Need Advice on Menstral Issues....

A.,

Mine didn't come back for 14 months. I am still breastfeeding my daughter. I did not have Post-Partum Depression.

C.

Sorry to embargo your request for help, but this person irked me.

Julie B. :
Yes, stopping breastfeeding would be an option and we all have our opinions and advice that might be right for us, but yours was obviously unwanted and rude in the way you stated it.
1. Breasts were made for breastfeeding. Simple as that.
2. Babies' main source of nutrition before the age of 12 months should be breast milk or formula, so how is 10 months too old to be breastfeeding?

I nursed both of my kids, the oldest for 12 months exactly, and the younger for 16 months. I didn't get a period at all with the first and with the second it wasn't till 14 months later. It's totally normal. And I'm sorry to say that I totally do not agree with the mother who told you to stop nursing, that you will be nursing your child till kindergarten. The AAP RECOMMENDS that you nurse for AT LEAST the first year, and there's certainly no harm in doing it longer, if you choose to do so. Good for you for doing it this long!!!

I am still nursing my son, who is 16 months old, at night. My period returned at 9 months pp and is still not regular. I think of it as a great bonus to nursing, having your period sucks!! As for the mom telling you to quit nursing, that is pure uneducated ranting. Babies who nurse long term are found to be happier, healthier, more self confident people. Your child will not be nursing until kindergarten. In fact at 11 months old my son weened himself during the day and he has never shed a tear or looked back. Keep nursing, the period will come back in its own time.

My understanding of Post Partum Depression is that it's usually a problem that is most common during the first 3 months of giving birth. If you're still having trouble with it, you should check with your Dr. and get some treatment. At 10 months, your son will probably be eating other table foods, and drinking water too, so the breastmilk will not be a main source of fluid intake and therefore, even though you are still producing milk, your body will not be going through huge hormone surges like it was when the milk was in high demand, a higher protein, vitamins and fat content, or when you've just given birth.

As far as the periods returning...I think it's different with everyone, and with every baby. I didn't get a normal period for at least 6 months after I nursed my daughter until she was 12 mo. Sometimes, my period would be really light, maybe 1 day and almost nothing there, or sometimes there was nothing at all. I'd follow the advise of your Dr.. Nothing to worry about.

Be glad you haven't gotten it yet! I am still nursing my 21 month old daughter, and just got my period back last month. Which is a real bummer! Cramps and all!

And as for the unsolicited advice you got from JULIE, do not stop nursing just to get your period back. That's lame. Babies were meant to be nursed, and you nurse yours just as long as you and your baby want and don't listen to anyone else!

Hi A.,
I am going to respond to the Post Partum Depression. My understanding is that PPD usually occurs earlier on - perhaps around the 2-4 month post-birth time frame. For me, I experienced PPD-like symptoms starting around 5 months. I had an unaware doctor, but was fortunate to have been whacked in the neck by my baby so that the doctor decided to look at my neck, and hence my thyroid. Post partum hypothyroidism is VERY common. For some, it is a temporary condition, but for others like me, it is not.

The symptoms may look a lot like PPD, as I mentioned, with lots of tears, loss of hair and and being exhausted even with seemingly gettting enough sleep. The good news it is easy to test with a blood sample (TSH, T4, T3 and an anti-bodies test) and easy to treat by taking a synthetic or natural hormone replacement. (There is much discussion on which is better and why, which I can tell you about if you need more information.) The not-so-good news is that the half life of T4 replacement is fairly long such that it takes most people 4-8 weeks to notice a difference. However, once it kicks in, the change is TREMENDOUS. I like to inform people about this because I was so angry I lived my life in a blur of sleepiness and tears for longer than I had to because no one thought of testing me for this. I also have opinions that differ from some aspects of the traditional Western perspective - let me know if you (or another reader) would like to know more. Here is a good place to start: http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm.

BTW, treatment of thyroid issues is based on "normal" test results. The normal ranges given by the labs are MUCH larger than many informed doctors and patients feel they should be. For example, the TSH (when you are not pregnant) normal range is 0.5 - 4.5. However, I need mine to be very close to 1.0 and a "good" normal range for most is betweeen 1.0-2.0.

The take home message here is to believe what your body is telling you (after doing some research) and do not be bullied by doctors who tell you that you are fine when you don't feel fine. Support in this smaller normal range, and some women's experiences is described in the book "The Thyroid Solution." This book also suggests the use of supplementing with T3 (since it is faster acting) which very few doctors will do. I have some personal experience with this which I can share if need be... but I suggest trying the T4 avenue first even though it takes some time to work.

Good luck to you and let me know if I can provide any more information or insight!
R.

I nursed my son frequently until he was a year old. I didn't get my period back until after I stopped nursing him during the day (which was around his first birthday). I wouldn't worry about not getting your period back yet - I think that is quite common. Unfortunately I don't know anything useful about post-partum depression so I can't offer an opinion about how it may be affected by your hormones.

