I have been nursing for about 11 months but weaned my boy about a month ago. I have been cramping for about 3-4 weeks now but my period hasn't returned yet. I have also had an increase in discharge. I am wondering when my period is going to return. I have taken a few pregnancy tests with negative results but I don't know if I'm taking them too early since I don't have my cycle back yet. Has anyone experienced this much cramping before their first cycle after breastfeeding? It has been a month now since I have been completely dried up.
Thanks for all of your responses. A little update... My mild cramping turned into quite painful cramping and so I decided to go into the Dr. They did an ultrasound and found a large amount of fluid next to my ovary so they are guessing that I had a cyst that ruptured. I still haven't had a period yet. I guess we'll just hang tight and see what happens. Thanks again for your comments.
It was about 6 months after I weaned that I got my first (very painful) cycle. Luckily the cramping subsided and now my cycles are back to normal, but that first one was a doozy!
All woman are different so it's kinda hard to say when your period will return. Mine came back at exactly the one year mark. and I mean exactly....it was on my daughter's first birthday I was down to only two nurses a day and she was completely weaned two weeks after that. My Mom on the other hand told me with every kid it took her 3 months after she was completely done nursing to get her period back. So I wouldn't worry about it too much yet. If you are having heavy discharge that is a sign of ovulation so your period might be coming in a couple of weeks. Still it's early so I would just wait another month or two and see what happens. But if you think you are pregnant you should go see your doc. just to make sure.
I had a lot of cramping and pain after weaning my second baby and it turned out to be endometriosis. I don't mean to worry you, or get you thinking it's something it's not. I would say if when your period finally does come, it's more painful than any period you've had before, look into endometriosis. And feel free to email me with any questions about it.
I usually got my period back at about 11 monthes. But the month or two before, I had cramping and increased discharge. So I bet you will get your period soon.
Wow, this sounds just like me too! I'm going to my ob/gyn next week to ask her as well. I'll eagerly be reading all your replies.
My daughter was 6 months old (full time breastfeeder) when I started to get the cramping feeling. It lasted for a few weeks. I figured it was a sign my period was on its way back, but instead I was prego!!! I am due in September... I took pregnancy tests for 3 weeks and all were negative, but I was in fact prego! So...... you never know.
I would see your OB just to make sure everything is ok. Could simply be just your cycle working things out, but if you aren't taking measures to NOT get pregnant then it is always a possibility. I NEVER got a period at all and ended up prego!
My period returned while breastfeeding (ha, ha NOT FUN) and it was heavy and I had major cramping with it. I just assumed that was normal after having kids and never asked anyone. But then I did mention it to my doctor at my checkup a few months later and found out period changes are NOT normal after having kids. Talk to your doctor or call your ask a nurse hotline and talk to someone about it. They might ask questions about symptoms you hadn't connected to it yet.
Good luck!
mine took 3 months to come back...
I was a little crampy for a couple weeks before my first (pretty light) period returned while I was breastfeeding. It's a good idea to check with your doctor because it does seem like long time to be crampy without anything happening. Be aware that it is normal for cycles to be irregular right at first when they return.
It may be a while before you can count on your monthly visitor to show up every month. I nursed my kiddos for 15, 18, and am still nursing my 15 month old and I have had just 1 period with my youngest and only had a few random ones with my older 2 until about 6 months after I weaned.
