Question for Nursing Moms - Bartlesville,OK

As you are seeing from all the posts, this is quite normal. I have a friend who hardly has a break at all before starting her period each time. With my first I started my cycle again at about 6 months. My second I had trouble nursing, so it was sooner (maybe 4 months), and with my third I got pregnant when he was about 7 months old without having had a period. As others have mentioned, you can still get pregnant while nursing, so keep that in mind. But as far as your cycle returning, that is quite natural. With my first I actually felt that I had found the cause (my hubby and I went away for two days and I tried to almost exclusively pump during that time, which since pumping is not as effective as nursing may have clued my body into starting its cycle up again). :)

My cycle started again when my daughter was 9mo and I didn't wean until 15mo. It's probably means that she's getting most of her nutrients from solid food now and isn't taking as much milk. It won't affect your milk supply at all, but your chances of getting pregnant will increase if your using breastfeeding as birth control.

Hi S.,
I hear your concern! I started getting a regular cycle just five weeks after I delivered my baby! I have had two cycles now and they are pretty regular and she is only 3 months. I am nursing a lot and my OB says it just can happen, everyone's body is different. It does take one of the benefits of nursing out of the equation, but it just means your body is bouncing back that much quicker. You shouldn't be concerned and it should not effect your breast milk. Hope this is helpful, but you are not alone!

I have nursed 8 children. This did happen to me with #2 Child and #4 child. When it happened, shortly after the babies where not getting enough nutrients, so I had to supplement. Within weeks they cried more seemed to need to eat more often, and were cranky. When I took them in for check ups thier weight had not picked up...matter of fact the first child had lost weight. Once I started supplementing they were fine and continued to nurse for several more months.

Hi, No this should not alarm you. I have two boys and nursed the first one until he was 2 and had my period with him at 13 months. And my other little boy is 17 montsh old and I am still nursing him and had my first period with him at 9 months. I was worried too at first because with my 2nd it came so much sooner, but I am still nursing 3-4 times a day just fine. So no problem, don't worry, your milk supply will be fine.
Hope this helps:)

This is normal, just means your body is getting your hormones back into balance. I Stopped nursing my first son at 4 months and didn't have a cycle until he was almost 1, and now I am nursing my 8 month old and haven't had a cycle yet, but I have a friend who is nursing her little one who is the same age, and has been having a cycle for a few months now.

That happened with me on all three children. I started my cycle usually at about 7 - 8 months. I think it was even a little earlier with the third child. If you don't intend to get pregnant again (or right away), use some sort of birth control. It is perfectly normal. I was always a little jealous of those who didn't start until they stopped nursing.

Absolutely normal. No reason to be concerned - unless you've been having unprotected sex and don't want to get pregnant at this time. Start using contraception immediately.

What probably has happened is, as your baby has started eating more solids, you've been nursing less frequently. So your cycle has begun again. Please be aware, though, that solids should, at this age, only be on *top* of your baby's breastmilk intake, which should still be her real source of calories and nutrition. At this point, solids are just a matter of her body getting used to different foods. They should not at all replace the calories and nutrition of your milk (therefore, you shouldn't nurse less because she is eating solids).

I'm not sure of the schedule for breastmilk-to-solids transitioning and weaning/what goes on after year one. This is all I know so far (it's all too far ahead for me, as I'm just gearing up for introducing solids to my daughter next month). I just know this from my mom, the Women and Infant Care (WIC) nutritionist, who specializes in this stuff, and from various books, esp. the Dr. Sears Baby Book and Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food.

L.

My came back while I was nursing when my son was about 7 months old. I had gone back to work 3 days/week and was pumping at work and nursing at home. But, my milk kept trying to quit on me -- I was able to pump just enough to feed him while I was gone -- so maybe that is why mine came back. I did continue to nurse for about a month after that. Are you having any problems with milk production? If not, I would say it's probably fine.

I nursed for 13 months and started my cycle when my daughter was around 6 months. I wouldn't worry about it. I did notice a slight decrease in supply around that time but it could've been a number of other issues. I would increase my water intake just to be safe. Great job on nursing all 3 of your kiddos. Best wishes.

Hi, S.. I was nursing daughter number two when I got pregnant with daughter number three. Perfectly normal. God Bless!

Hey S. -

Ths same thing happened to me while nursing my 1st child. I was told it is normal. I didn't have any problems. I know I don't have a lot of info, but hope it helps.

My cycle came back not quite six months after I gave birth to my son, and I exclusively breastfed. Sometime around 3.5 months after delivery I experienced gradually increasing hemorrhaging which I believed was connected with the IUD we'd inserted for birth control. The bleeding stopped shortly after the IUD was removed, so I don't consider that my first cycle. I don't think you have anything to be concerned with about your cycle, because while sometimes breast feeding can postpone the return of a cycle for many months, other times it doesn't, and I don't think it indicates anything wrong. If you're concerned, though, call your OB and ask his opinion.

I nursed my first daughter until she was a year old. I got pregnant with daughter number two when daughter number one was only 5 months old! No one told me not to nurse while pregnant, but daughter number two was ten and a half pounds at birth, so it didn't hurt her any! But, like others said, unless you're ready for another one, don't rely on nursing for birth control! As far as when my menstrual cycle started, I don't remember exactly how old my first baby was, but it was definately well before she was 8 months old.

