Skipped Period While Breastfeeding?

Updated on August 23, 2011
M.M. asks from Kalamazoo, MI
22 answers

I need a few opinions on this. I had my daughter in the beginning of March, and a month later in April, I got my period back!! I have had a regular period every month since- at the same day and everything. I am also exclusively breastfeeding. It is now August and my period was supposed to have come already. I am a week and a half late. I have been sexually active with my husband, but he has been pulling out. Is it possible that I am pregnant or is this just common for this to happen even though I have had my period for 5 months straight already? Please help! I am a young mom!

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

My mom counted on breastfeeding for birth control and here I am 10 1/2 months younger than my sister.

Only way to know if you're pregnant or not is to take a test. If it's negative ... use a more reliable form of birth control than breast feeding and pulling out.

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More Answers

A.G.

answers from Houston on

If pulling out were a reliable method of birth control i wouldn't have my first two children. You WERE having a constant period, that is surely a sign your body can easily get pregnant. Just take a test so you can be sure....then maybe check out craigslist for double strollers.

3 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Pulling out is not a reliable method of birth control. I'd go get a pregnancy test.

2 moms found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

Time to get a pregnancy test. The "pull out" method brought us two of our children as well! :D

And OMG, Gamma G!! You don't have to stop breastfeeding if you are pregnant! I nursed all through my last pregnancy and tandem nursed for a YEAR after that! That must be an old wive's tale or something...in any case it's untrue you have to wean your baby when you become pregnant.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Detroit on

LOL, I'm sorry to say this but pulling out DOES NOT work. I am now pregnant with my third one with the "pull out" method. So there could be a chance, I knew two people who got pregnant right after a birth like that and it can be very risky to your health....You maybe married but you will be the one that has to go thru pregnancy and all that it brings if you are not careful. Make him strap up or start asking your doctor about B/C... If not be prepared for more babies...

* I'm also a little jealous hearing all these mamas that didn't get their period right back after breastfeeding until sometimes a year. Heck, mine came back on schedule and was regular the month after I delivered...lol...oh well nothing I can do about it. Just be happy I got one. :)*

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

Please don't tell me you think that pulling out is a good birth control! Sure, it might limit the amount of little guys swimming in, but SOME do get out before and, also, if any action happens after the fact, they may still be there!

Time to get a pregnancy test and if it's negative, for goodness sake, get on some birth control! I'm breastfeeding right now (4 months old) and also have a 4 year old I breastfed for 14 months. With both I took/take the "mini-pill" which is safe while breastfeeding.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.P.

answers from Kalamazoo on

In regards to breastfeeding while pregnant, it can be done but it is very hard on your body. My understanding is that your body can rob itself of nutrients to support both of your babies (born and unborn). If this is the case, please talk to your doctor to ensure that you are taking really good care of your self.

Best wishes.

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J.F.

answers from Denver on

I got prego with #2 when #1 was 5 months old. I wasn't even having my period yet, breastfed full time and we did such similar techniques during sex.
So I would test...
Caught us off guard for sure. If you are prego, it is going to be a wild ride :) Lets just say we didn't make such mistakes after #2 was born. Two kids 2 and under did us in lol.

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D.H.

answers from Detroit on

Breast feeding is NOT a method of birth control, and 'pulling out' is not very effective either. You will still ovulate even without having a period when you're breast feeding. If you are sexually active, then yes, you could be pregnant. If you're concerned, take a test, if it's negative, talk to your doctor about getting on an effective birth control.
D.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

It isn't UNcommon to possibly miss a period if your baby has ramped up her nursing with a growth spurt BUT the "pulling out method" does NOT work! It only takes one very fast "swimmer" to reach the fiish line! You should be using some other barrier protection. You might want to take a home pregnancy test, just in case.

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

Honestly, we are not your doctor & we really can't answer your question.

My advice is to take a pregnancy test, and get on some proper contraception.

Best of luck!

1 mom found this helpful

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

You can definitely get pregnant, but I've never had periods while nursing, at least not until at least 8 or 9 months (with my first), and a year with my second. I do take the mini pill, but I still take a pregnancy test every month. You can get really cheap strips online through Amazon rather than pricey tests in the store if you want to have them handy. Pulling out is never considered a reliable form of birth control, more of a chance reduction. :(

1 mom found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes, it could be your hormones, a skipped period isn't uncommon BUT Yes you could be pregnant if you're having unprotected sex!

