Nursing Moms

I got one after 10 months but they've been sporadic. That doesn't mean you aren't ovulating though, so if you don't want to get pregnant, be careful!

I weened my son gradually, finishing when he was a little over 13 months, but I didn't get my period until about 3 weeks after he had weened completely.

I got my period after 20 months of breastfeeding. I continued to BF until she was 2.5 years old but I was happy to be period free for so long. Also, my period was not heavy when I did get it.

It was 2 or 3 months. I thought it would be longer but I wasnt so lucky.

Hi R.,
I got mine at 3 months. So good luck at the break lasting much longer for you... I breastfeed exclusivly also, so it had nothing to do with that. I had friends that went a year to just over a year before it came back.
Also, make sure you are careful if you do not wish to have number two right away!! I can happen, you are very fertile right now...
N. B.

I have a 7 month old and I have been exclusively breastfeeding him--I got my first period 8 weeks postpartum and I have been very irregular ever since. Sometimes it's a couple of months between periods.

Hi. Just wanted to chime in on this. I exclusively bf my 1st son til he was 18 mos while working FT and did not get my period back until he was 14 mos. After one period, I got pg with my second and he is now 21 months, still nursing, and I have not gotten my period back yet (but we do co-sleep). Hope you are as lucky!
-Karen C.

Hi R.,
My son is also 8 months old and I just got my period! It was kind of unexpected. I really didn't know either. I still nurse my son about 4 times a day.

I nursed my last child for a year and didn't get my period until I started weaning her around 11 months.

Mine returned around the 8-month mark.

It can vary person to person. I got mine, if I remember correctly, 3 months after they were born. That's when I started to supplment more. But I believe typically that you can expect to start menstruating the moment you introduce any sort of supplemental feeding.

It depends on how frequently your baby nurses. I work full time and have an 11 month old and still havne't gotten mine back yet. Most moms that I have polled get theirs back between 8-15 months after birth.

There's actually some interesting stuff on the web (google "ecological breastfeeding" and "fertility") - some African tribes who nurse their children on-demand don't get theirs back until an average of 36 months - but their toddlers apparently spend 2 of every 15 minutes nursing, on average :) According to the article I saw, American women who nurse on-demand (ie aren't working full time) usually start their periods back around 12-15 months.

I have a 9 month old and mine never returned.....I went to the dr last week and found out that I was 17 weeks pregnant again, what a suprise.....so I dont know when mine would have returned. Thanks, J.

I got my cycle back right at two months after my son was born exactly. I nursed exclusively but I pumped regularly trying to encourage his father to feed him occassionally but he took no interest in doing so. The milk went bad in the frigerator and I started my period too quickly. Nurse exclusively if no one is going to take the initiative to feed your little one or limit your pumping to once or twice a week.

I've heard that it varies from person to person and also depends on how frequently you breastfeed and if you do night feedings. But with both of my children, my period appeared like clockwork a month after they weaned completely. (that was 6 mos. old for the first, 12 mos. for the second.) And I did supplement for a couple of months with both kids when I went back to work, but my period didn't return until I finished completely.

I think I got mine at about 18 months post-partum, but I had a VERY avid nurser and continued to breastfeed until she was about 3 and a half.

-Amanda
aspiring IBCLC

Hi R.~
I actually just went in for my 8-week post partum check. My doctor told me that on an average, only about 10% of nursing moms get their periods by 6 months, and only about 20% get it at all while nursing. I know my sister in law did not get it at all while nursing. I know I am hoping that I fall into that percentile that doesn't get it at all while nursing.
-J.-

I nursed for 16 months and didn't have a period the entire time. I got my period the month after I stopped nursing.

I got my period when my son was around 6 months old. I nursed exclusively until he was 5 months old. That's when he started some solids. About a month later my period arrived and it has been regular ever since.

Mine returned when my daughter, who is exclusively breastfeed, was 5 months old.

Congrats on nursing your little guy! I know it's different for everyone. My son is almost 17 months and mine has yet to return (and I'm loving every second!:) )

I went about 7 or 8 months before return of period, but it wasn't very regular, every 5 weeks or so, some months i'd skip, depending on how much i'd breastfeed.

I just got mine and my daughter turned 6-months this week - I think it is different for everyone.

