Breastfeeding & Resuming Menstral Cycle

Updated on January 27, 2009
K.R. asks from Saint Cloud, MN
46 answers

I am wondering when most women resume their menstral cycle when breastfeeding exclusively. My son was born the middle of October (3 months ago) and I have not resumed my cycle. It is a pleasant side effect of breastfeeding and am wondering how long I can expect it to last. I work full time and would hate to be surprised by its return!

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So What Happened?

Thank you to everyone who responded! It's amazing to hear everyone's individual experiences. Although I know that everyone's bodies are different, it seems to be a common theme that those who nurse on demand tend to have a 'vacation' from their menstral cycle much longer than those who do not. I am feeding on demand and am hoping that I, too, will enjoy this added benefit of BF for many months to come!

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S.A.

answers from Omaha on

Hi,
It took me a year before my cycle started back up! I didn't expect it to take that long, but from what I hear, that's perfectly normal when you're breastfeeding.

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E.H.

answers from Des Moines on

my son was seven months old when I started mine, and my daughter was 5 months. Both were/are exclusively breastfed. Wish I could be one of the lucky ones to not have it until after I'm done breastfeeding!

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

With my first, I resumed my cycle right around 6 months--right as he started "real" food. With my second, I had a grand total of 5 weeks post birth (yes, and when you throw in post-birth bleeding, I had like 2 weeks off!!!) before resuming my cycle. I've been regular ever since. I've often wondered if that means my body was ready for another baby 5 weeks after #2? Cuz I sure wasn't!! I know my aunt breast fed my cousin for like 3 years because not menstruating was really good for her (I don't remember why in particular, but it was something more than not just dealing with it monthly).

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N.

answers from Minneapolis on

I too didn't resume my period until I was done breastfeeding at a year. Hopefully you get to enjoy this benefit for as long as you nurse!!

A.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

My daughter is almost 13 months and I am still nursing. I have not had my period yet....My sister in law did get hers when her daughter was about 9 months. That was her first and this is my third. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I really can't remember what happened with my others. I think I went on the pill with them and I have not yet with this one.

It is kind of nice. I also have been loosing weight and I am about the lowest I have been since high school. It makes me kind of afraid to stop! I figure I should go until summer so I can enjoy this body in the warm weather! Of course, I am kidding a bit.

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E.A.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

I have EBF all 3 of my kids and introduced solids at 6-8 mths. I co-sleep and babywear. All 3 times I got my period back at 6 weeks after delivery. I would have the normal post delivery bleeding for 4 weeks, 2 weeks off then a period at 6 weeks and every 21 days after that. I got pregnant with #2 when # 1 was 11 mths and still BF. I got pregnant with #3 when #2 was 9 mths old and still BF. Both kids BF until I was 5 mths pregnant. My youngest is now 10 mths old and I'm not pregnant yet, and still BF alot!!!

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S.1.

answers from Duluth on

HI K.,
I agree, no periods are awesome!
I exclusively breastfed my daughter also and I got my first period when she was nine months old. It has been pretty reliable within a few days late/early every month since then. She is now one year old!
And great job on breastfeeding, you are giving a great gift to your baby boy!

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R.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

My son was 14 months before my menstrual cycle returned. He was exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age and then slowly introduced to food. He still nursed 3-4 times a day at 12 months. I also pumped at least two to four times a day at work. It was a nice "vacation" while it lasted.

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

With our first, my period returned at about 12 weeks post partum. This was because I was NOT nursing on demand. Although I was exclusively breastfeeding still.

With our second, my period did not come back till 13 months post partum. It was GREAT!!! BUT I nursed ON DEMAND and our son was exclusively breastfed till 9 months where he started eating a tiny bit of baby food but mostly table food. But there were still days that he nursed for all his meals after he started on solids.....

If you do NOT nurse on demand you will probably start getting it back soon....

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L.E.

answers from Rapid City on

It is different for everyone - for me it was 3 months after the birth- and recently only two months after the birth of my third child... so now I am pregnant with my fourth!

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

I breastfed 4 children; one of the nice side effects of breastfeeding is that you usually don't have a period while breastfeeding. However you can get pregnant; so be sure you are using birth control. After you wean your little one your period should start again.

L.S.

answers from Bismarck on

Hi K.,

My period on each of my four kids did not return until I stopped nursing during the day at 1 year old. And then it came within about 4-6 weeks after that. Pretty much regular with all 4 kids.

