Breast Feeding & Menstrual Period

Not to worry P.. I had to abruptly stop breastfeeding when my son was 4 months old....he is now 10 months old and I have yet to start my cycle back. I to was worried and asked my OB/GYN, and he said it could take up to a year for you to start back. So relax and enjoy this time of no PMS and it will come too soon...lol

My son and I never really got the hang of breastfeeding, but it still took me 5 months to get my period back. Almost a year later I'm just now starting to actually be "regular" again. If you are on birth control or if you've had a negative pregnancy test, don't worry. Everything in your body will get back to normal sooner or later. Some of us are just later.

I started my period about 4 months after I completly stopped breastfeeding

Well I had my little one in January and I breastfed for about three months. I started my actual period a few months after I stopped breastfeeding. I was still trying to pump my milk, however, but I still had a period. The only thing you need to worry about is, whether or not you are pregnant again. Other than that, let your body take its course.

I took me about 3 months before my period came back. My first one was horrible. Really bad cramps! After that everything went back to normal.

P., I think it would be wise to visit your doctor and ask him to do a check to see if you are anemic. He may suggest that you need to take some iron everyday. God bless you!

Hi P., breastfeeding and starting back on periods is very specific to each individual. How long did you breastfeed, and if your baby is only 5 months old, why did you completely stop? Or, are you still occasionally nursing? Do you still have milk? The hormones in charge of making milk may still be working, and the hormones to get cycles started again are probably ready, but not yet in full motion. Are you sure your're not pregnant? If you have not been using contraception, that could happen. If you used Depo, that would be another reason for no period yet.

Talk to your provider about your next step--you may need to just be patient and wait until a period starts. Just don't get pregnant if you don't want to yet!
K. V

I wouldn't know! I exclusivly breastfed my son and I started my period 28 days after he was born. I am also exclusivly breastfeeding my 5 month old daughter right now and I started my period 26 days after I had her! Bummer huh? I guess everyone's body is different! Good luck! Dont forget though that you ovulate 2 weeks before you have your 1st period, so you still need birth control unless you want to be pg again. :)

It took me a long while before my body regulated again and I started menstrating after quitting breast feeding. If I had to guess, it was closer to 6 months and then my periods were very irregular. I wouldn't have one every month. You have to realize that it takes up to a solid year for your body to get back to it's normal hormonal balance from the pregnancy alone, that's not counting the breast feeding. So, be patient with yourself. If you really want to start menstrating again, you can always regulate with birth control. You would need to be completely done nursing. If you haven't menstrated after your daughter turns a year old, check with your ob/gyn. I would hope you were going to get your annual check up anyway. If need be, they can draw blood and see what's going on. I remember taking pregnancy tests once in a while because I still couldn't believe I was not menstrating. If you don't want another baby just yet, you should still use protection. Just because you're not menstrating this month doesn't mean you won't start next month. It's hard to predict...it's a gamble.

P.,

I know people this has happened to. Sometimes it just takes their body a while to get back in the rhythm, sometimes it's their birth control, sometimes they are pregnant again. I would take a pregnancy test and call the nurse at your OB's office just to be sure.

Best wishes,
S.

I was going to say you may be pregnant, but since your baby is only 5 1/2 months, then your boday just may be taking awhile. I nursed my first 2 until they were 12 months and I got my period back before I quit nursing, but it was when they were both around 9 months old.

i think it's different for every woman! i had my first period only 4 wks after my daughter was born, even though i was exlclusively breastfeeding. then i got the depo-provera shot and i've had 2 "periods" but have bled VERY little, but have all the other symptoms of menstrating. cramps, PMS, etc. if i were you, i'd definitely ask my ob/gyn just to be sure, but i don't think there's anything to worry about. however, i agree with the other that you need to be on birth control even if it seems you're not having a period, you still could be ovulating, therefore, you still could get pregnant!
good luck!

P.-
It took me many months to get back my period after breastfeeding. I stopped last Oct. when my daughter was 6 mo. old and didn't have a "real" period until April. I wouldn't worry too much but if you get past the 6 mo. mark you probably will want to talk with your OBGYN.

Good luck!

make sure you aren't pregnant again, I have know some women who got pregnant while breastfeeding.