What does it mean if I get my period while breastfeeding?

I was always told that one of the perks of breastfeeding was that I wouldn’t have to deal with Aunt Flo for a good long while. Yay! Like every female I know, I was more than happy to say goodbye to her for a bit. And who the heck wants to deal with PMS, cramps, and bloody bathroom visits while parenting an infant for the first time? It seemed to me that nature had my back on this one.

Much to my surprise, I got my first postpartum period when my baby was just shy of 5 months old (he was exclusively breastfeeding around the clock, too). BLECH. Eff you, mother nature. It totally sucked.

After working with a zillion breastfeeding moms (both as a lactation consultant and volunteer breastfeeding counselor), I’ve since learned that it’s kind of a myth that exclusive breastfeeding keeps your period away. Or rather, it does for most women, but certainly not all. (Kind of like the losing weight from breastfeeding thing. For some, the pounds fly off while breastfeeding; for others, they stick around like stubborn jerks.)

So I present to you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about getting your period while breastfeeding (and my hope for you is that you don’t follow in my footsteps, and that bitch stays away for as long as bloody possible).

It varies A LOT, but most moms who are exclusively breastfeeding will not get a period.

If you are exclusively breastfeeding (no formula or solids), and you are doing so on demand, including in the middle of the night, it is very unlikely that you will get a period. Once you are nursing less, that can change things. And yes, there are exceptions (I’m one!), but this is the general trend.

Some very unlucky moms get their period very early on.

One of my best girlfriends got her period eight weeks after her baby was born. She was exclusively breastfeeding. At first, she thought it was just more postpartum bleeding, but nope. It was the real deal. She thought it was maybe a fluke, but the same exact thing happened with her second baby. Some women just don’t luck out in that department.

Some mothers don’t get a period the entire time they are breastfeeding.

I have another dear friend who breastfeeds her babies into toddlerhood and doesn’t get a period the entire time! That’s an extreme case, but lots of women who breastfeed past a year don’t get their periods back until their babies are 12–18 months. It’s totally normal, and you should enjoy it if you can. If you are aching to get pregnant, you might have to cut back on nursing to become fertile again because most (but not all!) women aren’t fertile until their periods return.

Your first postpartum period might be a little weird.

Your period may start back in the form of spotting. This usually happens when your baby is down to around 3 feeds a day. Some women report that their first periods are heavier and crampier than usual. Others report the opposite: that their periods are so light, they aren’t even sure if it “counts” (it does, especially in terms of fertility). It’s also normal to see some more clotting, even if you tended not to see clotting in pre-pregnancy periods. That said, you know your body best! So if you think anything is really out of the ordinary, see your doctor.

It can take a few months for your cycles to be regular.

Even after your get your period back, things may be wonky for a while. I remember not getting another period for six weeks after my first postpartum period (the only saving grace for its early arrival). Some women report spotting in between. Again, see your doctor if you have concerns, but it is normal for things to be irregular as your hormonal makeup adjusts.

A drop in milk supply is common during your period.

Because of the influx of progesterone right before our period, you might notice a little dip in milk supply then. Some moms don’t notice it so much, and some babies don’t really care (other babies get really pissed!). But if it is an issue, remember that it is temporary and won’t impact your supply overall. After the first day or two of your period, your supply should bounce back up.

As soon as you get your period back, you are fertile.

I almost never tell a mother to rely on breastfeeding as a means of birth control (I’ve seen quite a few moms get pregnant this way!), but most moms are unlikely to get pregnant while exclusively breastfeeding. As soon as your period returns, though, you are fertile, and if you want to avoid getting pregnant, you should think about protection.

…and you can get pregnant before you even get a postpartum period.

Little known fact: You can absolutely get pregnant before you even have a period. The reason why is that you can ovulate before your first postpartum period comes, and if the stars align (whomp whomp), you’ll be holding a baby in your arms nine months later. This is especially likely if you are past the exclusive breastfeeding stage, have an older baby, and are waiting for your first postpartum period to show up.

So why is there just so much variation when it comes to menstruation while breastfeeding? Well, all women are different, and they respond to the hormones of breastfeeding differently. For most, the hormone release that happens while exclusively breastfeeding is enough to suppress the menstrual hormones. For others, not so much. And it can totally vary from baby to baby too, depending on how frequent a nurser your baby is.

If you are one of the lucky ones who doesn’t get a period for many months while breastfeeding, kudos to you, and enjoy. And for the unlucky ladies out there, I feel your pain (literally). Feel free to come over anytime while you’re PMS-ing. We can chill in our sweatpants and nursing bras eating Ben & Jerry’s by the barrel. We deserve it.

This article was originally published on Aug. 24, 2017

While it's typically expected that a mum who is EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding (i.e. not supplementing and feeding regularly throughout the day and night) will enjoy being free from periods for between 9-18 months, some women will find that their period returns much earlier. Others may find that it's absent for an extended period. There is no 'one size fits all' answer unfortunately. And while your period may return once or twice, it could then seemingly disappear again for a good few months. You may also experience typical ovulation signs like cramping, breast tenderness or hormonal breakouts but find that your period doesn't arrive. It can be extremely frustrating and this unpredictability is one of the primary reasons that breastfeeding as birth control can be unreliable.

Generally speaking, many women will find that their period returns, or at least starts to 'feel' like it's coming back when their baby starts solids and begins sleeping for longer periods. These shifts indicate to your body that ovulation (and potentially procreation) can return.

Can my period cause a change in my milk supply?

Sometimes, but it's not usually enough of a dip to cause problems. Ovulation and the start of your period cause your oestrogen and progesterone levels to go up and the calcium content of your blood to go down which can interfere with milk productionand cause tenderness in your breasts and nipples.

The drop in milk volume itself isn't usually hugely significant and generally happens a couple of days before your period arrives. You may notice your bub fussing a little more, especially if your letdown takes a bit longer than usual. The hormonal changes can also cause your milk to taste slightly different (less sweet, more salty) which can also cause some booby-time squirming.

The best way to manage any dips in supply is by feeding as regularly as possible along with plenty of skin to skin. It's also super important to stay well hydrated. You can also try a combined calcium and magnesium supplement both before and during your period. If you're concerned, it's always a good idea to speak with your Lactation Consultant or GP who can offer further advice.

What about sore nipples (and, ahem, chocolate cravings)?

Tender breasts and sore nipples might be annoying when you're not breastfeeding but can be downright agonising when you are! The same hormonal shifts and drop in calcium is responsible for the aching boobies and ouchy nipples you may experience in the lead up to, and first days of, your period. Unfortunately there isn't a huge amount you can do except to ensure that your bub is latching well and not biting down or pulling too much at your nipples. Changing the position that you feed in can be helpful, as can an over-the-counter pain killer though you should always discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist prior to use.

Breastfeeding and cravings for sweet things often go hand in hand. Add ovulation to the mix and it's no surprise that you want to eat all the sugary/sweet/salty things. Again, you can thank your hormones for the double whammy they're serving you up. Our best advice? Be gentle with yourself. Breastfeeding is hard work at the best of times and when other factors are at play is can be really, really tough. Try to keep a stash of healthy snacks at home (we love Boobie Bikkies for a sweet but nutritious treat), drink plenty of water and if a couple of chocolate bars disappear just write it off as self care!

For more information about breastfeeding, check out our Breastfeeding Resources. 

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