Still Breastfeeding 8Month Old and No Period?

Updated on March 25, 2009
R.C. asks from New York, NY
42 answers

Hi Moms,
I'm still breastfeeding my almost 8 month old boy and he's eating solids and sleeps through the night without feedings (since 2.5months). Shouldn't I have me period by now?

Have any of you have similar backgrounds and not get their periods until much later?

Thanks for all your help!

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S.K.

answers from New York on

Yes. It was almost 8 years ago and I was pregnant with my 3rd child. I did not get my period in between my second and third child.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

You are fine. I breastfed my first daughter and didn't get my period until she was about 13 months. I just had my second. Try to relax and ENJOY the break.

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E.E.

answers from New York on

totally normal. My son is 13 months old and (to my dismay) I finally just had my period for the first time since he was born.

More Answers

M.H.

answers from New York on

Hi R.,

I breastfeed my son for almost a year. I did not have a period until I started weaning him at around 11 months. I think it maybe different for everyone. I would not worry. I am fine now, on time every month. :)

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L.D.

answers from New York on

I didn't get my first period until my daughter was 10 months old. It was great! you can still ovulate and still not get your period but can get pregnant so just be careful. Enjoy!

:) L.

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H.V.

answers from New York on

I got my first period when my son was 10 months old.

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A.P.

answers from New York on

I know a women who was only nursing her two yr old once a day who still wasn't getting her period. Some women are lucky like that. I was nursing every two hours and 3-5 times at night and my cycle returned at 7 months.

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C.M.

answers from New York on

Hi R., I breastfed until my daughter until she was 7 months old. I didn't get my period until just after she turned one. And even then, it wasn't regular until a couple of months after that. I had gone to the dr. for tests and everything seemed normal, except for some elevated hcg hormones (the pregnancy hormone), but I wasn't pregnant. Everything seems to be back to normal, but different schedule than before I was pregnant, now at 14 months. Good Luck!

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A.T.

answers from Syracuse on

With my first child I did not get my period for six months and when I did it was -verrry- light. Sometimes I didn't even need a pad because I would only see blood after I would wipe after going pee. I breastfed her for 2 and a half years and during that time my period continued to be very light. It stayed light until I had my second child.
With my second child I went right into my period from my post-partum six week bleeding. My bleeding still continues to be heavy 3 years later.
I was told both situations were completely normal. Especially when it's light. When it's heavy they worry about endometriosis and fibriods or even hemmoraging.
Always double check with your doctor but my advice would be to enjoy the time off from your peroid.

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M.B.

answers from Rochester on

R.,

Enjoy the respite. Unless you are experiencing pain or other signs that you are worried about, enjoy!

I had my period back 1st month. 8 months respite for me. Oh well.

:)
M.

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T.H.

answers from Syracuse on

with my son I never got my period until he was 11 months old and I was starting to wean him. With my second I got my period when she was 4 months old. Both were EBF. I say enjoy your time without it, but remember that you CAN get preg. Good luck

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A.B.

answers from New York on

I didn't get my period again until I completely stopped breastfeeding. My doctor said that is completely normal.

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H.G.

answers from New York on

Totally normal! I didn't get my period until my son self weaned at 7 months, and it took another 2 months to get regular. And a friend of mine didn't get her period for 9 months, and then got pregnant because she thought she wasn't ovulating. Oops!

So be careful! :)

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J.L.

answers from New York on

I nursed for 11 months and my period returned at around 9 - 10 months. Enjoy the "vacation" while you can. :)

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A.G.

answers from New York on

I breast fed both children and with #1 she was 10 months old before my period returned and with #2 I was pregnant again by the time she was 10 months old. I think she was about 8 months when I got my period the first time. I had a friend who went almost a whole year without one. It varies person to person and even pregnancy to pregnancy in th same person. Don't worry it WILL return and usually with a vengence the 1st month or 2. A.

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C.F.

answers from New York on

It is not unusual for you to not have a period while still breastfeeding. Once you stop, your cycle should return to normal. Everyone is different as every pregnancy is different. Just give your body some time after you stop. Hope this helps!

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B.R.

answers from New York on

totally normal - don't worry about it. Some women get their periods quite early even if they are breastfeeding, and others don't. I spoke with my doc about it and she told me this is completely fine. Also, when you do get your period it can be irregular, and either very light or very heavy - in other words, it may be different from what you experienced before pregnancy.

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J.B.

answers from Rochester on

i have been breastfeeding my son for over 10 months and still have not gotten my period.....

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K.Z.

answers from New York on

Women get their periods back at different times when breastfeeding. Mine returned when my son was 10 months old, and my sister-in-law got hers when my niece was just three months old.

It's normal. I wouldn't worry about it!

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A.H.

answers from New York on

Totally normal. I think my doctor said that only 20% of breastfeeding moms get their periods after six months; by a year, 80% of them have it. I know a breastfeeding mom that did not get it back until her son was 20 months old. Enjoy the "freedom" !!!

