STMs...and period post partum

JAM85 · February 2014

So the birth control post got me thinking about the average time it takes to start getting your period back, when It started to be regular, and if anyone used breast feeding as birth control. I will be aiming to EBF but at 6 weeks will have to start pumping when I return to work so I believe that would mess up using it for birth control but I am also curious what peoples experience has been with periods returning and when etc.

CLLDLL · February 2014

Lurking from BF'ing board.

I EBF'ed DS2 until I went back to work at 10.5 weeks. I pumped 3x a day at work until 13 months. PP AF didn't come back until 16 months. So I didn't ovulate until two weeks ish before that, even though I was pumping at work and giving solids starting at 6 months. DS also took a paci starting at 3 weeks and STTN at 9 weeks. He did sleep in a PnP in our room until 9 months or so and he loved to nurse so ate around every 2.5 hours during the day until 10 months or so.

That being said lots of women get PP AF much sooner than that. We were OK had we had a suprise pregnancy sooner, but as it turned out BF'ing was good BC for us until 15.5 months.

yeah. · February 2014

Breastfeeding is not birth control. Not at all.

I never got a period between kids (I got pregnant again when DD1 was 15 months, no period). Got it about 14 months after DD2

megs68 · February 2014

For me, I can rely on breastfeeding for birth control. I don't have mine return until 1 year post partum, when I start to reduce feedings. My mother and sister were the same. This was not changed by the fact that I nursed/pumped while at work with DS and EP with DD.

food_chick · February 2014

I feel like I'm a total freak of nature, but I got my period about 2.5-3 months PP with both my boys. And I EBF on demand.

cMichelle0423 · February 2014

Please don't use breastfeeding as birth control....

I only had one period in between pregnancies. I had DS1 in February of last year, then had a period in August and then conceived in September. I should mention I stopped bfing and pumping 2 months after DS1 was born.

Chichigo · February 2014

You can hope you won't get pregnant if you exclusively breast feed, with baby feeding every 3 hours with one 6 hour period between feedings, if you do not use bottles or a pacifier, and if your period has not returned. But there's always a chance you will get pregnant when you ovulate before your first PP period.

It's kinda like pulling out-you're playing roulette with your uterus,

ncbelle · February 2014

Actually LAM is just as effective as say condoms IF and only if you follow all the "rules" (which most women do not) - no pacifers, no bottles at all, nursing around the clock, no solids. If you look at the research, for women who follow all those rules you either don't have a period at all or if you do, the first one is anovulatory (so no risk of pregnancy). It's like 99% effective - but again most women don't follow these "rules" so it can't be counted on. There's research on the topic linked here: https://kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility/

With my first, I didn't ovulate until I night weaned around 16 months (never had a period and caught the first egg - remember, wasn't following the rules at that point!). With my second, I didn't cycle until like 22 months (was still nursing).

It really varies. Being away from baby will increase the chances of AF returning earlier but there's just no guarantee either way.

WashingtonQueen · February 2014

Breastfeeding is not birth control.
After DS was born I had the mirena put in at 6 weeks PP. The hormones gave me periods so I don't know when my cycle would have returned on it's own.
After DD was born I was breastfeeding TWO children and I still got my period back at 7 weeks PP. Had the paragard put in at 8 weeks. I got really lucky, we had unprotected sex before I got my period. I was sure there was no way I would start ovulating right away when I was breastfeeding a toddler and a newborn at the same time. I was wrong.

JAM85 · February 2014

I did already check out all of the information on LAM which is why I assume I won't be able to follow all the rules since I have to pump when I go back to work so she will have to have bottles...I wish there was a better non hormonal contraceptive around. I used temp tracking and CM which was all good for 8 months then this LO went on to defy all the "rules" and stuck anyway. Plus the time when you actually get a period to track is so variable pp and even then I've heard of women getting pregnant before even having a period so bullocks. Guess it's paraguard...

WashingtonQueen · February 2014

FWIW, I really like my paragard.

iverske9 · February 2014

You can ovualte while breasffeeding so watch out. I used the mini pill while BF and pumping at work.

iris427 · February 2014

I got my period back at 6 months PP with my first child and 2 months (ugh) with my second. I was EBF both of them.

If you are pumping a lot, I definitely would not try to use LAM for birth control. There are multiple BC options that are safe for breastfeeding. Keep in mind that you can ovulate before your first postpartum period.

C12H22O11 · February 2014

I EBFd (pumping at work/actual BF at home) for about 10 months before introducing formula.

Got my first PP period at about 9ish months. 18 months without a period was heavenly!! Although sadly, after the first one, they came like clock work every month.

mcgeeva · February 2014

I got mine at 11 months but never O o begin with. I know two friends who got knocked up on birth control while bfding

momofmanyinthemitten · February 2014

EBFed both my babies 12+ mos and got my first period at 5 mos pp. I got pregnant the following cycle after my first period after baby #2. I've had one period in about three years. It's been great!

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

I've been using condoms & attempting to follow the LAM rules.

Ladiebug710 · February 2014

I did EBF/pumping while at work and got a period 14 weeks PP. I continued to get periods every 60-100 days so they definitely weren't regular when it did come back.

LEIGHLOVE09 · February 2014

I bf til DD was 6 months...I got my first pp period at 8 months. I got the mini pill from doc at 6 week check up and then changed to regular birth control pill after I stopped BFing.

InLovewSB · February 2014

We only BF and didn't start introducing solids until 6 months with both of our kids, but I did return to work at 6 wks pp and pumped a morning session and an afternoon session. My period returned around 7-ish months with both children. It was very erratic when it first came back though, lasting half a week then skipping a month, then being heavy for a whole week. It took a few months both times before it was back to being my 'normal' period.

sschwege · February 2014

Just lurking on here. As pp said LAM is effective if you follow all the rules. The rules are hard to follow particularly since that means you would have to wake baby even if he/she starts STTN. Here's something from Planned Parenthood about it:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/breastfeeding-4219.htm

As for my own personal experience it works really well for us. With DD I didn't get my first postpartum AF until 15.5 months when I dropped down to 2 feedings a day. We wanted to start TTC, so I started charting right away, it took 2 more cycles before it was possible for me to get pregnant based on charting. I got pregnant the 4th cycle. With DS still no AF and I am nursing him 3 times a day. We want 3 kids, so we are comfortable with using a less reliable form of BC. If you know you do not want another for awhile, find a more reliable form.

KariB509 · February 2014

I BF for 7 months, exclusively for 6 weeks. While I was BFing I took Nora-B, a progestin only birth control. Right at 6 weeks, I had a "period." Not even sure if I should consider it a period since it didn't return after that. It was just like a normal period and I was very confused since I was BFing! But then I didn't have another period until I had stopped BFing for about 2 months.
Anyway, BFing is NOT a form of birth control, even if you're not having periods! So I would definitely use condoms or some other form. Talk to your OB at your PP appt about your options.

Tantan2779 · February 2014

I took the pill & exclusively pumped for a year & did not get my period until I stopped pumping. I took a certain kind of pill safe for BFing then switched to my normal pill when done.

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