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E.M.

answers from Des Moines on

I heard that it would return when your baby starts to sleep longer stretches at night. my son kept it away until 7 months though saddened by its return i found it had improved from before, no pain and lighter. however i have heards that others have the opposite problem.

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T.S.

answers from Fargo on

I think it really depends on your body. I resumed after 4-5 months with my daughter. However, I've heard of MANY moms ranging from 6 mo to well over a year. I BF for 22 months...

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T.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Kristen, My cycle did not return until about 2 months after I stopped breastfeeding. Another benefit of breastfeeding!

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

It totally depends on the person. I have BF 3 kids, the first one I got a period at 10 months, the second at 12, this time at 2. It sometimes depends on how much you nurse. My little girl sleeps great at night (so far) so I think that is why my period came back so quickly.

jessica

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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

My daughter stopped breastfeeding cold turkey (her choice) when she had hand, foot, and mouth disease. I pumped for a couple of days just in case she wanted to start breastfeeding again when she was better. I got my period about 2 weeks later. And then got pregnant!

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C.E.

answers from Minneapolis on

my son is still breastfeeding at 15 mo's and i just got my period back when he turned 14 mo's. what a treat it was!

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R.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Congratulations K.!
My menstrual cycle returned around 11 months. At that time my son was nursing around 4 times a day, mostly in the evening and at night. Enjoy the absence! As soon as mine returned, I was quickly reminded of how "fun" it is.

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T.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

My "friend" didn't return until after I stopped breast feeding all together.

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K.S.

answers from Rochester on

Everyone here is right -- it completely varies on the person. I'm at 10mos and still waiting for it to return, which I am very happy about! I have even weaned my supply since our son is eating other foods now and there hasn't been any changes due to that either. I hope it doesn't surprise me at work, too!
Congrats on your new little one!

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B.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I breastfed my son for 1 year and didn't get it until I was done. And I've been bf'ing my daughter for 8 months and still haven't gotten it. I'm sure I won't get it until after a year, also. Enjoy it!

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S.S.

answers from Milwaukee on

Not only is each person different, but each experience is different. All of my children have been exclusively breastfed. With my first, my period returned 7 months after he was born. With my second, it returned 13-14 months after she was born. And my youngest is now 2 months old and I'm hoping it doesn't return for a l-o-n-g time...it's so nice not having it!

Congratulations on the new baby!

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K.T.

answers from Wausau on

My first time my period came back in the 4-5th month. This time, my daughter was born in June and it's still not back (yeah!). I think it varies situation to situation. Just keep some supplies handy in case it does surprise you. :-) I know when mine came, it was a surprise at timing and at the amount! Best wishes, K.

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E.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

My period didn't come back for 10 months. It was great!! :)

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E.I.

answers from Duluth on

contact your local la leche league representative! go to their website - i think its www.llli.org and search for one near you! try neighboring towns as well as yours. :D
it might come at any time though so, yeah, just be prepared. i think around the time my son started solids was when it might have happened... so around 5-6 months.

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S.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Enjoy it while you can, bur be prepared. I have friend who didn't get theirs until after they stopped breast feeding. I breastfed both my boys for 16 months. My cycle resumed when they were 3-4 months old. Since I bled or spotted for almost 6 weeks after, I never got a break. I hope you are more like my friends.

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M.T.

answers from Minneapolis on

mine came back when my daughter was 11 mo. I am hoping it does again as I am breastfeeding my 2nd child.

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C.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

ANYTHING can happen. I was breastfeeding my son exclusively and I got my period almost 4 weeks to the freaking day that I delivered him. My period never went away or was reduced by breastfeeding. My nurse midwife said this is rare, but not outside of the realm of "normal".

So, honestly, it could pop up at anytime. If you start breastfeeding or pumping less, I would say the odds go up that it will return. I would keep some pads or tampons in my purse just in case.

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L.T.

answers from Minneapolis on

For my first son it took 6 months. This is when he began 2 meals of solids a day and also began sleeping in longer stretches at night (I think about 10 hours). With my second I was on Depo, and my period didn't return until about 6 months after I went off the shot (18 months total).
But like other moms have said, everyone is different.

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M.T.

answers from Madison on

I breast feed my daughter until see was 18 months (we started cutting back and weening around 15 months) and I didn't resume my cycle until she was 20 months.

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B.H.

answers from Madison on

Mine didn't come back for 11 months. I weaned at 12 1/2.

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S.S.

answers from Sioux City on

With both of my boys, I didn't get my cycle back until 2 1/2 months AFTER I stopped breastfeeding them. I fed my oldest for about 9 or 10 months and my youngest for about 12 months. I've also known some women who got their cycle back within a few months of giving birth even though they were breastfeeding... I think it depends on the person.

