Menstrual Period - Unusually Heavy and Breastfeeding - Please Help!!!!

My sister breastfed 4 kids and had her period back with each of them after 3 month. Every woman is different - I didn't get mine back until after I weaned at 19 months...
From what I understand it is normal to have heavier periods after giving birth. They may even out a bit with time...

Most birth control pills are not indicated when breastfeeding! The people who told you to go back on regular BC are idiots (sorry for my strong words, but I have issues with medical professionals that give advice about something they know nothing about) and I would complain!
There are a few methods that are approved for breastfeeding women, one of the is the mini-pill (progesterone only pill). It needs to be taken in EXACT 24 hour time intervals to be effective. Other methods include barrier methods and IUD's. See a OBGYN who is supportive of breastfeeding, if you want to keep doing it (your lactation consultant may be able to give you a referral).
Good luck.

Hi,

Hugs to you! What you are going through may just be your body adjusting post baby and post birth control. I will ask though, are you soaking one heavy pad or tampon per hour? If so, call your OB back and tell them - they will get you in immediately - and if not, find another one or check with the ER.....Not to scare you, but just to keep you from too much blood lose that will dehydrate you, possibly give you anemia, etc.....I am a 42 mom of 4, with my youngest still nursing at 10 months - I am also an LC in training.....it has been my experience that periods can return to mamas within a few weeks post birth even with exclusive breastfeeding. Sometimes the hormones just don't play out the way we would hope :) - I can recommend co-sleeping (either in bed, if you are comfortable and safe with it) or baby in the room - also, skin to skin (baby only diaper - mama no top - baby against the chest - blank around both) - this can be nice during nap time - I did this with a sling so that I could still get around to do a few things. This will help increase milk supply and may help regulate your body off of the period. Also, which you maybe doing already, on demand nursing and no or limited bottles until the milk supply is up. Any chance you could meet with a lactation consultant? They could work with you drinking Mother's Milk tea, taking fenugreek and or milk thistle, getting a pump to help bring up your supply, etc.

It is possible that you will still get your period even if your supply jumps up - and you may notice either a few days before or at the beginning of your period your supply will diminish (the baby may nurse more during this time trying to tell you body, hey I'm here! :D) - if this occurs, you can take the Mother's Milk tea, fenugreek/milk thistle, etc....and skin to skin during that time.

Also, if it helps, when mamas can't take the pill and breastfeed I have other LCs and midwives recommend the rhythm method (you check your temperature throughout the month, check vaginal discharge thickening, etc) to know when you are fertile. Just a though if it helps! :D

I hope your ultra sound comes back ok! And hoping all works out well!

As far as I understand it, you can get your period while you are breastfeeding, it is just the natural process of getting your body back on track. As far as the cyst is concerned, it could very well be product of that as I am having problems with cysts on both of my ovaries as well. I bled for much longer than I should have and it was heavier due to the rupture or leaking of the cysts. My gyno found blood inside my vaginal area at the time of examination due to the cysts even though I didn't have my period or enough of a flow for it to require a pad or tampon. I would suggest getting the ultrasound by your obgyn and going from there. Good luck!

Most women won't get thier periods back until after their child is 6 months, if you are EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding, but that doesn't mean that some women won't get it back earlier. Are you supplementing at all? Giving solids already? Is your child sleeping through the night? Any of those things could make your period come back sooner. I would definitely talk with your OB though about the very heavy bleeding and make sure that there isn't anything wrong.

Each woman is different when it comes to resuming your menstrual period while breastfeeding. In many cases, exclusive breastfeeding may delay the onset for many months...or not at all. It is important to remember that you can still get pregnant even if you are not getting a period.

I was never on birth control, but I had some slight bleeding when my daughter was around four months. I thought it was the end of the reprieve for sure, but it was just some spotting for a day. My period resumed the month after she turned a year old. I had introduced solids around 9-10 months and stopped pumping during the day once she was a year old.

When it did resume, it was HEAVY and painful and not very predictable for several months. I've had experience with ovarian cysts before my daughter was born....and just had one a few months ago (she is just about three). They are quite common, and while uncomfortable, are not usually anything to worry about. Most resolve on their own (though I am usually in bed for the day when one bursts).

I think it is because of the cyst. Normally, not it may take up to a year to get the period back when breast feeding. one person i worked with got it after six months while breastfeeding her son. I would talk to your doctor about the cyst. I would agree that the pill could deplete the amount of breastmilk. Buy the overnight pads. stayfree makes them so does always. Good luck

Breastfeeding doesn't mean you won't get your period, I've been breastfeeding for the past 3 months and just got my period. I haven't been regular either since my son was born, I think it takes quite a few months to make sense of your cycle, I had the same issue after my daughter was born. Also every person is different. Your body is probably just adjusting to stopping the birth control, and its probably heavier too since the pill is supposed to make your periods lighter. See what your OBGYN says but I wouldn't worry about the bleeding too much.

Hi, Greenmama:
First of all, don't worry. Worrying will call your milk to dry up.

Secondly, your period will return to normal after awhile. Massage your
abdomen to get your uterus to tighten up like they did after you had your baby.

The cyst is a fluid filled sac. It can rupture on it's own with time.
Let your body heal itself. Do things that help you relax and take your mind off your worries.

Good luck. D.

I breastfed all 3 of my children - got my period back with each between 6-7 weeks. With my first child I did not use any hormonal birth control because I was breastfeeding - my periods came every 2 weeks for several months. With my second I did the progestin only pill - which is safe for breastfeeding mothers - I didn't have period and my milk supply was not affected. With my 3rd child I had a c/s and a tubal ligation - and was in my mid- 30's - my periods were EXTREMELY HEAVY... they stayed that way until I finally had an endometrial ablation. My doctor said it was common after a c/s and tubal to have heavy periods - then after they stayed heavy for years - I had my hormones checked - my progesterone was low....you are 40 - could be a combination of hormones and being post-partum. But it sounds "normal".

Good luck!

It's going to take a while for your body to get back to normal. It is also normal to notice a dip in milk supply when you have your period. If it goes on very long, you may need blood work to make sure you aren't becoming anemic. Eat and drink really well during this time.

And remember, you can get pregnant even though you are breastfeeding! :-) I use Mirena, and breastfed until my ds was 11 months. It's a "semi-" hormonal method that can be compatible with bfing..

The fact that you didn't finish the full month of your birth control pills could be the reason. After my second child, it was my 3rd period when I bled heavy like that. Scared me to death. All my doctor did was put me on a medication to stop the bleeding and my periods returned to normal afterwards.