ago but they haven't. So, mothernature has a plan for all us moms and I don't miss my periods!!! :-) Good Luck

I resumed at 9 months with just light spotting, while exclusively breastfeeding. And the two oldest kids are 18 months apart, so BE CAREFUL!

It's totally normal, my period came back when my son was 13 months old and he nursed till he was 22 months old. As your baby gets older and is taking on more solids, he is nursing less, and it is more likely you will get your period back.

It is very normal to resume your period while breastfeeding. Each mother resumes when her body is ready.

Congrats on breastfeeding and sticking with it!

Remember to drink plenty of water. You need to stay hydrated for the breastfeeding and for yourself. My youngest (of three breastfed boys) is now seven and I aim to drink 4 bottles of bottled water (the .5 liter bottles are equal to 2 cups and some 9 ounces). If you are breastfeeding, it seems to me that 8 cups of water a day should be a minimum for you. (Soft drinks and teas have higher amounts of salt and do not substitute for water. I do, sometimes, buy some Crystal Light and add that to my water. I see 0mg of sodium and 0 calories and I like that.)

I avoid drinking water in the evening to keep from waking up with an over-full bladder...but that comes with age. LOL

Good luck and here's to wishing mothers didn't worry so much. LOL!

D.

Hi Melissa,
I have 3 children and breastfeed all of them. My period resumed when each of them were about 6 months old. My doctor didn't think this was a problem. I understand the sleep deprivation, just nap whenever and wherever you can, and remember this doesn't last forever, it just feels like it while you are going through it. Good Luck!!
S.

Totally normal. BTW, we conceived two of our children while I was breastfeeding.

Very normal mine came back at 7 months and I got pregnant.

I started periods with both of my exclusively breastfed kiddos at around 4 months. You're totally normal.

Melissa,

I had a similar situation at 5 months post partum. I wasn't sure if it was a period...it was and I was pregnant the next month! We were exclusively breastfeeding for milk, but supplementing solids by that time. I did also pump, but was producing 35-40 oz a day. So, I would think it's very likely a period!

Good luck!

Yes, getting period back while breastfeeding can occur. Getting pregnant while breastfeeding can occur too. (You can guess how I know that one!)
Here's our biggest surprise: you can be ovulating, not having a period (or only light spotting), breastfeeding a baby and can STILL get pregnant.
That surprise is now 15 years old.