Spotting While Nursing?

Everyone is different... But my 2 best friends nursed from birth to 12/13 months and both just shortly after there babies turned 1 thier periods returned even while still nursing.... I wouldnt be to concerned but if going to the doctor will ease your mind then by all means go! Hats off to you for nursing the full year and then some! my son is only 3 months and I am wanting to nurse for the full year so far so good!
R.

I didn't spot at all while nursing my oldest daughter. I nursed her until she was 13 mos old. I also got pregnant when she was 10 mos thinking that the nursing wouldn't let me get pregnant. If you are not wanting any more children at this time I suggest you get on some kind of birth control.

A.,

I'm still nursing a 2.5 year old and since he is eating well my cycles have come back. With each of my children it came back at the point where they were eating at least a percentage of solids. I think with the last two it was over 10 months. Probably what is happening is you are ovulating. I used to spot with that part of the cycle. Another possibility is that you got pregnant without having a cycle and this is an early miscarriage. I wouldn't get to worked up over it though unless you feel your symptoms are abnormal.

K.

Very normal - some have periods while nursing, some do not. I never do. As she eats more table food and nurses less, you may start to spot. Within the next month or two, you are likely to have a full period. My first couple are always awful after preg/nursing - very heavy flow and cramping, but settle down after that.

FYI - do not rely on nursing for birth control any longer! This is exactly why the 2 year spacing between children was so common before birth control!

Nursing doesn't stop your period. Some women's hormones do not balance back out while they are nursing, but other women have full periods long before they wean their babies.

Ha! Lucky you. I nursed both of mine..one 13 months, the other 12 mo and 1 day (heehee...I gave her a post b-day snack and cut her off). I started my normal cycle about 2 months after birth both times. I had a normal period the whole time I nursed. And as I saw someone else say: Beware, the first couple of periods after birth are VERY uncomfortable and rather heavy, but it goes back to normal soon enough. If your daughter is 13 months, isn't about time for your annual visit to the Dr. anyway? Let 'em know whats going on.

If you're not preventing, I'd do a pregnancy test. I personally rather not use BC while nursing, but it is a personal decision. There are other methods, afterall :-)

Kudos for making it the whole time nursing!
~K.

I have nursed to children past the age of three and I did not have a period with either one of them until they were 18 months old, and even then it was kind of light. I bet it is just your period trying to kick back in. My condolences. Make sure you are using some kind of birth control.

The same thing happened to me. I too have a 13 month old and I started getting my period after her 1st birthday. I am still nursing full time. I think your body is just ready to start "working" again. I wouldn't be worried. Hope this helps.
Debbie

Normally there is a point when your cycle starts even though you are nursing. Most of the time this happens when your child is not eating as much and the milk supply starts going down so it brings back that monthly visitor that we hate. It is normal. Mine did it when my child started really eating solid foods.

Hope this helps!

I nursed both my children for an extended time. With my first, my DD, my period returned when she was 18 months old. With my second, my DS, my period returned when he was right at a year old. That's probably what's going on.

A. :)

Hi A..

It sounds pretty normal to me, but if it concerns you that much, discuss it with your doctor.

A.

I nursed all three of my children. I nursed by daughter for 13 1/2 months. I didn't have a period until I stopped nursing. This is completely normal for some women. God bless!

This is very normal A.. I assume you may have started some solids recently? If so, then your milk supply will diminish some, allowing the periods to begin. I congratulate you on nursing this long, as it is so healthy for your little one. I practiced child led weaning with both of my children, and one nursed about 18 months and the other slightly less. I cried when the babies weaned. It is such a precious time. Also one other note, if your periods are trying to peek through, you may be ovulating again and can conceive. Again congratulations on your great bonding experience. This will make your chld so much healthier both emotionally and physically.
MostSincerely,
B. S. Rn.CCM former lactation consultant

sounds like u could be pregnant-it's a myth that u can't get pregnant while ur nursing-proof?-our first child was born 8/15/03 our second child was born 7/23/04....do the math-they're only 11 mts apart-AND I was on birth control

Very normal, and your body is probably starting to cycle again. You might be about to ovulate for the first time (the first nursing period is not a result of ovulation). But because you have been nursing for so long (congratulations!!!!) the rules start to change a little. So take a pregnancy test and, if it's negative, if you don't want another pregnancy anytime soon, and if you haven't been using contraception, start NOW!