Can you get your period back while breastfeeding?

Understanding Menstruation While Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, the return of menstruation during breastfeeding can be a perplexing topic. The relationship between breastfeeding and the menstrual cycle is influenced by various factors, including hormonal changes, the frequency of breastfeeding, and individual body responses.
When Can You Expect Your Period to Return?
Typically, most breastfeeding mothers will see their menstrual cycles resume between 9 to 18 months after giving birth. However, this timeline can vary significantly from one individual to another. Some women may experience their first period just a few weeks postpartum, while others may not see any signs of menstruation until they begin to wean their baby off breast milk.
The hormonal environment during breastfeeding plays a crucial role in this delay. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, suppresses ovulation. Therefore, the more frequently a baby is breastfed, especially during the night, the longer it may take for menstruation to resume.
Irregular Cycles and Breastfeeding
It’s important to note that even when periods do return, they may not be regular at first. Many women report experiencing irregular cycles during the initial months after their period resumes. This irregularity is a common aftereffect of both pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Impact of Weaning on Menstruation
Weaning can significantly influence the return of menstruation. While many mothers find that their periods resume gradually without needing to wean, the act of reducing breastfeeding sessions often leads to a quicker return of the menstrual cycle. This is because the decrease in prolactin levels allows the body to resume ovulation and menstruation more readily.
Breastfeeding During Your Period
Interestingly, breastfeeding while on your period is entirely possible. Some mothers may notice changes in their milk supply or experience discomfort, such as sore nipples, particularly during the first few days of their cycle. However, these effects are generally manageable, and most mothers can continue to breastfeed without significant issues.
Conclusion
In summary, the return of menstruation while breastfeeding is a highly individual experience, influenced by hormonal changes, breastfeeding frequency, and personal health factors. While many mothers may not see their periods return until they start weaning, others might experience their cycles resuming sooner. Understanding these dynamics can help new mothers navigate this transitional phase with greater ease and confidence.

Why did I get my period back while breastfeeding?

If your first postpartum period returns earlier than expected while you’re breast feeding, one reason could be if you’ve stopped breastfeeding overnight. If your baby is sleeping through the night before the age of 6 months, this may cause your period to return earlier than normal which can affect your milk supply.

Can periods come and go while breastfeeding?

It is completely normal for periods to start and stop while breastfeeding. It all depends on how often you breastfeed. The more often you exclusively breastfeed, the less quickly your period will return to normal.

Can you get pregnant if your period returns while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding and Fertility
As menstruation returns to a fairly regular schedule, it usually means that you are back to full fertility and breastfeeding won’t have any effect on your ability to get pregnant.

How do I know if it’s my period or postpartum bleeding?

Lochia and menstrual blood are similar in that the bleeding subsides before going away. The biggest difference between the two types of discharge is that lochia lasts much longer. A typical period lasts about one week. Lochia lasts about six weeks in most people.

Can you have a phantom period while breastfeeding?

Even if you don’t get your period for the whole duration of your breastfeeding, you can still experience period-like symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as the phantom period, but it doesn’t need to be as daunting as the Scooby-Doo-like name implies – especially since there’s less blood involved than normal!

Can your period go away if you start breastfeeding again?

Exclusive breastfeeding will likely prevent the return of your menstrual cycle in the first six months after birth. It is a reliable form of birth control (98% effective), if all three of the following are true: Your baby is less than six months old. Your periods have not returned (no spotting).

Does return of period decrease milk supply?

The two primary hormones involved are estrogen and progesterone. As menstruation approaches, these hormone levels decrease, leading to a drop in milk supply for some women. Additionally, the increase in the hormone prolactin before menstruation can cause a temporary decrease in breast milk production.

Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding and no period?

While it’s true that breastfeeding can delay the return of your fertility postpartum, it’s not impossible to get pregnant. The time it takes for a woman’s period to return after giving birth can vary widely.

When did your period return when breastfeeding?

The time it takes for a woman’s periods to return when she is breastfeeding can vary widely – from as early as 3 months after the birth to over 2 years. In Australia, the average is around 9 to 10 months.

Why did my postpartum bleeding start again?

So, what’s makes your bleeding after birth stop and then start again? While there are a few reasons, some of the most common causes include: Experiencing extra blood flow in the morning when your first wake up. During physical activity or when exercising as part of your postpartum recovery.