Return of Period

Mine came back while I was still feeding/pumping (about 4 weeks after birth). I really think it varies for each person and there is no sure way to know when it will come back.

It totally varies with each person. I don't think it's something that you can plan for. With my first child, my period came back at 7 months while I was still nursing. With my second, it didn't return until I quit nursing.

All I have to say is not fair!! I had mine regularly soon after I had my kids, and I nursed both for a year:(

Some women get their periods back within months of birth, breastfeeding or not. You may get your period back on vacation even if you continue to breastfeed, I mean.

There is no 'average' amount of time after weaning that your body will cycle those hormones again. Oh, and you'll probably ovulate before your first period (could that by why your milk suppy has diminished? sure can!)... so you may already be pregnant again. How's that for happy news?

when it comes back varies with each person. With my first, it came back in a couple of months, with my youngest it came back after about 6 months or so. The best advice would be to be prepared. You can't stop it from coming back (unfortunately), so take an "emergency kit" with you. If you want to beef up your milk supply, simply pump more often in between feedings. As you already know, breast milk stores well.

It varies from person to person. With my kids it was different each time. I have 4 and I nursed for about 2 months with the first 3. It was back with in 4 weeks after I stopped with 1 and 3. After the second it was about 6 weeks. The last I nursed for a year and got it back when she was about 8 months old. Have you considered taking the pill? Doesn't that regulate your monthly cycle? You should ask your doctor. Good luck, I hope you have a great period free vacation :-)

It varies and can depend how long you nursed. It took me about 2 months after nursing my son for 4 mos and about 1 mos after nursing my daughter for 3 weeks. It will take you about 2-3 weeks to wean completely. So- it is doubtful you would have to worry about it until after your vacation.

Have you tried anything to get your milk supply back up? I work full time and pump while I'm at work. I only have time to pump twice a day (and would nurse my twins more frequently that that if I were home with them) so I find my supply sometimes feels like it is going down from time to time. When it does, I make sure to pump before I got to bed at night and I also take fenugreek herbal supplements for a few days until they work their magic. They work very well for me, but not for everyone. Still, they are worth a try if you want to continue nursing because, as I'm sure you know, breast milk is best and it is sooooo easy to offer a breast instead of having to make a bottle! : )

i got mine when my daughter started to sleep through the night...so, it can happen anytime. there are herbal teas that you can drink to help increase your milk supply. the one i used is called mothers milk tea, and you can get it at any health food store. nursing would also make your vacation easier...you wouldn't have to worry about carring any formula w/you on the plane and you wouldn't have to worry about washing bottles. when i was nursing, my milk supply would decrease for a day when she would miss a feeding. so you could always try to nurse him an extra time or two to increase it also. hope that helps...

It's possible that your percieved reduction isn't that at all. Your son may be going through a growth spurt causing more nusring. Also when periods do return you can see a reduction in milk production for a couple of days.

Hi C.,

I asked a similar question a couple of months ago! I breastfed my daughter for about 6 months, and it took an additional 5 months after she was weaned before my periods came back. There's really no way of predicting. I guess my question would be, would you rather take the chance of having your period during vacation, or have to use a breast pump? :)

Hope you have fun!

A.

Do you feel like you have to stop expressing your milk? Or do you prefer to switch to formula at this time? If your supply has taken a dip because of stress or a cold, you can take some steps to get it back. You can pump more often or take herbal supplements such as fenugreek or blessed thistle (I used "More Milk Plus" from Motherlove) to stimulate your supply. Your doctor can also prescribe you Reglan to increase your supply. I pumped exclusively for my son for 13 months, and I went through a lot of changes in my supply over that period. If you still want to express your milk, rest assured, you can increase your supply. I didn't get my period back until my son was 9 months old, but my friend got hers back when her son was just 2 months old. I think it is a really individualized thing, and there isn't a definite time period. Just be prepared! (You might also want to wait to start formula if you're going to be in Mexico with your baby...unless you want to buy bottled water all the time! Or make sure that he'll drink it before you stop pumping. I have another friend who's daughter refused formula after she tried to switch at six months.)

I breastfed my daughter, but still got my period a month after she was born. Everyone's body is different, so it's hard to say. Unfortunately, I don't think you can predict or plan when your first post-baby period will come.

Hi according to my ob/gyn you can have one while your breastfeeding. He said it all depends on your hormone levels. However with my last two children it was two months after my milk stopped, about 4 months after weening, that my period started. I wish I could give you a definate when, but I'm pretty sure everyone is different.
K.

Of course everyone's system is different, but I found that as soon as my children started taking ANYTHING, even water, other than breastmilk, my period returned within a few weeks. If your milk supply is down, that's a sure sign things have changed due to a change in the demand. I would be surprised if you DIDN'T get your period back before you leave on your trip. Pack accordingly, you don't want to be unprepared in a foreign country!

I don't have an answer to your question. I think everyone is different and I've never heard a rule of thumb. My period actually came back while I was still nursing my daughter.

But some food for thought... just because your milk supply has decreased you don't have to quit nursing completely. You could just supplement your breastmilk with formula. You may even find that the days you are home with your son that you don't even need to supplement. Our bodies respond so much better to the baby than the pump. Just a thought...

Even though I nursed exclusively, I still had my period when the baby was about 3 months old. It was the same with my second child.

I think that everyone is different so it's hard to tell. I would talk to your doctor about it. Myself i was on the depo shot for a few years before having my son and never had my period anyways. Once he was born and until he turned 1 I nursed and bottle-formula fed. When he was about 6wks i went back to the doctor and had gotten back on the depo shot for a little over a year still no period. Then i decided to get off that to try and lose some weight and got on the pill. Right away my period came back. so it's really hard to tell. I guess maybe i would nurse as close to going as you can and then switch over. Maybe get on the depo shot or something for your choice of birth control, alot of people don't have their periods while on it. Good luck. Jen H

Congrats on your son! I was nursing my son and he was born in mid May '05. I had never heard of someone getting their period while nursing and had been taught that it wouldn't happen until we finished nursing. I had had a c-section. So in June I started bleeding. I called my OB and was told "That's your period, honey". Boy, I felt dumb. I was also disappointed to have it back so soon and felt a little jipped. So you can get your period even while breastfeeding and it could come back at any time. I would follow that boyscout motto and "be prepared". When you least want it to come, it may. If your prepared, maybe it won't. Or you can try the pill or other suggestions the other Mom's made.

Hi C.,

Every one is different- for my friend it took 2 months. For myself, I got pregnant again, so it never came back! Other friends had their periods while brestfeeding.I know how it stinks to have your period on vacation. I got mine on our honeymoon AND on our trip to Costa Rica! Good luck- and pack your own period supplies just in case!

E.

It fully depends on the person. Some people get it right away, others it takes a few months. No one answer can be given. You'll just have to be prepared.

On the other hand... it would be much better to wait until you get back from mexico to stop breastfeeding! The water is horrible there and I personally wouldn't want to mix formula (not sure I'd even trust the bottled water there for a baby!). Also, you'll have alot less to pack and it'll be much easier for when you're out doing things!