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J.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

K.,
I did not get mine until after I stopped breastfeeding! (Wish I could have done that for 5 years!)
J.

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S.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

My period stayed away for 17 months--that's with exclusive breastfeeding/pumping for one year, then morning and night nursing after baby was 12 months. Stopped nursing during same month I got my period again. Then I got pregnant again after the one period--wow!--and since having my second baby in September, I'm hoping for another 1.5 year break!!

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J.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

My friend exclusively breastfed too and got it around 4 months. I, however, didn't get it until my oldest two were 11 months. My son is 7 months old and I still haven't gotten it back yet. I love it!

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C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I've exclusively nursed my 3 and resumed my cycle at 3-4 mnths. I didn't even know it was possible that others were getting after 12 mths until I was talking with some friends. Man was I jealous!

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H.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

K.-
Each person is different, but my cycles return when the baby is about 11 months old. I breastfeed exclusively and don't introduce solids until 6 months. You mentioned that you work full time, so I don't know if that means you have to pump or not. If you do, that can make your cycles return sooner.
Hope that helps.
Blessings!
H. :-)
www.happymomonline.com

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M.H.

answers from Rapid City on

Mine came back at 4 months both times, but it can be easily over a year, depending on how long you breastfeed, and your body's hormone levels.

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T.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

With the birth of my first child, I got my period at around a year. With the birth of my second child it was around 18 months.

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N.H.

answers from Rochester on

With my first child I went 8 months after her birth before I got my period. My second one is currently 7 months old and I still haven't gotten my period yet. I think it is pretty individualized though, I have two friends who had children in March of 08 and July of 08 and both of them got their periods after about 4-5 months. All of us have exclusively breastfed. I know this probably doesn't help much, but I just think everyone is different and it depends on your body! :)

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B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I don't know how many others are like me, but I didn't have a period until I weaned my children. When they got to a point when they didn't really need to nurse for nutrition, it was only for comfort once or twice per day then it came back. That was my signal to stop nursing all together, and because I weaned them gradually I didn't have more than a few days of breast pain. (I nursed my children into their 2nd year. One weaned at 14 months the other at 18 months.)

I know I was lucky because a friend of mine resumed her period when her children were 3 or 4 months old even though she was nursing exclusively.

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C.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

My 1st child(21yrs ago) I breast fed for a full yr. I did not gey mt first cycle till about 2 months later. My 2nd child(8yrs ago) I breast fed again for 1 yr.and right after I stopped my next month was a cycle. My 3rd child (5 yrs ago) I fed for 1 yr and started my cycle that same month I stopped feeding shortly after cutting back. Enjoy your time feeding, it goes so fast! Char

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L.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

I exclusively breastfeed too and mine came back when my son was 5 mos. However, I don't b-feed every few hours at night as he sleeps through the night. Sounds like everyone is a little different. So, I guess if I were you I'd be prepared for anything. :)

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J.C.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hey K., My experience (x3) has been that usually within a month of stopping breastfeeding, my cycle would resume. Enjoy it for as long as you decide to nurse, then expect it to return shortly thereafter! When I was still nursing my oldest (now 4 y/o), I became pregnant with #2 (now 3 y/o) after about 4 months, so my experience there is a little jaded because then for almost 2 years I had no cycle. Then after #2 and #3 (now 1 y/o) it resumed, like I said, about a month after I stopped nursing... J.

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J.A.

answers from Omaha on

K.,

For the biology of how breastfeeding affects menstration read Breastfeeding and Natural child spacing.

The biggest thing for me was when my babies stopped nursing at night. I nursed on demand and with the first baby, she was 27 months old when we were trying for a second baby. It was when I stopped night time feedings (we co-slept for maximum sleep), the cycles returned and we were able to get pregnant with baby number two.

About the same with the second baby, but not quite as long. This is on the long side, as more women experience a cycle within the baby's first year. I was 36 and 39 when I had babies and age may have a significant factor in return of menses.

Each person, of course is very different and it depends on your hormone levels. However, on demand nursing is going to have the most profound effect on menstration.

Also, remember the longer you do not menstrate the less your estrogen exposure and in turn the decreased risks associated with it.

Regardless, be prepared and enjoy your baby and this special time. It is fleeting!
J.

PS - I also experienced easier, lighter periods after having babies. This is not always the norm, but I appreciated it! Hope it is the same for you.

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