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Menstruating and nursing?

I have been successfully breastfeeding my daughter for 9 and a half months and my period has returned. I was just wondering what experiences other nursing moms have had. I had my first menstruation 2 weeks ago and it was painful and lasted about 4 days. Last night I started again and I am very achy. It hasn't seemed to change the amount of milk but I don't pump so I am not sure, but my daughter doesn't seem to be any hungrier than normal.

 

Thank you for any advice you can provide.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda, Our365Host on April 12, 2011 at 12:26am
I got my cycles back like clockwork at 3 months postpartum. It's normal to have them be slightly irregular at first (ie close together, like it sounds like your last two were). I definitely did have supply dips that seemed to coincide with both ovulation and the start of my cycle itself, but not everyone does. Hopefully you're one of the lucky ones who is unaffected! Congrats on making it 9.5 months of nursing your daughter!
Permalink Reply by hockeymom36 on April 12, 2011 at 9:25am
With my middle son my period came back around 5 months of nursing. They were irregular at first and extremely painful, as I remember. Even though I nursed until 15 months my milk still remained the same. Now my youngest son is 6 months old and still I have no period, but I did earlier run into having lower milk supply with him. I started taking Fenugreek 3 tables twice a day and my milk returned. Just a thought if you do end up needing it!
Permalink Reply by Jennifer Cole on April 13, 2011 at 9:12am
My son is almost 5 months and I have only breast fed him but I was never one of the lucky ones to not get a period. I have got one every month since he was born. Also, I nursed my 3yr old from birth to 10 1/2 months and always got a period every month. Lucky me lol. No, not really it sucks.
Permalink Reply by Celia on April 14, 2011 at 10:37am

With my first daughter, my period came back right away and it wasn't painful in any way. With my most recent baby, I haven't had a period yet and she's going to be 5 months soon...and I have exclusively breastfed both and haven't pumped either. My milk supply didn't change with my period and it hasn't changed without it. Just feed her the way you usually do...you've gotten so far already, and if you didn't notice a change since getting your period, then there probably won't be one. Good luck and congrats on the breastfeeding!

 

Permalink Reply by Donna Nez on April 14, 2011 at 12:33pm

My son is 14 months and still trying to kick the early morning nursing, almost there! It was 18 months counting being in utero before I got my period back :)

Permalink Reply by Kristina on April 14, 2011 at 3:10pm

With my first daughter I breastfeed for 10 1/2 months and did not get my period until I stopped breastfeeding. With my newest daughter I am also breastfeeding and she is almost 9 months old. Once again I have not started my period yet! My one big question does anyone know if you can get pregnant when your period has not come back yet. I have been told yes and no by many different people.

 

Permalink Reply by Celia on April 14, 2011 at 5:32pm
Then it probably just depends on you because I thought that if you breastfed you couldn't get pregnant and I still got pregnant, eventhough many people told me no. About not getting your period...I've heard that even if you don't get it you could still be ovulating....but I would suggest you use a form of birth control if you don't want to get pregnant. We can go off of what other people tell us but it could still go either way until we find out for ourselves, ya know?
Permalink Reply by mommylove on April 15, 2011 at 1:36am
My midwife told me and I have read that you can ovulate while breastfeeding before you start a period.  So yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding if you ovulate.  It is less likely but still risky if you aren't prepared for another pregnancy.  Good luck, hope this helps.
Permalink Reply by Mindy Smith on April 19, 2011 at 10:14am
I am living proof that it's possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding. I exclusively breastfed my son until he was 13 months old. When he was 11 months old, I got pregnant with my daughter and hadn't had a period yet.. My milk supply took a huge hit, but it worked out okay because I was started to wean my son anyhow. But, yes, you can get pregnant without a period and while breastfeeding because you may still be ovulating.
Permalink Reply by Audra Ray on April 14, 2011 at 10:32pm
I have nursed my son for 9 1/2 months as well, just started weaning and my period has yet to return (yay!!) I nursed my daughter for almost 9 months and my period didn't return until she was almost 10 months old.
Permalink Reply by Vanessa Brant on April 15, 2011 at 10:22am
My son is 7months next week and i breastfeed and pump (for my nephew) and still no period. I'm hoping it stays that way until he's done breastfeeding!
Permalink Reply by Vicki Williamson on April 15, 2011 at 9:28pm
I'm still nursing my 20 month old daughter.  I got my period back when she was 14 months and ever since then they have been very irregular, heavy and painful.  They feel like they did before I went on birth control originally, but they're even more irregular (sometimes just 2 weeks between, sometimes up to 6 weeks).  I'm on birth control now, but it's a different one than I used before I had her since I'm still nursing.  I still enjoy breastfeeding, but I can't wait to have my nice, regulated periods again!

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