EBF and menstruation

[lily28]

My baby is 12 weeks going to 13 weeks old and is EBF. I breastfeed on demand, and I offer the boob often. We cosleep and I nurse him to sleep for naps and night sleep. He doesn't care for comfort nursing.
Today I had some spotting, and I thought "oh it's my period". However I didn't have any PMS, and I usually get wild symptoms, to the point that I knew I was pregnant with my baby because of the very obvious lack of PMS.

My question is this: Is it a period coming, is it postpartum bleeding (I still feel tender/weird down there - I had a difficult birth), is it something else?
If it is a period, does that mean I 'm not feeding my baby well? I read that moms with babies who STTN have their period sooner. Although my baby STTN, I still feed him once or twice during night in his sleep, our feeds have not gone less.

However 2 weeks ago he had some fever and that made him more difficult to nurse, he was super fussy and didn't eat well. Could that caused a period?

Will my milk production continue normally?

TIA!

 

[kalyrra]

First of all, congrats on your little one!

In regards to post partum bleeding - when did your initial bleeding stop? It's entirely possible it's your cycle trying to start. While some women never see a period while they breastfeed, others have been known to start AF around 6-8 weeks pp - even while EBFing, co-sleeping, comfort nursing, etc... It definitely does NOT mean you aren't feeding your baby well! As long as he is gaining weight, and giving you dirty diapers then he is getting enough to eat!

As far as being tender down there... I don't think I really felt more like myself... I had occasional (minimal) soreness until around 4 months. It hurt like heck every time hubby and I DTD for a couple months until I finally got used to it again.

I had my first pp bleed at 5 1/2 months and it was soooo light it only made it onto my panty liner maybe twice. I had none of my normal AF symptoms. No cramping, no emotional signs, nothing. Just the spotting.

Some women say their milk production drops a little bit while they are on AF. Others don't notice it all all. I wouldn't stress about it, honestly! If you want, you can do a little research on how to maximize your milk production during AF.

Overall, you're doing a fantastic job and your child is getting everything he needs from you! Keep it up!

 

[ClaireJ23]

I'm exclusively breastfeeding and she sleeps for a maximum of six hours ATM. I bled for six weeks, had a two week gap then my first period and monthly for two further months before conceiving again. I didn't find there to be any problems with feeding and supply during menstruation and she has been tracking between the 50th and 75th centile since birth so no issues with weight gain.

 

[lily28]

kallyra, thanks hun, your post made me feel calmer

My lochia stopped at 8 weeks, took a bit longer than the average I believe.

Baby grows within normal according to kellymom + the pediatrician, he is in the 75th percentile with his height but the 25th with weight, which causes me some insecurities.

What spotting I had today sounds like yours, couple of drops in the morning and couple more at noon. Right now I have none.

I have no idea if my milk is less or more, I think it is ok since I continue spraying the baby in the face (lol) with my strong let down.

I'm such a scaredy cat with BF, honestly the simplest thing makes me lose it.

ClaireJ23, congrats on your pregnancy!wow you got your period so soon!

I don't want to be pregnant for the next year at least, so we are extra careful, we are not relying on BF as a BC method.

 

[Jess19]

I had a tiny bit of spotting a little over 2 weeks ago. It was the first time I've had any type of bleeding since my c section. I believe it was my body's attempt at a period, I had no pms symptoms either.
I think it varies from person to person with how soon your cycles return while EBF. Some women get one right away and others don't see one until months after they quit nursing. That's how it went with my DS, I didn't get my period at all until a month after I quit nursing (8 months) but it seems with my DD it's going to be a little different.
They say when when the feeding cycles have a gap of no nursing for 6 hours that's when your cycle can be affected. Again that varies from person to person. DD has been sleeping through the night since 3 weeks old and it really hasn't affected me.
Your supply sounds like it's great and the 25th percentile isn't bad, I'm sure if he was hungry he'd eat more, he's just taking what he needs, they go through so many phases of eating.

 

[kalyrra]

And keep in mind...the percentiles are averages of a lot of babies. Some are little piggies like mine (99th %) and others are not! 25th is not bad at all! I have a friend who's daughter is 1 year and just finally made it on the charts for weight at 3%! But the doc said she's quite healthy, just petite.

 

[JessPape]

It could be your period coming back, I EBF and got mine back at 6 weeks, it happens.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

I EBF and have had spotting on and off for the last couple of weeks now.

Hardly enough to even make it to my underwear, but enough to annoy me. Will just come out of no where for a day then disappear again.

I figure its my body trying now DD sleeps longer.

I'm moaning about it but the odd day of spotting is much more preferable than my mega heavy periods so fingers crossed AF doesn't return properly for a while.