You should probably take a pregnancy test. That's a much more reliable way to know if you are pregnant than asking us to guess :-P

If you are pregnant, congratulations! If you're not and don't want to be, it's probably time to look into a more effective form of contraception. If you don't like condoms and don't want to use hormones, read up on natural family planning so at least you can avoid your most fertile times.

In regards to pp who said you need to "stop breastfeeding ASAP" that is just not true. Continue breastfeeding! Your daughter MAY wean herself as your milk changes it's flavor as you get closer to the end of your pregnancy (it starts to be formulated for the NEW baby) but that can be up to HER.

HTH
T.

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

it is possible you are pregnant and because he pulls ou theres always the little bit of seman i like to call first squirt that tells him he needs to pull out that stays in you. i would take a test. if its negative don't worry if its positive congrats call the dr.

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M.D.

answers from Detroit on

You have gotten a lot of great answers to this question. First - it could be scary to find out you are pregnant again so soon...if this is what you find out then please do your best to find friends who can help, sympathize, etc! Second, I think you know the answer about able to be pregnant...if you don't want this you have to try something else! Oh and lastly, of course you can still breastfeed....that may even help you feel calmer as you face the possibility of baby #2. I breastfed through pregnancy (actually daughter took a 2 month break then started again in my 3rd trimester) then I tandem nursed. It helped me feel closer to her as I met her needs in a nice restful manner when I was tired and pregnant and later when I was tired with a newborn! :) Best wishes to you and your family however it grows! Oh one more thing...changes in feeding patterns have effected my period so if your little one has been drinking more lately that may also have contributed to being "late".

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M.C.

answers from Tampa on

If you have your period, you're fertile, so if you were having your period post-baby, you can def be preggo. Congrats if so!hehehe. I've used breastfeeding around the clock (gotta keep the hormones going throughout the day and night) for birth control for a year now, but I haven't had my period since before I was preggo.

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G.B.

answers from Detroit on

Either scenario is possible. My sympathies that you didn't get the usual rest from periods for a year or more during breastfeeding! Take a pregnancy test but sometimes they start then stop again during breastfeeding. Good for you for giving your baby the very best!!

Updated

Either scenario is possible. My sympathies that you didn't get the usual rest from periods for a year or more during breastfeeding! Take a pregnancy test but sometimes they start then stop again during breastfeeding. Good for you for giving your baby the very best!!

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

I got my period back fairly quickly with my kids too even though I was nursing exclusively. But my daughter started sleeping 5-6 hours when she was 6-7weeks old so that's what did it.

I never, ever counted on breastfeeding as a form of birth control.

It could just be because your hormones are still off due to pregnancy and breastfeeding or you could be pregnant. Get a pregnancy test and then you will know.

If the test is negative then you need to consider what you want to use for birth control unless you are ok with the idea of getting pregnant again. I didn't want to use any hormonal bc while I was nursing. So we used condoms. It's hard to use them all the time and I won't lie and say we never used the pull out method but we knew we were taking chances when we did. Talk with your doctor or do some research on your own first about birth control methods that are compatible with breastfeeding.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

As soon as you get our period back (technically 2 weeks prior to your first period), you're fertile.

Congratulations! You're probably pregnant.

Many women get their period back straight away (in my family, it's dead on normal to get your period back the first month and we ALL exclusively BF). Some people consider it a derrogatory term (never heard that until recently), but in my very Irish side of my family (some here, some in Ireland) the term for 2 babies born in the same year is "Irish Twins" :). Your babies (if you're pregnant) won't be irish twins, because 5 months is too far apart, but that's how the millions of babies born in the same year happen. Have a baby, have sex, get pregnant.

EBF only works as birth control for SOME women.

B.B.

answers from Dallas on

just get a pregnancy test,

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S.F.

answers from Utica on

Im just really surprised to hear that ppl actually think that the 'pull out' method works. Did your Dr. not offer you the mini pill or suggest that you use protection? Breastfeeding is definitely not a form of birth control either so yes if you have been having regular periods and having unprotected sex it is very likely that you may be expecting another baby soon
Good Luck

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B..

answers from Dallas on

You don't even need a period to ovulate. Breastfeeding is not birth control. "Pulling out" is not birth control...not even close. You had sex. You can be pregnant. If you are not pregnant, I suggest making a visit to your OB, and getting on birth control, or using condoms. Also, you might get a book and read about your body, your cycles, and when and how a woman can get pregnant. (I did not mean that to be snarky. So many woman have no idea how their body truly works. It was just an honest suggestion!)

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