I exclusively breastfed my daughter for a year (no formula, started solids at 6 months), and now she drinks cow's milk twice a day and I breastfeed her in the morning, before bed, and sometimes once during the day. I still haven't gotten my period and I'm starting to get worried because I'm 36. My OBGYN stopped taking my insurance so I'm in the process of finding a new one, but in the meantime, has anyone else experienced this?
Hi M.,
I experienced the same thing and didn't get my period until over a year and I dropped down to only breastfeeding my daughter once a day.
You should be fine, I'd only worry if you didn't get it once you stopped breastfeeding completely.
Hope this helps!
Don't worry about it, I didn't get my period back until my son was about 16-17mo old (I don't remember exactly) and everything went back to normal and I conceived twice after him. Give it time :)
This is probably no help at all to you, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway...... I'd talk to your doctor about PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and see if that can be ruled out or not. Good luck to you, and God bless you!
This happened to my friend. She was breastfeeding for about 18 months (had no period this whole time) and when she stopped, her period STILL never came back... well, after a few months she found out she was pregnant again! If there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, take a test, just in case. If it comes out negative, then you may want to talk to your new doctor about it as soon as you find one. However, if you are still breastfeeding (even if it's only a few times a day) it IS possible that you're period won't come back until a few months after you've completely weened.
It's simple - you still breastfeed, even a little, that's why. I had cut down my breastfeeding to only once a day and still didn't get my period. When I completely stopped, that's when I got it back.
Good Morning,
Hormone imbalances may be caused by allergies and deficiencies. You may want to got to site NAET.com and purchase the book Say Goodbye to Illness by Dr. Nambudripad. Also, another great reference is Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Balch. I am currently seeing an NAET allergist for my allergies which have caused many hormonal imbalances, which are now being corrected.
Be Well.
N.
Don't worry. I didn't get mine until I stopped breast-feeding completely at 2 1/2. It then took about a month for the cycle to kick in. As my doctor told me, you are probably just "sensitive to the lactation hormone."
don't worry, enjoy it! i was 36 too when my period came back after 15 months. i am still breastfeeding my just turned 3 year old. it'll come back soon enough.
take care,
R.
M.,
I breastfed my first child for about 13 months. My period didn't come back for about a year after that. My OBGYN has to put me back on the pill to get my periods to start again. With my second, my period came back after only three months - while I was exclusively breastfeeding. Two extremes, so you're probably just fine. Enjoy your little one and not having that monthly hassle of a period.
Hi, M.,
It's possible that you are perimenopausal. However, from what you've posted, your situation sounds normal (pretty common). Even if you are perimenopausal, as I was when I started trying to get pregnant at 38, your chances of becoming pregnant again, assuming no unusual conditions, e.g. endometriosis, PCOS, are greater than your chances of not becoming pregnant again.
Good luck,
Lynne E
M.,
We moms are all so different! Just as we have different experiences w/ menstrual cycles, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth...we also have different experiences with return of menses after childbirth! It is in the normal range to not get your period for this long after childbirth with breastfeeding. Enjoy the benefit :-)
I have had personal experience: After each of my 3 children my period came back after 1.5 yrs but before 2 yrs (and my last child was at age 38--I know you're concerned about age). I've had friends who have gone longer and shorter. I've had friends who got their period after night-weaning, and others who had to wean completely before getting their periods back.
Hope this helps
C.
No worries! I also exclusively breastfeed until my son was 7+ months. Kept nursing on demand. I didn't get my period until he was 18 months, one of my friends in the same boat didn't get hers for 2 years. I'm pregnant now, and I did get pregnant while nursing, so you might want to take a test. But don't worry about your cycle if it's negative, it will come back :)
I breastfeed my daughter, 15 months, and I recently just got my period. I mean if you even want to call it a period... it was one day, not very heavy.. my DR. said that is NORMAL if you are breastfeeding... it will come back when your hormones get back in order..
Don't worry.. you're still breastfeeding.. sometimes 3 times a day.... so your body isn't 'compeletly' back to normal... it's just gonna take time.. just be careful you're not pregnant!
yes! I had no period after the birth of by first child. Breastfed only and later solids. When my child was about 8 months, I learned I was 13 weeks pregnant ! I had no symptom, LOL
I think as long as you continue to breastfeed, this is completely normal. It really varies. I have a friend who's period returned at around 4 months even though she was breastfeeding exclusively. Mine didn't return until my son was almost a year old and I'd cut back to breastfeeding twice a day. Aside from ruling out pregnancy (which absolutely can happen while breastfeeding) I wouldn't worry too much.
I breastfed for about 9 months and my cycle didn't return until my daughter was 14 1/2 months and then after that it was not normal, it would come and go. I actually had to go back on the pill to force it come back. My doctor told me that it happens sometimes after birth. Where our hormones are all out of whack and sometimes they need help kicking back in.