I got mine at about 6 months which is when my son started solids. Just so you know your first period postpartum is VERY heavy so don't be alarmed. I exclusively nursed him until 11 months and then started to supplement. He is still nursing now at 13 months. I have had a consistent and regular period since I started having it again.

Hi R.,
Congratulations on still nursing! Like you said, it varies quite a bit from person to person. I got my period back when when my daughter was about 6 or 7 months old. I know people who got it almost right away, and others who didn't get it the whole time they were nursing! I don't know if it is true, but I have heard it can depend partially on how much your child nurses. Hope that helps!
E.

It was around 9 months with both of mine, but irregular until they began eating more solids.

Hi R.,
I've been nursing my gorgeous daughter for 27 months (YES, you read that right!) I just recently re-started my period 24 mos after having her. I know it varies widely. My OB/GYN said it could come back anytime after a year if I was still nursing.
Hope that helps!
J. R.

As you've already read and know, it varies person to person. But thought I'd give my "story." I exclusively breastfed my 1st daughter for 15 months...I got my period back (regular cycles) after just 3 months of having her. I now have a 7 month old daughter who is also exclusively breastfed and I got my period back (again regular cycles) after just 2 months of having her. It really depends on the woman. You really can't go by a "majority" or anything of that sort to help determine when you "might" expect yours to "come". Also, I'm sure you've already been told this by your Dr., but if not, keep in mind even though exclusively breastfeeding and not having had a period yet, you CAN still get pregnant.

Every person is different. I know I got mine when DD started solids at about 5 months. This is also when she started truly sleeping through the night, so no nursing for 7 or 8 hours at night. It was very light and short, but it was there. I got it for real a month and a half later, but nothing since. I have friends who got it almost right away, and others that did not get it for even a few months after they stopped nursing.

Hi R., Congrats on the nursing :)

As you said already, it definitely varies from person to person. I got mine at 3 months with exclusive nursing, yet I have a friend who didn't get hers until about 17 months. So, it definitely varies. I do believe that the average is probably between 8-10 months though :)

for me it was at about 7 months. i think it was due to the fact that i used to wake up in the middle of the night and pump to keep my supply going once my son stopped his night feedings. soon after i stopped midnight pumpings (to sleep!), my period came back.

Hi R.-

With both my kids it returned around 8 months. I was an avid nursing mom. I have friends who didn't nurse as much and it returned in 3-4 months.

Keep up the great work!

Wow...lot's of responses to this one! I think it was month 6 for me the first time. I'm hoping to go at least that long this time :-) Just remember, you can absolutely get pg again while nursing - period or no period.

I got mine back the first month with exlusive breast feeding. It continued to be regular despite breastfeeding.

I got my period when my son was 13 months old. He was nursing 3 times a day at that point.

Hi R.! I got my period with all three of mine at 4-5 weeks! Then every four months after that. The rest of my normal friends all got theirs around 9 months, but didn't become regular until the were finished breastfeeding. Enjoy it while you can and maybe start wearing a panty liner just in case you get it while you are out!

10 mo with my first and 11 mo with my second. I nursed for 1 year with both.

I got mine back when my daughter turned 7 months. I was hoping it would return when she turned a year. But 7 months was nice too! But even after it returned, it took several months for it to be regular.

This is a difficult question to answer because everyone is different. Most nursing mothers dont get their period back till they are done nursing. I did not with my girls, but with my son, when he was 4 months, I got it. So, it just all depends.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

I got mine when ds was 8 weeks old. One of the lucky few, I guess. :-P

I breastfed exclusively for 7+ months, and am still nursing at 17 months and I am 3 months pregnant!

Hi R.-
I nursed all 4 of my kids for over a year each. With my 1st I got my period back when she started food at 7 months but for the other 2 it took until I weaned(around 14 months). My 4th is a little boy who it still nursing (7 months) started food but still no period. I am hoping it will be another long stretch!! Enjoy being period free one of the perks of nursing!!
B.

I know you have a ton of responses already, but my situation was quite different than most so I thought I should share. I stopped breastfeeding when my daughter was 7 months. I changed my birth control back to my regular pill three months later and didn't have my period until after I finished the first pill pack of my regular birth control pills. So, it was ultimately about 11 months after I gave birth, and quite a length of time after I stopped nursing. My doctor told me that some women actually need help getting their period back, luckily, I got mine right before we started down that road. Enjoy your time without it!