Why did I get my period back while breastfeeding?

Understanding the Return of Your Period While Breastfeeding
For many new parents, the return of menstruation during breastfeeding can be a perplexing experience. While it is commonly believed that breastfeeding delays the onset of periods, the reality is more nuanced and varies significantly from person to person.
Hormonal Influences on Menstruation
Breastfeeding affects hormonal levels in the body, particularly the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. High levels of prolactin typically suppress ovulation, leading to a delay in the return of menstrual cycles. However, this suppression is not absolute. Factors such as the frequency of breastfeeding, the age of the baby, and individual hormonal responses can all influence when menstruation resumes.
Some mothers may find that their periods return as early as six weeks postpartum, while others may not see a return for several months or even longer. This variability is normal and can be attributed to how often the baby is breastfed. Generally, the more frequently a baby nurses, especially during the night, the longer it may take for periods to resume.
Individual Variability
Every woman’s body responds differently to the postpartum period. Some may experience a non-ovulatory phase where they have menstrual-like symptoms without actual ovulation. This can lead to irregular cycles or periods that may not follow the typical pattern. Additionally, stress, changes in routine, and overall health can also play significant roles in the timing of the return of menstruation.
Impact on Milk Supply
Another concern for breastfeeding parents is whether the return of their period will affect milk supply. While hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can influence how a baby feeds, most mothers find that their milk supply remains stable. If there are fluctuations, increasing the frequency of breastfeeding can help boost supply.
Conclusion
In summary, the return of your period while breastfeeding is influenced by a complex interplay of hormonal changes, individual physiological differences, and breastfeeding practices. It’s essential to remember that this experience is unique to each person, and there is no “normal” timeline for when menstruation should resume. If you have concerns about your menstrual cycle or breastfeeding, consulting with a healthcare provider can provide personalized guidance and reassurance.

How common is it to get your period 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.

Can breastfeeding cause bleeding between periods?

When your baby starts breastfeeding less often (around 3 feeds a day), you may start ‘spotting’. Spotting is a light and irregular period that usually appears as spots of blood.

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!

Why did my period come back so soon while 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).

How do I know if I’m having a phantom period?

The symptoms of phantom periods include abdominal cramps, fatigue, tenderness in the breasts, mood swings, bloating, and overall discomfort.

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.

Is it normal to have a period then no period while breastfeeding?

Once your periods return, they may be irregular to start with if you are still making milk (lactating). It’s not unusual to skip a period, or even for it to be a few months before your next one.

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.

Is it possible to get periods while breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding your baby, your periods may not return for months or even years after childbirth. If your baby is being fed using formula, you may find your periods return shortly after childbirth.

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.