I have been nursing since September, and I have already had a period and spotting throughout. Maybe this is not normal, but my doctor did tell me that a lot of women have periods while nursing. Sucks to be us!

Hey, S.! I think it's normal, you may want to start thinking about birth control since your body seems to be getting back on track sooner this time. However, I would like to know how you managed to have a daughter after two boys! You are so lucky! I would like to have a daughter after all boys! Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

I think that's normal. I read six months is average--and don't rely on nursing for birth control, because really you never know.

I nursed my first two children (adopted the other two or would have done it again :) to a year old and was on a fairly normal cycle with them from about month five on. So I don't think you have anything to be concerned about. :)
R.

With my first son I started FOUR WEEKS after I gave birth. I didn't even know that was possible let alone while nursing full time, but I was 20 and I guess my body was ready to go again. With my second son it graciously waited until my six week check up (I had to reschedule) and with my third it was four entire months. I thought for sure I was pregnant again. My slightly younger brother is a BFing as birth control baby. Nursing isn't birth control. It doesn't always stop your cycle even when nursing full time. You are perfectly normal! :o)

PS Neither my milk supply nor the boys' interest in nursing changed at all. I nursed for 6 months, 3 months (unrelated troubles) and 9 months. My youngest weened himself at that age.

I've been having mine since my daughter was about 4 months old, and I've breast fed her since birth. When I called my ob/gyn about it, they told me most moms dont usually have their period, but that it is normal to have it as long as its about the same as pre-pregnancy. Hope that helps.

Totally normal. Just like each pregnancy is different, each baby is different, then each post-pregnancy is different. Also, don't be alarmed if you're not at all regular while you continue to nurse. Interestingly, it looks like our children are age spaced the same - I'm just 8 years ahead of you! I too started earlier with the third. There's just something about that third baby...

This also happened with me as well! 6 weeks after I gave birth I had a period and have had one every month. My daughter is now 9 1/2 months. I am still nursing and still having periods

Hello S.!

As the posts I've read mentioned, it can be normal! I, unfortunately, have not had more than a few months off while I've been nursing but I've not had trouble continuing nursing. You may experience a dip in supply at or near the time of your cycle - I started taking Fenugreek so that I wasn't stressed about my 9 month old not getting enough (we don't do much in the way of solids yet so can't rely on that). You may also experience sore nipples at ovulation time or during your cycle. Www.kellymom.com has good ideas how to overcome that!

S., actually I am quite surprised that you didn't have a cycle during your other two. I only got a six month vacation while nursing mine even though they got no other supplementation. (6 months plus the pregnancy)

Its totally normal. Consider yourself blessed with the other two!

M

I am currently nursing a 3 month old and I had a cycle the first month after my pregnancy bleeding stopped. It also happened when I nursed my daughter. My doctor said sometimes it just happens. Since that first one, I have had some bleeding, but not a full week long period, like I used too. It's nothing to worry about.

Do not be concerned! It happens to many women and since every pregnancy is different you just never know. I had my cycle the entire time I nursed my son and I know other women who have returned to cycling while nursing. Enjoy the babies! They grow up way to quickly!

S. - I had a period while nursing my daughter full time when she was 6 wks old. My OB was even surprised. She just said that my hormones were really strong and I was going through my cycle anyway. She told me as long as it didn't last too long (longer than a week) and there wasn't any irregular pain that everything was fine. But call your GYN's office anyway. It never hurts to have a real medical opinion.

Yes, it's very normal. Some women never miss a cycle. With my DD, I didn't get it back until she was 18 months old, but with DS, I got it back at 11 1/2 months. I nursed both of them well into toddlerhood.

A. :)

Mine apparently WOULD HAVE started when my first was about 7 or 8 months old and I was nursing exclusively. Instead, I got pregnant on that very first ovulation. Even after the first one was a fertility baby! So, be aware that you can be quite fertile during this time. It turned out to be a good thing - my girls are now 10 and almost 9 and I have a 5 year old boy, too. I'm really glad the girls are so close in age - now - but when I found out I was pregnant, it took awhile to adjust to the idea - as I'm sure you can imagine.

Also, my OB/GYN said that your milk can change in flavor when your cycle returns, and that some babies will begin to wean themselves at that point. They just don't like the taste of it anymore. That happened with my daughter whom I had planned to nurse for a year. By 9 months, she had no interest in what I was offering.

Hey S....
no worries.. this is normal.
i remember calling my doctor after i had finished nursing and still had not had a cycle for 3 months. because i hadn't started back, they did some labs to make sure all hormones were in normal range nd well they were... but it was still another month before i started. anyway at that time my doctor said it was perfectly normal for some women to cycle while breastfeeding and some to not cycle until they finished breastfeeding. the only concern was if you did not begin cycling after you stopped breastfeeding.
best wishes
-mb

I started my cycle when my daughter was 6 months old. I was surprised too because she nursed A LOT. Everything was fine. My milk never decreased, and my cycle was like clock work. She nursed until she was almost 2. I am sure you will be fine.

you might call your doctor cause I nursed my last child 26 months and I don't remember not having a period that long it been about 37 years ago so you might want to call your doctor to make sure good luck