When Did You Get AF Postpartum If You Were BFing?

patchen30 · July 2012

I had DS 8 months ago and have been EPing since. I'd like to stop, but I'd heard that BFing keeps endo from progressing. I went to see my RE to discuss today. He said that if I'm BFing and not getting AF, then yes, it is an effective treatment to stop the progression of endo. But, he said, I will eventually get AF back even if I'm BFing - the average time is 7-8 months post-partum - so it's not really a good reason to keep doing it. If you were EBF or EP, how long did it take to get AF?

As a side note, he also said they could put me on Lupron to stop the endo from progressing, but that would also stop any chance of getting pg on my own. He said that if I stop and don't come back for IVF for another year +, he still wouldn't do another lap b/c the endo doesn't usually come back that soon. Has anyone else discussed this w/ their RE?

LnR70707 · July 2012

DS was 11 months and I had to drop down to 2 pumping sessions and 1 nursing session to get AF back. I had a lot of pain with my 1st (and only) post-partum cycle, but my RE didn't seem concerned about my endo being back so we only did a hysteroscopy (because of course my initial u/s wasn't normal again) so I can move to FET this september.

queenbone · July 2012

With both boys I introduced solid foods at 6 months and with both my period returned the following month, so at 7 mo PP. I nursed DS1 for 9 mo and DS2 for 15 mo. Everyone is different though, I've had some friends nurse for > 1 yr and not have a period until they weaned.

I had "a touch" of endo removed during a LAP prior to conceiving DS1. My endo symptoms have never returned, which is why I got the unexplained diagnosis when ttc#2.

wiscgirl95 · July 2012

I introduced cereal at 4 months and AF started that next month. I continued to BF until she was 8-9 months.

I don't have any helpful info on the endo . . .

alchris · July 2012

I got it at 17.5 months with DD1 and at 13.5 months with DD2. With DD1 I was ready so I could establish a regular cycle and create a few months of charts to take back to the RE when she turned 2, and with DD2 I didn't particularly want AF ever to return. ;-)

Best wishes to you!

swgal · July 2012

I EBF and AF returned at 8 months.

Echloe · July 2012

Mine still hasnt returned.

steveandkim2 · July 2012

Mine still hasn't returned either. Not sure if that's the pcos or bf. I'm thinking I'll need provera in oct when I wean so I can get the show on the road for baby #2

jesselayne8 · July 2012

I have weaned to 2 nursing sessions a day and still no AF. I think I will probably need provera too.

pinkcallalily · July 2012

I EBF my son and got my first pp period at 6 weeks. I'm really, really hoping it takes much longer this time!

BeccaLandes · July 2012

i was breastfeeding my twins, but i didn't get my period until they were 20 months old. my primary care doctor and my gyn both said it was completely normal not to get it until i had stopped breastfeeding completely, but it came when they were down to nursing once a day.

gervaisj6 · July 2012

I'm.ep'ing.and didn't get mine.I know it is EARLY, but.it didn't.come.

Saraevh · July 2012

I got AF back as soon as I cut down to nursing twice a day with my first which was when she was 5 months. I had a 2nd lap done when she was 6 months because I was having horrible pain again and was full of endo despite breastfeeding and not having my period back which both my OB and RE said was unusual.

I just had my post partum check last week and we talked about Lupron and Depo Provera, but he said what your doc said about that too ... that then we for sure wouldn't have a shot of getting pregnant on our own, and also that it could take a year before my body would get 'back on track' after going off of it. Because DS was a surprise BFP I am praying that will happen again someday so I am going to gamble and not take anything. He said that breastfeeding should keep the endo at bay, however that didn't work for me the first time so I'm not too hopeful. I'm basically planning on having to have another surgery if we ever want to do treatments again to try for a third baby.

CHI-06 · July 2012

I still haven't gotten mine after 11 months. With my other kids I got it 40 some days after completely weaning.

LadyGolfer523 · July 2012

3 months PP.

cbubbles2 · July 2012

I EBF and AF returned around 6-7 weeks PP. It was and still is weird that I have a cycle every 28 days (almost to the minute) while nursing.

I was bummed because I was hoping my time nursing would keep me from cycling-which would prevent endo from growing.

I'm also deciding if I should go on the pill (to prevent endo from growing) so that when we want to see the RE again hopefully we'll have success. If I do that, there is NO way I'd get pregnant on my own. I don't really think it's possible, but I still hang on to that shred of hope.

DeputiesWife · July 2012

I was still nursing when I got AF and I got it when DD was just about 8 mos old.

laura1 · July 2012

I didn't get it until I had completely weaned with DD - about 3-4 weeks after my last nursing session.

I never got it with DS - I weaned, 2 weeks later DH and i went away for a weekend alone, and 2 weeks after that I got my BFP with DD...I only checked because I couldn't figure out why AF was taking so long to come back!

cmw&tdm · July 2012

With #1 I got it at 10.5 months, with #2 I got it at 12 months, I'm still waiting with #3 and he is going to be one in a couple weeks.

oooCarrieB · July 2012

I didn't get AF until about 13 months. I was only nursing at night at that point. We completely weaned just recently at 14 months.

staycee · July 2012

6.5 months with #1 and 6mo with #2

with #1, I had 4 post-partum cycles and then was pg with #2. We never thought we could get pg on our own with how long it took us for #1 (5 IUIs). But apparently the endo was our problem (lap after IUI#3), and being pg and BFing had kept it away. My RE said that having a cycle is what brings endo back on... and with only 4 cycles there wasn't enough time for endo to build back up and that is why we were able to get pg on our own for #2.

cairolio · July 2012

I BF DS #1 for 20 months, got first PP AF at 15 months when I night weaned him.

brandywine2010 · August 2012

I am 7 months PP and got my period back at 5 months. I EBF and had endo as well. The crazy thing is that I got pregnant on the 1st cycle after my LAP and then my endo symptoms were right back with my first period PP. I couldn't believe it. I do plan to call my RE to discuss. Prior to being released from the RE she told me that they wouldn't repeat the LAP until three years had passed since my initial surgery. She also told me to contact her when we started TTC again. She said she would give me 3 cycles of trying on our own with temping and then she wanted to see us again.

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