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A.C.

answers from New York on

I think every woman is different regarding when periods return after breastfeeding. I nursed for 10 months for my first child and my period came back 2 weeks after I started solid foods (she was 5.5 months when she started solids). I know my cousin didn't get her period until she stopped breastfeeding altogether. Just enjoy the respite!

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S.H.

answers from New York on

I got mine between ten and eleven months.

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B.D.

answers from New York on

It's totally normal. The same thing happened to me when I was nursing my first. In fact, my period hadn't even returned when I got pregnant with my second--my first was 12 months old.

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

Hi,

I am nursing a 6 1/2 month old now (no solids yet) and no period. My first child nursed until almost a year, started solids at 4 months, and slept through the night, but I didn't get my period until after he was 8 months old. I've known women who did not get their periods until closer to a year. I wouldn't worry about it as a health issue. Just for my own peace of mind I do take a pregnancy test at least every 6 weeks or so. I don't want to stop breastfeeding and have an advanced surprise. :)

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J.G.

answers from Rochester on

I nursed for 15 months or so and didn't have my first period until right before her first birthday. My first period was a lot of cramping and uncomfortable stomach pain for a little over a week before it started and I've heard the same from others about the first period, so you will probably no when it's coming.
If you are on birth control it could make a difference as to when you start?, so maybe talk to your obgyn.

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S.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi R.,

I did not get my period until my son was 11 months old. He too was eating solids and slept through the night.(since 4 months) Everything was fine when it resumed and it was monthly like clockwork. Just enjoy not having it for now. If it really concerns you ask your doc.

Hope this helps.

S.

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L.R.

answers from New York on

Thank you for the post. We are the same with the age of our boys and everything else. I am enjoying a break from my period. I am glad to know that is totally normal which I thought it was but it is always great to get assurance.

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D.R.

answers from New York on

totally normal. all my kids were ebf until 6 or 7 mos, then continued till about a year and a half.. still going with #3 at 20 mos. anyway, i got my period at 9 mos with my 1st, 15 mos with my 2nd, and 13 mos with my 3rd. dont know why, but its all normal, dont worry. just be aware that you can get pregnant before you actually get that first period. though if you pay attention, you may be able to feel when you ovulate now if you never did before. i did after my 1st pregnancy, and since. take care

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M.B.

answers from New York on

With first child I got it back at 19 months.

With second child I got it back at 17 months.

With third child I got it back at 8 months.

Hope that helps. :-)

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T.K.

answers from New York on

Hi R., I don't think that you will have your period as long as you are breastfeeding. For some reason, breastfeeding delays the menstruation process. Wish I could give you more information.

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D.H.

answers from New York on

My son was 12 months old when I finally got my period and then it was every other month until I stopped feeding him every 2 hours through the night. He was eating solids from about 5 months and didn't sleep through the night until he was almost 2. He is 26 months now.

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M.G.

answers from Columbus on

I didn't get mine till later and some women I knew were over a year.

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B.M.

answers from New York on

That's awesome.

If you are practicing ecological breastfeeding, you can possibly go about 22 months.

I don't know if you are planning on breastfeeding that long.

Not having a period now is perfectly normal. The longer the child spaces out their meals, and the longer you go without breastfeeding, the more the likelihood of it returning.

There are 3 types of breastfeeding. Ecological, Cultural, and Exclusive.

Have fun!

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S.L.

answers from Binghamton on

I breastfed and didn't get my period for a year after birth.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Hi R.,
It took me 9 or 10 months to get mine, and I was still breastfeeding at the time. It's not all that unusual. But you can still be fertile, so unless you are planning on getting pregnant now, be sure that you're still using protection. You may not have any signs that you're ovulating.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

I am in the same position but my son is almost 1. I would have thought I would get my period by now but nope. I think its totally normal.

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M.D.

answers from New York on

I didn't get my period until well after DD's first birthday. and we are still breastfeeding at 2 yrs.

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P.M.

answers from New York on

Hi R.

yes - there's a huge range. It was about a year after birth for both of my breatfed sons and yet I have a friend who breastfed for over a year - but got her period again only about 2 months after her daughter was born. It is somewhat different for each mom. I wouldn't worry at all at this point. You can always ask your doctor when you have your annual checkup too...

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S.G.

answers from Rochester on

I think most moms don't get them for a long time.

Of course, doesn't mean you're not fertile....I haven't had a period since I conceived my 9 month old...and now I'm pregnant with her brother. How it happened (other than the obvious. lol)....I don't know, but yes, the break from my period has been nice.

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B.C.

answers from New York on

I nursed my son for a year and got my period when he was 9 months old. It was a sad day for me :)

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R.E.

answers from New York on

you may not get your period until you decrease or stop breastfeeding altogether.

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T.W.

answers from New York on

thanks for asking...i am only nursing my 5.5 mo old during the night (one feeding) for the last 3 weeks and started to wean few weeks before that and haven't gotten mine yet. My sister did the same a few months ago and had her period by now in the process.

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