BFing and AF ?

kat81again2

Just a few days ago I got my first post-baby AF. DS is 7.5 mo and is EBF (other than solids, which we started at 6 mo). 

So far it is not bad but I really didn't miss it either! haha

My question is about cramps/contractions during AF while BFing. I know that when you are in the few days after delivery, one of the features of BFing is that it causes your uterus to contract and expel more afterbirth. I had this theory that it would increase the feeling of cramps during AF as well. Then I got my period, and it seems to have played out. Again, the cramps are a lot better than many periods in my past but I do feel them during BFing more. Has anyone else had this experience or is it just in my head because I thought it would happen? 

Also, do your nipples feel more sore during AF? I haven't noticed it BFing but pumping is slightly more annoying than usual. 

katcarls

I think it's different for everyone.  My first few periods weren't bad at all but then I had some that were much worse.  Once my cramps were so bad it felt like labor contractions without a break in between.

I didn't notice sore nipples during AF but it's very possible.  I think tender breasts are a normal AF symptom even for people who don't have babies and/or aren't BF.

kat81again2

katcarls:

I think it's different for everyone.  My first few periods weren't bad at all but then I had some that were much worse.  Once my cramps were so bad it felt like labor contractions without a break in between.

I didn't notice sore nipples during AF but it's very possible.  I think tender breasts are a normal AF symptom even for people who don't have babies and/or aren't BF.

oh wow that doesn't sound good (the labor periods). Though I've experienced it before! When I was in high school my cramps would wake me up at night and I even vomited from the pain. My mom, who had had similar cramps as a teen/young-20s woman, told me that's what labor felt like. She was absolutely right and I was so much more prepared for labor when it happened! I still got an epidural but I think my terrible cramps as a teen helped prepare me to get to 9cm without getting one (not that my cramps were ever anything like "tranisition," but they were like early and even active labor.) I'm hoping that I won't have any more periods like that now. They're supposed to get better with age. After being on BC for my late teens and 20s the cramps were better in the periods leading up to pregnancy but not great, either. 

kat81again2

jabs86:

My AF wasn't bad at all.  I didn't feel any cramping and I don't remember my boobs being very sore.  

I was worried that it would effect my milk supply, but I just drank lots of water so that was fine too.

I'm not happy to have AF back, but so far they have been a lot better than they were before I had LO. 

I am also lucky to not have experienced any problems with my supply so far. I got slightly paranoid about it so I did some gratuitous midnight pumping two nights (before I went to bed; LO sleeps about 8pm-6am) but I think it wasn't actually necessary.