Menstrual Cycle Postpardum

Updated on November 12, 2010
D.P. asks from Greenville, NC
8 answers

I breastfed until my daughter was 1 month. I got mastitis when she was 10 days old, which caused a huge abcess, that was finally cultured to be a really bad mrsa infection. She is now 10 weeks and I am still on antibiotics- and will continue to be for the next 3 weeks. I haven't started my period yet- which I find strange. With my son, I BF exclusively and started at 5 weeks after birth! Anyway, I am wondering why I haven't resulted my cycle yet, and how much longer should I wait before considering it a problem. I wonder if the ongoing infection and meds have something to do with it... Any experiences?

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M.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

Some women don't menstruate when they are breastfeeding. I know a friend who didn't get her cycle back until after she stopped breastfeeding which was a whole year.

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A.B.

answers from Louisville on

With three of my four children, I have breast fed exclusively, and my periods have not returned until about two months after I stopped nursing completely. The fourth was also breast fed exclusively, but I believe that my supply was unusually low, especially after he started eating solids more. My period did start a month before I stopped nursing with him, but since I usually go a year with the breast feeding, it was still about 11 months without one.

Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better soon!

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

I didn't start my period until 5 months after I stopped breastfeeding my first daughter. Every woman is different. I wouldn't worry about it yet.

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

I would say having your period return so soon after the birth of your son is more of an exception rather than a norm for breastfeeding mothers. BFing typically delays the return of your period. How long it delays it varies quite a bit. Many women see their period return when they start nursing a little less, around 5-7 months, when the baby starts solids and such. But it is not unusual for some women to stay period-free until they wean completely. I would only start to wonder/worry if it had not returned within a few months of weaning.

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M.W.

answers from Huntington on

As others have said, it is not very common to get ones menses back while breastfeeding as you did the 1st time. Not getting it back until after solids are started, or sleeping through the night, or totally weaned is much more common.
Altho it is common to have one or more anovulatory cycles before fertility returns, it is just as common to ovulate on your first cycle, before any menses appears. So, you could be pregnant again :)
Also, you didn't mention what means of bc you are using. Antibiotics interfere with the effectiveness of bc pills, so if yo were not using bc or using the pill it is more likely for you to get pregnant again.
So sorry b'feeding did not work out for you. :( Better luck next time!
BTW, MRSA is apallingly on the rise! Next time hire a midwife & stay home, away from all those "superbugs" that thrive in the hospital environment!

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F.K.

answers from Charlotte on

I was told it can take up to three months after you stop nursing to get your period. Don't expect your experience this time around to be the same as your experience was before. With my first son, he was 16 months old when I had my first period. My doctor told me that if I didn't get a period within 90 days of weaning, call her. I got my period when he was 16 months old and still continued to breast feed until he was 22 months old. With my second, I got my first period when he was 10 months old and I'm still nursing, he is 23 months now. It's different every time. If it gets to 90 days since you stopped breastfeeding, you should call your doctor. Before then, I wouldn't worry about it. Just enjoy the break from your menstrual cycle. Sorry to hear about your bad infection. That certainly can ruin the joys of nursing. Good luck.

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A.F.

answers from Charleston on

I bf my daughter for 7 months and was then hospitalized in Sept with mrsa. I tried to return to bf'ing after I was off all the meds and it didn't turn out the way I wanted. My cycle then returned roughly 4 weeks later. Everyone is different and the meds you were on and the stress may delay it a little more. I wouldn't worry about it for a bit longer.

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C.M.

answers from Chattanooga on

I have three children. My period started at 6 weeks post-partum although I breastfed for 7 months. My second baby only breastfed for 7 weeks and my period started 9 weeks post-partum. My third child just turned one year old, is still breastfeeding twice a day and my period did not start until she was 9 months old. Not only is every woman different, but every pregnancy and post-partum experience is different. If your period doesn't start within a couple of months after you stop breastfeeding, then I would talk to your doctor.

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