How Long After Birth Should I Get My First Period

Are you breastfeeding? My daughter weaned at 22 months- I didn't start my cycle again until she was 16 months when we stopped the 4am feeding. I have friends who've gone longer w/o.

If you are breastfeeding, it might not come back until you wean or reduce feedings. I bf for 7 months, and mine didn't come back until around 5-6 months when we dropped some feedings.

After my 3rd child, I had a period 4 weeks after giving birth and ended up pregnant again - almost immediatly. Not to scare you - but you can get a false negative - especially this close to have giving birth. You may want to call the Dr. and let them know what is going on and ask if they would recommend blood work. If you are "prego" don't worry - some times close together works really well. ; )

Good Luck!

K.

It depends. I was nursing and I got mine about 2 months after my daughter was born. But, it wasn't a full or regular period until she was 4 months. It still is not always "normal".

My baby turns 13 months old today and I still don't have a period. She's been breastfed since birth, though.

if you are breastfeeding you may not get one my son is almost 8mo. and i have not had one yet. but other then that am not sure.T.

are you breast feeding? if you are breastfeeding it can be as long as you breast feed!

Your Freaking out thats why. First off your body won't have a period till up to 6 weeks after you stop bleeding from the baby. So you had your baby 10 weeks ago but probably stop bleeding 5 weeks ago ore so. Some bleed for four weeks some bleed for 6 weeks. If you bleed for six weeks you probably had a period in there too but the doctors don't consider that. I would really think about the iud! One more ocmment on the period just relax and try to take your mind off it. You will start in the next 2 weeks. If your stressed or worried it prolongs it. Besides whenever your start date was before you started it probably will be around that time or off by 4 or 5 days. Now about the iud. I feel the same about birth control as you. I feel the pill gives some major crabby moody swings that my children don't need. Any way I though an iud would be for me two. I had one put in and with in 6 months I had cysts on my ovaries and I felt like blown up balloon and I just wasn't sexually enthused or wanting any. So I went to the dr because I had a really bad pain in my abdomin lower when it was around my period. So he checked me out I ended up having him remove it and the difference was so extreme. I didn't feel it when it was in nor whne the dr inserted it but when he took it out. I actually started going pee more and with in a week I felt like I lost 20 lbs. Even though I really didn't but I had gained so much water I felt smaller. So I am not saying don't try it but you may want to ask some ?. They don't put in the brochure. Second, if you have history of cysts than don't. I had a cyst when I was longer and birth control got rid of it and I never though an iud would have made it come back but it did. So be careful. I had it taken out and it took my husband and i over 8 months to conceive again. Good Luck!!

Nancy,
My baby was 5 months before I had my first period. I was breastfeeding until that point. J.

you didnt say if you are breastfeeding..

I breastfed both kids.. I got my period at 7 weeks after the first baby and at 6 months after the second baby.

My ob told me about 6 weeks.
I don't know if it's different if you breastfeed or not.
I would see my ob and talk to them if you don't get your period soon.

if i were you i'd wait another week and take another pregnancy test. i got pregnant after about 7-8 weeks after giving birth to my first baby. my doc told me that you're like hyper-fertile not long after giving birth. we were careful, too, but not careful enough obviously! :)
now we're expecting #3 but #2 was definitely a surprise.
i think if you take a pregnancy test too early it can be negative. have you tried those ones that can detect early, up to 5 days before your period (i know it's hard when you don't know when it's supposed to start). or, call your doc to get a blood test. sometimes the hormones aren't strong enough to show a + preg. test.

best wishes!

i breastfed and got mine after 4 months. my friend is breastfeeding and still hasn't gotten hers after 9 months. everyone is different. please know that even though you don't have your period, you can still get pregnant at this time. if you're not ready, you should be using protection. it's a big myth that you can't get pregnant when you're not having a period, and also that you can't get pregnant while breastfeeding. both of these are possible!

It really depends. I breastfed my daughter for 18 months. I didn't get my period until she started to drop feedings... I think it was around 15 months.

However, I know other women who began their cycles again at 3 months, and 6 months who were nursing as well. I was also very very regular as well. It freaked me out too. I did some looking online and asked my OBGYN, and she said it was normal.... particularly if you're breastfeeding.

It took me at least 4 months to get mine back. This is normal. HOWEVER, don't think that you're infertile. Your fertility is very high right after pregnancy, EVEN when breastfeeding.

