Timing of Period After Breastfeeding

Congrats on your baby girl and good job for breastfeeding, even if it was for 6 months. In answer to your question... the length of time for a lacting mom to resume her period can be as little as 12 weeks and as far out as 18 months. However, as stated earlier, it is important to know that ovulation can still occur. So take contraceptive measures into consideration. All the best to you and Merry Christmas!

The reading I have done suggests that it can take some time for hormones to get back into the swing of things. Have you considered a pregnancy test?

I have three kids and it was different with all of them. With the first I breast fed for only about a month but didn't get a period for a few months. The second I breast fed for a year and I didn't get my period until two months after I stopped breast feeding. And my third I breast fed for 6 months and I got my period the month after I stopped. So I think it is clearly different with every pregnancy and with every woman.
Enjoy not having it:)
A.

Hi M.,

It is different for every woman. I wouldn't worry about it. It will come back when your body is ready. Enjoy it!! :)

Tricky, tricky question. The reality is that it can take up to a year to get your period back. I think I got mine back about 3-4 months after I stopped breastfeeding.
Honestly, enjoy it while it's gone:) It'll come back when your hormones are back to "normal".

There is no typical time. I am still nursing my 14 month old and got my period at 10 months. I know other women who didn't get a period until several months after full weaning.

With my first child, I got my period when she was 6 months old, and she was still breastfeeding! With my second, I did not get my period again until she was a year old ( and she was still breastfeeding too), which made me think I was preganant again--a couple of times. The return of menstruation varies for every woman--it depends on the right hormone balance. Just remember that you can still become pregant even if you have not had a period--you can ovulate at any time--so take precautions if you are not ready for another baby yet! If you are concerned, speak to your OB doctor about it.

Yes, everyone is different and you are probably completely within the normal range. I would check to make sure you're not pregnant again, as that's happened to several of my friends. Did you by chance have either a c-section or a post-pardum D&C for retained placenta? There is a condition called Asherman's syndrome, which is basically scarring of the inside of the uterus caused by uterine trauma or surgeries such as a D&C (especially immediately after a birth.) It is a fairly rare condition, but widely under-diagnosed. If you haven't had any of those, then you can probably rule it out. If you're worried about your cycle not starting by now, talk to your doctor about trying hormones (provera or something like that) to get your period back on track. If you did have a c-sect or D&C after the birth of your daughter and the hormones don't work, I would talk to your doctor about Asherman's. Good luck!

Count yourself lucky!! I got my first period three months after I had my daughter, and I was breastfeeding exclusively! It felt like I had just stopped bleeding from all my stitches and from the birth when my period just popped back in again. I would have LOVED to have been without my period for awhile - its different for all women, when their bodies decide its time to menstruate again.
Don't worry about it, there is nothing wrong with you or your womanly parts :) Enjoy the non-period while it lasts.

I think it's different with each person. I breastfed for almost two years, but I still got my period back nine months after my daughter was born. Enjoy it while it lasts :)