Does breastfeeding stop your period after birth?

The Connection Between Breastfeeding and Menstruation
For many new mothers, the return of menstruation after childbirth is a significant milestone, often intertwined with the experience of breastfeeding. The relationship between breastfeeding and the resumption of menstrual cycles is complex and varies widely among individuals.
Breastfeeding as a Natural Contraceptive
One of the most notable effects of breastfeeding is its ability to delay the return of menstruation. This phenomenon is largely due to hormonal changes that occur during lactation. Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, suppresses ovulation. As a result, many women find that they do not experience their menstrual periods for several months postpartum. Research indicates that most women do not ovulate for at least six weeks after giving birth, and those who are fully breastfeeding may remain period-free for three to six months or longer.
Variability in Menstrual Resumption
However, the timeline for the return of menstruation can vary significantly from one woman to another. While some may see their periods return as early as three months postpartum, others may not experience menstruation for much longer. Factors influencing this variability include the frequency and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Women who breastfeed exclusively, particularly during the night, are more likely to experience a prolonged absence of their menstrual cycle.
Impact of Menstruation on Breastfeeding
When menstruation does return, it typically does not adversely affect breastfeeding. Many infants continue to breastfeed without issues, although some may react to changes in the taste or flow of breast milk that can occur due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. It’s important for mothers to note that while their periods may resume, this does not indicate a decrease in milk supply; rather, a few additional feedings can usually compensate for any temporary fluctuations.
Conclusion
In summary, breastfeeding can significantly delay the return of menstruation after childbirth, with many women enjoying several months of amenorrhea. However, the experience is highly individual, influenced by various factors including breastfeeding practices and hormonal responses. As mothers navigate this new phase of life, understanding the interplay between breastfeeding and menstruation can help them manage their expectations and experiences during this transformative time.

How long should your first period last after giving birth?

The duration of your first period after having a baby can vary widely and depends on your individual body. It can range from a few days to a full week. Just like before pregnancy, some will have longer periods, and some will have shorter ones.

Does breastfeeding make you not have your period?

Exclusive breastfeeding will likely prevent the return of your menstrual cycle in the first six months after birth.

Is it harder to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

While exclusive breastfeeding can temporarily delay your fertility postpartum, making it more difficult to conceive while nursing, it’s not impossible. With that in mind, the short answer is yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding.

Can breastmilk stop periods?

New or first-time mothers have many questions about their bodies. One is whether they will have their period while breastfeeding. If you choose to breastfeed your child, it can delay your period after birth. However, this is not always the case, as some mothers may have irregular periods.

Will my period stop if I start breastfeeding again?

Can Your Period Start and Stop 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.

Will I lose weight when I stop breastfeeding?

That said, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll gain weight after you stop nursing. “Some women actually lose weight after weaning,” Cording says. It’s worth checking in with yourself if you’re concerned about your overall health or feel like your eating habits haven’t been the best lately.

Why did I get my period if I’m exclusively breastfeeding?

Feeding your baby stops certain hormones from releasing, which are important to ovulation . However, when you get your first period after birth depends on how often you breastfeed, whether your baby is sleeping through at night, and whether they’ve started solid foods yet (Gill 2016, HSE 2022, LLLC 2023).

Do you still ovulate while breastfeeding?

How does breastfeeding affect fertility? Women who aren’t breastfeeding may ovulate (release an egg) as early as 5 to 6 weeks after the birth. However, if you’re breastfeeding, your hormones don’t return to pre-pregnancy levels until much later, and this delays ovulation and the return of periods.

How long does breastfeeding keep your period away?

Also, some people have a non-ovulatory period before 6 months postpartum, but do not menstruate again for many months. According to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (p. 364-366), almost everyone who is fully breastfeeding their babies will be free of menstrual periods for 3 – 6 months or longer.

How soon do you get your period after stopping breastfeeding?

Only around one-fifth of breastfeeding parents will get their period within six months of giving birth. If you are a breastfeeding parent, your menstrual cycle will return within one to two months after you stop nursing your child or start significantly reducing the amount you nurse.