You're going to have to either use some birth control or expect to get pregnant again. I can't stand condoms either, but unless you want kids less then a year apart you'd better do something. Being "careful" is playing with fire, especially since you haven't started your cycle so using the rhythm method is not possible. See what other types of birth control are available at the drug store, or maybe get fitted for a diaphragm. Best wishes!

That depends. If breastfeeding it could take a while. Of course I was robbed! With all 3 children I got my period after 4 months even with breastfeeding. Talk to you obgyn and they can give you the best advice.

What kind of doctor do you have? You don't have to wait until you get a period to have an IUD placed! At my doctors' practice, they routinely place them at the six-week check after the baby is born! That's when my sister-in-law had her Mirena placed! And I know she hadn't gotten a period before then. Please ask your doctor again.

10 weeks is PERFECTLY normal, ESPECIALLY if you are still breastfeeding. Like someone else said, too, I got mine at 16 months when he stopped nursing in the middle of the night.

REMEMBER: YOU CAN STILL GET PREGNANT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR PERIOD.

Be smart about back-up with sex but otherwise enjoy your time without a period!

Everyone is different. You didn't say if you are breastfeeding or not. If you are exclusively breastfeeding it could be awhile. If not, it could come at any time. Word of caution, just because you haven't had a period does NOT mean you can't get pregnant! Remember you ovulate BEFORE your period.

My period didn't come back until after my son was over a year. My doctor did place an IUD about 8 weeks after I delivered. While it is better to do it while on your period, is not completely necessary. It's a little more uncomfortable, but my doctor gave me some pain pills and I was good to go.

I also breastfeed and did not get my period until my children were about 6-7 months old. Actually with the second one, it came a little ealier. If I remember well, I got mine when I started to slowly wean them off the breast and started using Formula here and there.

I didn't get mine until my son was about five months old and I had cut way back on breastfeeding. My cousins didn't come back until her son was nearly seven months old (also a breastfeeder). I used to be VERY regular but even though I'm no longer breastfeeding it's still not 'normal.'

If you are breastfeeding (or breastfed or pumped AT ALL) your cycles could be delayed do to Lactational Amenoreah. The hormones needed for milk production suppress the hormones needed for ovulation, and periods. If you have stopped breastfeeding your hormones will even out soon and you will have a cycle.

The good thing about Lactational Amenoreah is that you are usually infertile (still need to be careful as you can ovulate if you miss a feeding) for about the first 6months, as long as YOU are your babes only source of food.

Are you nursing? I nurse our 21-month-old, and I didn't get my cycle back until 14 months.

My SIL got hers back at 7 weeks or so.

Generally, it varies...

I'm pretty sure you don't have to wait till you get your period for an IUD placement. Verify what your doc told you as you may have misunderstood him as it is easier and less painful if they insert while you are actually on your period. As with what everyone else is saying, everyone is different and if you are nursing you may not get it for a while. I nursed all 3 of my children for a year and bled for quite a while after I gave birth, but I usually started my period a few weeks after I was finished bleeding from delivery. Don't freak out. Wait a week or so, take another test, and call your doc back to verify when you can in fact get an IUD. I absolutely love mine. If you are nursing, go for the one sans hormones, so it doesn't alter your milk supply.

Everyone is different, but I have 4 children, have breastfed all of them, and it has taken, every time, 14-17 months before I got my period back. But, I have known a lady who breastfed and got pregnant without ever getting her period back, after all, we do usually ovulate first. If you exclusively breastfeed (ie. no formula, bottles, artificial nipples, etc. - all suckling at the breast) then it is likely you don't have anything at all to be concerned about.

Also, since it is your 2nd, your nutritional reserves may be a little lower than the first time, so it just might take a little longer, regardless of how you feed the baby.

Regarding the regular cycles, remember also that it is entirely normal for them to take up to 6 cycles to even out and become regular again, and even then, it is not uncommon for them to be a little longer than they were before you ever became pregnant.

Good luck and keep smiling!

As other moms have mentioned, if you are nursing or pumping it's not unusual at all that you haven't gotten your period yet. That said, it is impossible to "be careful" about getting pregnant at this point - you have no idea when your body will decide to ovulate. If you don't want another baby at this time you should be using some kind of protection.