Is it her? Could it be?
I think Aunt Flo is thinking of knocking on my cervix, and coming to stay for a few days.
To all you breastfeeding ladies out there, when did you get AF back after birth? Were you still Bfing? Did it affect your milk output? I'm still BFing 3 times a day, and it seems to be going well still. I was hoping to keep it up for about another month or so, but is my body telling me otherwise?
I had spotting yesterday, bright red spotting. It totally took me by surprise. It has been so long since AF came to town, since Jan 2010. Well, not counting the lochia-post-partum fun. I had to see if I even had tampons in the house.
But things have slowed, and no spotting this morning. Is this normal? Was that a period? I think not, but who the hell knows, in this post-partum new world for my body. Anything could be possible at this point, given all the weird body experiences I've had in the past year.
So I'm asking you, oh wise internets. What the hell is going on here? Share your stories about AF after birth and breastfeeding.
Repeat: Cold Peace
1 day ago
Mine came back at 6 months and I was breastfeeding probably 5-6 times a day at that point. I didn't notice any changes in anything when it came back. When mine came back, it was completely the same as it was before the pregnancy in terms of flow and length.
ReplyDeleteMine also came back at 6 months. Tyler was exclusively BF'd, so it returned despite nursing around the clock. I'm still nursing him around the clock and AF has stuck around. My 2nd AF came ~60 days later, and my 3rd AF came ~30 days later. So it took a bit for it to get back to normal. Now I do believe prior to AF returning, I did have some spotting that lasted just a few wipes, but it only happened on a couple of occasions. My AF is different than before, I used to get horrible cramps, now I don't get any. We'll see what happens when I stop BFing.
ReplyDeleteMine came back at about 4 months, heavier flow than usual, and each successive period's been a little lighter, but still heavier than it used to be. My milk supply is a bit less the day before/day of CD1, but it's been ok. I was still BFing exclusively until Henry was 5mos. old, (and he still nurses 4-5 times a day) and he's 8 mos old now. Not a problem, just a drag - I don't know about you, but I was looking forward to a year away from AF...
ReplyDeleteMy wife's period came back at something like 10 months. It's not that the periods caused less breastfeeding, but rather, the other way around... our son was eating lots of solid foods and breastfeeding less, and that's what made her BF hormones drop and her regular ovulation/AF hormones resume. In any case, it should in no way determine when you stop BFing. The only thing that DW noticed was that prior to her first postpartum period her nipples were slightly sore. The lactation consultants said "You're probably ovulating!" and sure enough, 2 weeks later, they were proven right. :) But you can definitely continue to BF with a postpartum period and the critter shouldn't notice any difference. Our son kept BFing until 13 months.
ReplyDeleteI breastfed exclusively with #1 and didn't get my period until he was a year old ... but I think everyone is different!
ReplyDeleteI am at 8 months breastfeeding and no period here. My good friend is still breastfeeding her 20 month old and doesn't have hers back yet!
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