Periods

[SpringCrane]

What's been your experience with your cycle returning after baby? Both of my kids were/are exclusively breastfed. With my first, my period returned 6 weeks pp and was immediately regular. Yesterday, mine started for the first time (13 weeks pp), but it's been more spotty than regular flow. Not enough to warrant a tampon but more than I'm comfortable leaving to a panty liner. I hate pads, but I think that's what I'll use today.

Just wondering if it's common to have a very light first postpartum period and whether it then follows a regular cycle or if things are often out of whack for a while. Thanks!

 

[jessmke]

I am exclusively breastfeeding and I've had one PP period when LO was 5 1/2 months old and it was a very, very heavy flow. The heaviest period I have ever had, but no cramps or discomfort at all. My second PP period is due any day now if it is going to come on it's regular 28 day schedule.

 

[SoupDragon]

I pumped for a year for my DD, so didn't make as much milk as I might have had I been ebf, but I didn't get AF back until 7 months pp (and I suspect I only got it then because my supply tanked, as I had tonsillitis and a broken pump at the same time!). I had a copper coil put in at 3 months pp, though, so my AFs were quite heavy, and I don't know what my 'natural' pp AFs are actually like.

I have heard the first pp AF can be pretty bizarre, either a lot lighter or a lot heavier than you had before, but that it doesn't always follow that that's what they'll be like from then on. I know my mum had hers back at 6 weeks pp each time (I was ff, my little bro was ebf til 2 years old) and hers were regular straight away and were no different to how they were before having us.

 

[wildflower79]

After my first two labour's my period came back at around 6 weeks and was pretty normal and regular. I did go back on the pill after dd1 though, so maybe that helped regulate things.

This time my periods have been all over the place and super heavy! They came back around 7 weeks, but I had bits of spotting before then. My last 3 periods have been every two weeks! Its now 3 weeks since I had my last one, so I'm hoping they're starting to regulate a bit. I'm formula feeding.

 

[princess2406]

With my 1st ds I bf and expressed for 3-4 weeks and my period returned at 6 weeks pp. this time I'm bf again baby is 10 weeks old now and my period returned 8 weeks pp. I was very shocked and annoyed lol as I thought it would be a while before it returned! It was medium flow but no cramping like I would normally get. I've just made a note of the date so I can keep track to make sure my cycles rerun to normal.