Breastfeeding as BC - AF Finally showed

[armywife11]

I know this is asked her a bunch as I was one who asked so sharing an update. I was using breastfeeding as birth control and I ovulated less than two weeks ago (9 month PP) and af flow showed today (10 months PP).


I do have a question if anyone reading this can answer... AF was 4 days early based on my ovulation symptoms is this a common thing with a first cycle. I am trying not to worry about the short lut. phase.

*When I say breastfeeding as birth control I mean that I was breastfeeding how they suggest to use it as such: on demand, co-sleeping, breast milk only until six months, only nursing from the breast, ect. Just to let you know how much and often I nursed. I know this can be a factor when cycles come back.

 

[xxxjessxxx]

Hey hun, since having my daughter and breastfeeding etc, my cycles became 4 days early, don't know why as before her I'd be dead on 28 days, but I went to every 24 days instead now, and this month became pregnant xx

 

[dan-o]

Very common to have a shorter than normal LP while bfing x

 

[Tacey]

In my first cycle I had a very short LP (3 days I think) and it increased each month until I conceived in the 5th cycle. I did lots of reading up at the time, and like PP says, it is very common.

 

[JessPape]

They only recommend using BF as BC for the first 6 months, as after that babies are introduce different foods and the likely hood of AF coming back is quite a bit higher. With that, My AF came back at 6 weeks PP. We got the Copper IUD put in, but after having it for 3 months, I developed Copper Toxity from it. So we used Charting temps and condoms after that. We will go back to charting and condoms after this baby comes too.

As for the length of your cycle, it could take awhile for your body to regulate again. Especially while still nursing, you may get REALLY short cycles, or really long cycles, or normal cycles.

Some women end up having a REALLY long pre ovulation, or a really short LP while breastfeeding.. The month my daughter went down to 1 nursing feed was the month we conceived and as far as I can tell, the ONLY regular cycle I have had since I was pregnant.

 

[armywife11]

Jess - I just meant that I was nursing the suggested methods/ways to use it as such. I should have explained that more. lol

So I should have looked it up but my current LP is still in the normal range, its 10 for this cycle unlike my normal 14. I am glad to hear and read it's normal.. makes me feel better about it.

 

[JessPape]

Jess - I just meant that I was nursing the suggested methods/ways to use it as such. I should have explained that more. lol

So I should have looked it up but my current LP is still in the normal range, its 10 for this cycle unlike my normal 14. I am glad to hear and read it's normal.. makes me feel better about it.

Even nursing as normal, its common to come back. You may be nursing that amount, but how much your baby is actually taking in, will likely be lower (since you can't see this, its hard to know).

But yea, just know that there is a possibility for your cycles to be wacked until your are done, You may have a normal cycle, than the next one be short or longer, than a normal one. Than maybe even skip one. As long as your breastfeeding and producing (Prolactin-hormone released while nursing, if I spelt it right), it will mix with the hormones your body uses for your menstrual cycle. So don't be alarm if it does end up off track.

 

[cat lover]

ok, what is a luteal phase?

 

[JessPape]

Luteal Phase, is the phase AFTER ovulation.

 

[susannah14]

Interesting, thanks for posting. I didn't know that. I just got my period yesterday, 10 months PP. I'm really upset about it. My uterus and I aren't really on speaking terms right now.

 

[armywife11]

ok, what is a luteal phase?

10 to 14 days is considered normal and anything shorter than that can be hard to impossible to sustain a pregnancy because an egg will not have time to implant.

 

[armywife11]

One update.. I am not having a normal period. Yesterday it started like normal but slowly tapered off in the evening which is when she nurses the most. It completely stopped during the night (she woke to nurse once during the night). I woke up and started having cramps the exact same time I did the day before. It has been a little heavier than yesterday but again it slowed at night. It hasn't completely stopped like it did the day before though, just have light to spotting now. So you may have that to look forward to if your still breastfeeding. I nurse 4 to 5 times a day now.

 

[JessPape]

When breastfeeding, there basically is no such thing as a "normal period" LOL

 

[CelticStar]

I just got my first cycle in after 14 months, much like you, it was heavy during the day (as in, a massacre in my uterus lol) but then barely anything at night.
It only lasted 4 days in total although the 4th day was so light I'm tempted to say it only lasted 3.

I'm interested to see when my 2nd cycle arrives and how that turns out.

I'm currently nursing 3-5 times a day and once during the night.