When does your period come back while breastfeeding?

Understanding the Return of Your Period While Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, the question of when their menstrual cycle will return while breastfeeding is a common concern. The timing can vary significantly based on several factors, including the frequency and exclusivity of breastfeeding.
General Timeline for Menstrual Return
Most breastfeeding mothers can expect their periods to resume between 9 and 18 months after giving birth. This timeline is influenced heavily by how often and exclusively they breastfeed. For those who breastfeed exclusively, the return of menstruation is often delayed longer than for those who supplement with formula or introduce solid foods early.
If a mother is not breastfeeding full-time, her period might return as early as two weeks to three months postpartum. However, it’s important to note that even after menstruation resumes, cycles may not return to their pre-pregnancy regularity immediately.
Factors Influencing Menstrual Resumption
The primary factor affecting the return of menstruation is the level of breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding tends to suppress ovulation due to hormonal changes, particularly the increased levels of prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. Research indicates that the likelihood of menstrual cycles returning increases after the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
Moreover, weaning can significantly impact the return of menstruation. Many mothers find that their periods resume shortly after they begin to wean their baby, although this does not mean that weaning is necessary for the cycle to gradually return.
Variability in Experiences
It’s crucial to understand that every woman’s body responds differently to the postpartum period. Some may experience their first period as early as six weeks after delivery, especially if they are not breastfeeding, while others may not see any signs of menstruation until they have completely weaned their child.
Additionally, the experience of menstruation itself can change after childbirth. Many women report differences in flow, duration, and symptoms compared to their pre-pregnancy cycles.
Conclusion
In summary, while the return of your period during breastfeeding can be unpredictable, most mothers will find that their cycles resume between 9 and 18 months postpartum, heavily influenced by their breastfeeding practices. If you have concerns about your menstrual cycle or breastfeeding, consulting with a healthcare provider can provide personalized guidance and support.

When will I get my first period while breastfeeding?

If you bottle feed your baby, or combine bottle feeding with breastfeeding, your first period could start as soon as 5 to 6 weeks after you give birth. If you fully breastfeed (including at night) without any bottle feeding, your periods may not start again until you start to reduce breastfeeding.

How do I know if my period is coming back after having a baby?

Bright red bleeding that occurs six or more weeks after delivery is more likely to be your period. Pregnancy-related bleeding can increase with increased exertion or activity. If your discharge increases with exertion and decreases when you rest, it’s more likely to be lochia. Lochia also tends to have a distinct odor.

When did your period return while breastfeeding?

You are more likely to ovulate and resume regular periods if your baby is going for more than a few hours without breastfeeding (for instance, at night) and your baby is more than 6 months old. Most breastfeeding mothers will resume their periods between 9 and 18 months after their baby’s birth.

How likely is it to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

About 2 out of 100 people who use breastfeeding as birth control get pregnant in the 6 months it can be used after a baby is born. Breastfeeding won’t prevent pregnancy if you feed your baby anything other than breast milk. So if you breastfeed but also use formula, LAM isn’t a great birth control method for you.

Why am I starting my period while breastfeeding?

If you have lower levels of progesterone, you’re likely to get your periods back earlier than people with higher levels (Ingram et al 2004). So it’s possible that you could be breastfeeding around the clock, but still become fertile and start your periods again.

How early can you get your period back postpartum?

It will be different for everyone, but most women will start having periods again about 5-6 weeks after birth. You may be able to get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of your baby, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods haven’t started again yet.

What are the signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding?

In the early stage or first trimester of your pregnancy, you may have nipple tenderness and breast soreness. You may have a decreased food and water intake due to morning sickness and feel tired. Such physical discomfort may increase while breastfeeding.

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.

When do you start ovulating after birth if breastfeeding?

By contrast, all breastfeeding mothers who breastfed for a mean of 40 weeks maintained elevated basal prolactin levels for longer than the bottlefeeders. The mean time to 1st ovulation was 36 weeks with a range between 15-66 weeks postpartum.

Does getting your period mean your milk is drying up?

Menstruation can sometimes decrease milk production
The increase in these hormones can cause a decrease in milk production for some women. However, for most women, the increase in these hormones is not high enough to affect milk production. Most mothers do not notice any impact of menstruation on their milk production.