S.M.H: Currently Breastfeeding and Got My Period 7 Weeks After Giving Birth!

Updated on June 05, 2011
M.R. asks from Corona, CA
23 answers

Scratching My Head: I'm confused, I'm breastfeeding and got my period already 7 weeks after giving birth. I don't know if this is really a period or if it's ''left over'' blood from my pregnancy. It lasted about 4 days, about the same as one of my ''real periods'', AND around the same day as my ''cycle'', even had lower back pain and a bit of cramping. I've always heard of absense of periods in breastfeeding women so I'm wondering what gives. Has this ever happened to you? P.S: I have been protecting myself against pregnancy since week 6 so I know breastfeeding is not a reliable source of birth control:)

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So What Happened?

I just figured it out from Kellymom.com. I got it back because I'm pretty much just pumping it out 3x a day and putting it in a bottle because my son gets so frustrated while suckling. But I do put him to my breast here and there. Also, my supply has lowered because of that so I supplement with formula.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

A lot of people get their periods quickly. A lot of people get pregnant while breastfeeding, even without a period. Breastfeeding, is not birth control (Not saying you think it is, but a lot of people do.)

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T.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had my first period about 10 weeks after birth, and then another one about two months after that. There is no rule with those things, and it`s different for everyone. Don`t worry, and keep using contraception!

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Welcome to another myth of breastfeeding!

Yes, some people get their periods right away while others don't get it for a year or so.

Yes, you most definitely can get pregnant while breastfeeding.

Although both myths, if you're satisfied with the nursing no need to stop just because you're menstruating again. Just be careful like you would any other time while having sex (unless of course you want to get pregnant again, but I can't imagine 7 weeks post-partum that's your plan!).

2 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

It's perfectly normal to get your period right away. Every time I breastfed I got my period back right away. I was EBF at the time too. I did have supply problems, but many women get their periods back right away.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Yep the pumping will get you every time! I had to pump for my preemie and even though I was pumping literally round the clock I got mine back right about the same time as you. I nursed my daughter right from the beginning (37 weeks and ready to go thank goodness!!) but she was a great sleeper (5-6) hours) from about 6 weeks so it came back at around 4 months.

Keep working with him though. I taught my preemie to nurse once he got home from the hospital. It took a little while but he got it and did great! We nursed for 16 months. The playtex nursers really helped make the transition much easier. And I bottle fed him as if he were nursing-with my shirt off, changed "sides" after a burp, etc. Makes life so much easier when they will go straight to breast.

Best to you both!

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Everyone is different, and some women get theirs back pretty quickly after giving birth.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Yes, you can get your period while breastfeeding.
You can also, STILL get pregnant while breastfeeding. It not being a birth control method.

I breastfed both my kids. I got my period back, like clockwork. While breastfeeding.

1 mom found this helpful

A.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I got mine 8 weeks after giving birth. After 6 full weeks of bleeding. Grrrr...

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had the same issue only mine came at 8 weeks. Mine came sporadically every month ( different lengths and not the same traditional timing), and now, after almost a year, it's finally somewhat consistent. Hope this proves helpful.
Also, lowered hormone levels can lower your milk supply, which was definitely the case with me. I breastfed several times a day, but still could not keep up with my son's needs. I eventually ended up pumping every three hours and supplemented with formula on two of his feedings. I just recently learned this from my endocrinologist, and wished I had known this from the start.

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

I've got 3 kids. All 100% exclusively breastfed, no bottles, no pumps, no pacifiers, no formula. My first 2 I didn't get my period back until some time around 6 months. My third was the odd one. I kept lightly spotting on and off and at my 6 wk check up was bleeding again. My midwife said everything was completely fine. I went on to have a full period. At least I got the OK to use tampons after my 6wk ;) I never got a break after her. They came regular from then on. Felt a bit jipped that I wasn't going to get any kind of break. My first 2 were thumb suckers and my third never was so she used me even more than the other 2 to pacify. It depends on the woman and it can depend on the pregnancy too. Breastfeeding isn't a 100%.

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C.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have two boys, both exclusively breastfed, and I got my period 8 weeks after delivery with both of them :( The doc said for some women that is what happens! Lucky us!

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

All 3 of my periods after the 6 wks post partum were all different it's not unusual to regain a full period while bfing baby p.t or f.t.just keep track of them & if your not wanting to become preggo so soon well u know what to do.

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

That stinks! That is one of the plus's of breastfeeding!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I got mine back just a few weeks after I finished bleeding from birth. So do most of the women in my family. It's why before reliable birth control so many women had children less than a year apart, and why many women still do. :)

Sure many breastfeeding mums don't start their fertility cycle for some time... but many start right back up again. If you look at birth records for the past thousand years or so (prior to both formula AND reliable birth control) you'll see a great number of siblings born in the same year 9+mo apart

Ahh... as per your update... There've been some cool studies done on infant saliva and mom's nipples and chemical reactions. For example: it's not just increased sucking that creates more supply... the chemicals in the baby's saliva actually tell a nursing mother what TYPE (or types if she's nursing 2 different children) of milk to produce (composition changes during the lifecycle) AS WELL AS what other substances the baby has been consuming. Come to find the *moment* a non-breastmilk substance is ingested by an infant it starts a chemical reaction that translates (via saliva-nipple-mail) which helps to restart the mum's fertility cycle. We learned about it in school from one of our professors who is a researching OB/ fertility specialist.

Personally I wonder about the creams we rub on our nipples (if those "count" chemically speaking... but non-food subatances haven't been tested yet (or at least, not back when I was taking the class a few years back). At that time only food/formula/water had been tested... and all 3 caused the chemical reaction.

((Just for the record, I exclusively nursed... couldn't even pump... and kiddo got *nothing* but breastmilk long after I started my cycle again.))

S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

like i tell everyone with these kind of questions; you can never be sure what your body will do. even your dr doesnt know all the details. just because this or that happened to so and so doesnt mean it will happen to you or someone else for sure.

i got my period back right away after most of my pregnancies and i breastfed all my kids, no pumping or anything. i was so mad! lol, i hate periods.

but this is life! nothings really written in stone when it comes to how our bodies will react to pregnancy, childbirth, recovery and breastfeeding

S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

The only time I ever had regular 28 day cycles was while nursing my oldest. Sucks, but not everyone gets the no period benefit.

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

Why not transition your son to the breast? If you want to do this, you need to stop all formula and bottles ASAP cold turkey. Next try to get a CLC, Le Leche League leader or IBCLC help to ensure his latch is good. For some videos on this, check out http://drjacknewman.com.

Once he's latched on and realizes the easy flow bottles are gone - he'll get right to suckling like he should be.

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A.P.

answers from Eugene on

Same thing happened to me too! I was not happy! It definitely affected my supply. I took a ton a of milk increasing supplements, nursed constantly, and tried pumping but my baby wouldn't gain weight after I got it. Sadly, for me it was the end of nursing :(...after nursing my first for a year...so just make sure you really work on keeping your supply up.

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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

I had one at abouy 7 weeks also and then didn't get another until my son was about 9-10 months,if that helps.

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A.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

I got something weird like that at about 6 weeks, thought it was my period and it wasn't. It wasn't until 11 months PP when I really got it. And I didn't breastfeed from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, but relactated after that, so I totally thought it really started.

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K.P.

answers from Las Vegas on

I was about the same as was my sister, despite the fact that we both breastfed our respective boys.

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S.Z.

answers from Reno on

I breastfed, and my periods came back after a month or two as well.

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