Period After No Longer Breastfeeding

Hi H.. I am a midwife in San Marcos and would be happy to run a blood HCG on you if you want.(they are much more accurate than HPT plus I have other ways of checking) I can come to your home or you can come to me. Usuallly periods begin pretty soon after ceasing BF but they may not be regular for a while. Are you experiencing any other signs of pregnancy?I will include my info and I do free consults so dont worry about the cost OK? Wish you all the best!
S. Evans LM CPM
Wholistic Midwifery
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I BF for 10 mos and it took me 3 or 4 months to regulate. The blood test is probably your best idea.

H.,
I had irregular cycles for the first few cycles after each baby was born. (4)

This web page, might be helpful to you. It says it is normal for the first cycle to be infertile and irregular. http://ccli.org/nfp/ebf/spacebabies.php

There is also some wonderful info on understanding your fertility cycles now that you are interested in getting pregnant. I have used this method exclusively for the spacing and planning of our 4 children for 12 years. It is amazing what the body will tell us if we just look and listen.
Patti

I didn't get a period until my son was about 16 months. I then got pregnant when he was 18 months and I was still breastfeeding! On a side note, I continued breastfeeding him until I was about 4 months pregnant. It was hurting me so bad (extremely sensitive nipples) that I stopped. Good luck to you!

I just weaned my 10 month old and had my first period one week after (on Christmas morning at that!) I immediately started using birth control (Nuvo Ring...LOVE IT!) but my OB told me that I shouldn't be surprised by some irregularity even though I have started the birth control now. It can take a month to get situated right even on birth control. So, if it can be that way on birth control...I'm sure there is nothing wrong with it being irregular off birth control. My sister didn't have regular periods for 3 months after stopping BF. We are going to try for another in July or August and I'll tell ya...I'll be glad to have no more periods again!! :) Good luck to you!

I am pregnant w/my 3rd and woth the first two, it took my body a couple of months after I quit nursing to get regular again. MOST if the time, breast feeding will cut your chances of getting pregnant, but it can still happen. But your body has been through months and months of changes, so don't expect a regular period so soon. Just give it time, and keep trying to get prego (if you're not already). Good Luck!!

I would recommend the blood test and think it's a good idea for you to get one. My period came back after 9 months of breastfeeding and I'm still nursing and he's 13 mos old right now. It hasn't been super regular, but every month it has become more regular than the month before. I have a very good friend who is an OB/GYN and my OB/GYN told me this too - there is no such thing as a false positive pregnancy test, but there is such a thing as a false negative. If the test shows you're negative, doesn't mean you're not pregnant. Good luck!

Mine have been super irregular after stopping nursing. Can't give you much advice, but your not alone!!

Mine did not return each time until my sons were 18 months old. But, they did not return because I stopped breastfeeding. I continued breastfeeding for many, many months afterwards. As others noted, the irregularity seems to be quite normal. And, I do caution that you cannot count on things being normal and that ovulation will be very irregular, as well. I became pregnant with my second son when my first was 22 months on what I thought was day 24 of my cycle when it should not be possible to get pregnant. You do not need to take birth control to get regular again, but it may take several months for the regularity to return. I would imagine since your periods were suppressed for so long during the breastfeeding, that it may take longer than someone whose periods were only suppressed say for 9 months while breastfeeding.

I always skip a few befoer becomeing regular and never think twice about it, it is very normal to be irregular after weaning.