I have a seven month old daughter that is breastfed, though now she is getting some foods as well (cereal, pureed veggies & fruits). When should I expect to get my period back? I am an older mother - I had her when I was 40 and now am 41. She is my first and I haven't ruled out trying for #2 at some point. Can any other older mother share their experience?
I don't think there is a definitive answer. Most pedi books say the usual is 6-12 months post-pardum or when the child starts sleeping through the night. I've had 4 children and resumed my menses at 6 weeks and 8 weeks and I exclusively breastfed (and they never slept throught the night until they were 18 months old).
Everyone is different. I got my period at six weeks post-partum with my first child. I was breastfeeding on demand, about every 2 hours, no pacifier, no pumped bottles.
With my second, I was still nursing the first one too, and also nursed on demand, usually in a sling, about every two hours, no paci, no bottles. Guess what? Period at six weeks.
Advice from my viewpoint: enjoy it!
For more info. about conceiving again, I'd recommend reading Toni Weschler's "Taking Charge of Your Fertility", which can be found at:
http://www.ovusoft.com/
I am almost 34, breastfed Kyle exclusively for six months, then began doing 1/2 forumula, half nursing. When he was seven months, I got my period, then the second period 30 days after that.
Hi J.,
I'm 37, and I'm due with my 7th baby in May. Every woman is different, but if you are nursing on demand, you may not ovulate until you start weaning. With almost all of mine, I didn't ovulate at least until baby was getting a substantial amount of solids, and I was down to nursing two or three times a day. That may become even more true as we get older, because things start to slow down anyway. I don't think I've ever ovulated until at least 9 months post-partum, and that was the baby that started solids the earliest. My last one, I didn't ovulate until 12 months, but he hardly had any solids until then. Check out Natural Family Planning if you want to have a better idea when you ovulate, if you want to have another baby. It's absolutely amazing. We've used what's now called "The Creighton Model of Fertility Awareness," or something like that. You could find more info by checking with your local Catholic church, even if you're not Catholic, or by googling Natural family Planning, or the Pope Paul VI Institute. Good luck.
With my first breastfed child, got my period for the 1st time 6 months after she was born - we started supplementing with formula when she started daycare at 3 months. With my second child (born when I was 38) my period started again about 8-9 months later. I worked harder at breastfeeding him, and didn't stop completely until he was 17 months old.
Hi J.,
It will depend on how long and how often you breastfeed. I am the mother of three and breastfed the younger two for a year and a half. It wasn't until I stopped nursing (and my body stopped producing a high level of milk) that my cycle came back. I'm currently 38 and had my third (and last(:) at 36. So I managed to go 18 months post partum with no cycle with the youngest two. For me, that was all good! While you may be less likely to conceive while nursing, it is a very real possibility so factor this into your timetable for your second baby. Congratulations and good luck!
Hi J.!
I would have to say within the first year of your childs life you should get your period. I breastfed my daughter up until she was 1 yr old. I started solids late at 9 months (just b/c I didn't know better) and I got my period when she was 8 months old. My sister in law breastfed until 6 months and got her period 2 months later. It's kind of a random thing I think. Not getting my period during pregnancy and 8 months after - You got to love it! I hope you get to enjoy those tampon free days as long as you can :)
