Breastfeeding and Periods...

[Maia&Lia]

Hi ladies,
I'm not exactly sure which board this is best asked on...so I'll post it here and see what happens. I have been EBF my daughter since she was born (currently 9 months old). Despite EBF, I got my period back 2 months after she was born. I have already had 6 or 7 cycles, all spaced evenly apart (ranges from 27-29 days). Recently my daughter has started waking more frequently at night to nurse. She used to have one 8 hour stretch of sleep, but now is waking every 4 hours and therefore eating every 4 hours around the clock. I expected to have my period last week, but so far it is a no show. I'm on day 36 of my cycle at this point. Do you think that this increase in her night nursings could cause my period to be so late or do you think I should take a pregnancy test?

Thanks so much!

[JacobMarksMummy]

Hi!

BF can effect mensteral cycles in many different ways, some women wont have a period until they have fully weaned whilst others cycles return almost immediatly. Most womens cycles take some time to settle into a routine after pg much like teenage girls mensteral cycles. It is also perfectly comman to have a period but not actually ovulate.

I think it is highly likely that this change in your DD feeding habits have messed your cycles up a bit. I remeber being just like you when my DS was around 5months, I'd had periods every 26days then didnt have one for around 45days. I must have taken about a dozen pg test even though I knew the chances of being PG were highly unlikely. I would however still take one if I were you just so you can stop worrying 

[Maia&Lia]

Thanks for your reply. I've searched and searched online to see if there is anything that indicates that something like this is normal. Everything talks about the fact that it may take a while to resume a period or that your period may be irregular, but nothing discusses a change like this, especially this far along. I will be picking up a test later today to just make sure that I am not pregnant. We'll see.

Thanks again!
-Alessia

[Samuel's mum]

I wasn't aware that periods could stop once they had restarted but it makes sense as with increased nursing extra hormones are being released. I would also take a pregnancy test to be sure though!

[Maia&Lia]

Well, apparently it isn't normal for you to stop getting your period once it has resumed. I tested tonight and I got a positive. I'm going to contact my OB in the morning just to double check. I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet. My biggest concern is that I have noticed my milk levels decreasing and am NOT ready to stop breastfeeding. From what I understand, there are no supplements that are considered safe to take while pregnant and nursing. I only can hope that my daughter will continue to nurse through this pregnancy and still get what she needs nutritionally.

Again, thanks for your replies!
-Alessia