Hey mamas,
Quick question. My cycle is back in full force for the first time and my baby is 10 months tomorrow. I still nurse him about three times a day. Is this a sign that I am drying up? I have notice that when he nurses now he really chomps down sucks super hard, and my nipples have more sensitivity than before which is not a super fun combo, but not too bad. When he pulls off if I give my breast a light squeeze and there is still milk coming out. With my first there was no sign of menstruation until I had fully weaned my baby at 13 months. I really want to nurse him to a year but I want to be sure he is eating enough. I do supplement with formula if we go out but should I just start to give him a bottle of formula daily to make sure he is getting all he needs? At six months he went from the 75% for weight to the 50% and then at nine months he had gone down a little more, but he always seems satisfied and of course he eats solids three times a day as well. He has more than doubled his birth weight but I just don't want to take him at a year and find out he is underweight badly or something. Any of you continue to nurse successfully while having a monthly cycle? Thanks mamas!
Lucky you getting off so long without a period, I'm totally jealous! Mine came back this time exactly a month after giving birth. Hasn't had any connection with my milk output which has been more than ample.
Much to my dismay my monthly cycle started 2 months after my daughter was born - however we nursed until she was just about 2 years old without any problems with production. I did need to drink more fluids, but that was it.
Good luck!!
I exclusively nursed both mine and I got my cycle back way before 10 months. You are fine! Everyone is different.
Breastfed babies tend to pack on the pounds early on then lean out after around the 6 month mark.
The sensitivity is most likely from the hormonal changes you have going on. And little man is probably just playing around.
If you want to wean then give him a bottle of formula. If you want to continue nursing and keep your supply up only supplement when you feel like you need to if you are out and about. He will tell you what he wants/needs. If he wants more he'll let you know he wants to nurse. Breastfeeding is supply and demand. Don't forget that part.
Mine started at about 3 months and I nursed her all the time. She is still nursing 2x a day and she will be two. When you get your cycle back is different for every person, don't worry at all.
I resumed my period after 5 months, but we breastfed for 12 months, so no, you should be just fine!
I nursed with no problem for several more months after my period returned. Granted, it was annoying to see it return, but it didn't impact our nursing. :)
My period returned almost immediately (and I had a monster nurser). According to the lactation peep's super spiffy accurate scale from apx 2 weeks until 9.5 mo my son was nursing an average of 20oz every 2 hours.
No, my period returned about the 10 month mark while breastfeeding and it didn't alter my milk supply at all.
Its not a sign you are drying up at all, just of your hormones rebalancing. Per most lacation websites (Kellymom is a great one!), as soon as your baby is going at least 5 hours between feedings (at night for example), your period can return.
I would avoid the formula if you are concerned about supply. Let him "demand" more and your body will follow. Most women do get their periods back while breastfeeding and have no milk change.
you're lucky you got 10 months without having to worry about periods - mine came back at 3 months with 2nd and 4 months with first. I nursed both well beyond a year. He's eating solid food by now and you should be giving him water or juice so he's getting plenty....
I got my cycle 3 weeks after giving birth and nursed for a year and a half. I had to drink plent of water and took a mothers milk tea to keep the milk flowing.
Nothing is wrong with your milk supply. I paniced when this happened to me and called the nurses hotline. I was 10 weeks pp. My son is now 18 months and still nursing twice a day.
Once you start to wean your cycle begins to return. Now that your baby is eating other foods and you only nurse 3 x a day means that you are weaning from soley breastfeeding. It doesn't mean that you are drying up, but it does mean that your cycle can begin to return.
Your body is normal, some breastfeeding moms start a cycle again at 6w, others not till 6m AFTER weaning, all is normal. I breastfed my first son for 3y and never had a period, but got pg anyway.
My periods came back full force at two to three months every time, and I nursed 2 of mine for over a year and one for 9 months (he had other issues). The sore nipples may just be your cycle, and will go away. Having a period has nothing to do with drying up. I was annoyed, however, to be having mine again so soon.
I started my menstral cycle back up when my son was about 7 or 8 months and I was still pumping and breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours up to 8 ounces a sitting. I still continued to breastfeed another couple of months and then bc of work demand decided to stop and it took another 2 to 3 weeks before I could get my supply to stop all the while have a regular cycle. It may mean you are drying up or may just be your body getting back to it's routine. I wouldn't worry about it unless you start having trouble feeding. If your son isn't crying and showing he's still hungry then I wouldn't be concerned. They will go through phases plus you mentioned your also supplementing a formula. This tends to fill them up a little more than breastmilk so when he goes to feed he's prob not as hungry. I wouldn't worry about his weight. Both of my kids were on the thinner side but taller. My youngest is 19 mths and his last appt was in the 95% on his height and 45% on his weight (27lbs) even though he eats more than my 9 yr old. With my 9 yr old he was the same way. He was even in a car seat longer bc even though he was old enough he didn't weigh enough. He's now 4'6" and 57 pounds and he too eats a lot. Some it's just motabolism and lots of sports and/or running.
Just make sure you are drinking more during menstration and it should not be a problem. Like everyone else that has posted, I nursed my son until he was 2 and my period cam back when he was 14 months.. No issues, infact still have milk for about 6 months after he was weaned.
I got my cycle back when my DD was 9 months old. I continued to exclusively breastfeed very successfully. Your cycle coming back should not affect your ability to nurse at all. Keep at it, it is the best thing you can do for your baby!
If her nursing pattern has changed recently, that could have triggered the return of your cycle. My daughter was nursing 5 times a day for about 10 months. Since I work full time, this meant I was pumping 3 times during the work day. Around 10 months, her pattern started to change a bit - she was less and less interested in the mid-afternoon session. So at 11 months, I dropped that session and simultaneously changed my pumping schedule to twice a day at work. My period came back immediately after that, but we continued to nurse for almost a year after that. I only just weaned her last month when she was 21 months old (though for the last 6 months of nursing, it was only once a day - at bedtime).