Good luck!

With my oldest I got my period back at 4 months pp. With my youngest, I didn't get it back until 10 months pp. Nothing different, breastfed/feed both, just my body, its not going to be the same each time. I am still nursing my youngest, he is 16 months. I nursed my oldest too, he was allowed to self wean, and to the poster who said to stop nursing, he's 4 1/2 and not nursing anymore, but what is it your business anyway. Breastfeeding is NATURAL and the U.S. is the only country who is all freaky about it, and the only country who relies on artificial baby milk because its almost taboo to breastfeed past the newborn stage. We are MAMMALS, we breastfeed. 10 months is still a baby, and he should nurse as long as he wants to, be it 12 months or 4 years.
Your body is doing what it is supposed to by suppressing your period while nursing. Unless you think you may be pregnant, don't worry, and enjoy this 'time off' from your period.

PPD is something you need to talk about, and figure out. Dont just let it ride, especially if you are still experiencing it at 10 months pp.

I wouldn't worry about your cycle at all. It is perfectly normal for it to not come back until after you've stopped breastfeeding. I nursed my daughter until she was 11 months old and didn't get my cycle back until two months after that. Everyone is different, and your body will adjust in its own time.

As far as PPD goes, I'm glad you've recognized it and are taking the right steps to deal with it. It's a difficult time and the most important thing is to make sure you have a strong support system to help you through it.

Good luck!

Hi A.-
I wouldn't stress. Enjoy the break! =) With all three of my kids I nursed full-time and didn't get my period until after 12 months--usually around 15 months! I think EVERY baby is so unique and maybe with the stress of THREE kids now (and the added post-partum depression), your body just isn't cycling yet. Hang in there!! And make sure you take time for just YOU!

I was told that it could be around a year until you get your period again.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, since your nursing just as the Dr. said you probably won't see your cycle until after you stop. It is very very common for breastfeeding mothers to not get their cycle, regardless of past experiences after having given birth. each time is different.

Hi A.,
I didn't get my period back until after I stopped nursing my daughter when she was six months old, I considered it a bonus of nursing. I was also diagnosed with post partum depression after i stopped nursing so in my case I don't beleive the two were related. I think i was probably experiencing it all along but just hadn't been diagnosed. Good luck!

Be happy! Mine didn't ever fully return to the way it was before preg. The Dr. said that I was still ovulating. It actually only returned a little when I turned 46!!!

I agree with everyone else. Also, if there's a chance you could be pregnant, I would do a pregnancy test just to rule it out. You can get pregnant while nursing so don't use that as a form of birth control. Good luck!

P.

HI A.,

I have a 10 month old daughter (my first) that I am nursing regularly and my period has not returned yet either.

B.

I didn't get mine back until 11 months after my daughter was born and I started to ween her.

STOP NURSING.... Then you'll get your period back.. 10 Months old is a lil to old to be nursing anyways. If you keep that up your child will be in kindergarten and you will still be nursing. If you get bad cramps.. be thankfull you don't have your period and don't push getting it..

I have 3 boys, and had different experiences with each. I conceived my 3rd without ever having a normal period after my 2nd baby (he was 10 months). With my 3rd, it was just after his 1st birthday, and I conceived again 2 cycles later (he's almost 16 months and still bf'ing). I read that the average is actually between 14-16 months, if the mother is still nursing frequently throughout the day.

I am nursing my 8 month old son and have not resumed getting periods. I don't think you should be concerned. I'm happy about it for myself!

I nursed also and I didn't get my period till she was 14 months old. I was really concerned because I wasn't nusing that much by 12 months, but all the doctors said was you'll get it eventually and not to worry. They said that even if you are nusing 3 or more times a day that can contribute. I took lots of pregnancy tests also and didn't have post partum. Don't worry it will happen eventually I'm sure then you will wish it haden't.

Lots of good advice here. Just wanted to add that while PPD is most common early on, as mentioned, it can go on up to one year post partum. It is not caused by your period not coming back,as you mentioned, though the ppd might be affecting your cycles. Get help for it. You are not alone, and there is no shame in it!! You deserve to be the happiest, healthiest that you can be, and it is not something that you should "just get over" on your own.

I am still nursing my 11mo old son (first child) and still have not gotten my period- this is nice but also has resulted in me worrying and taking 2 pregnancy tests now! :)
I also was told that it could take up to 6mo. from when I completely stop breastfeeding before I would get a period.... so you're not alone!

I didn't get my period until almost exactly 12 months after my daughter was born (I nursed her until she was 17 mo.'s old). Don't worry, be happy-having your period isn't all that fun either! :-)

Don't worry, it's different with everyone but completely normal.
My first baby nursed for 3 years, and I didn''t get my period back until he was 2 and a half years old. It was great!
After my second baby, it was 2 years, and after my 3rd it was 1 year.