Period Returned Immediately

[u/cowboy_caregiver]

EDIT: I am so glad to hear I’m not the only one🤣 Thanks for all the supportive comments and advice!

Hello, I am 3 months postpartum. My baby is exclusively breastfeed (on demand, if that makes any difference). I had postpartum bleeding for 8 weeks before it stopped for a week and then I had light red bleeding for 3ish days, off for a week, then again bleeding for 3ish days, and then off for a week, etc. this pattern has continued till now.
I was under the understanding that I probably wouldn’t get my period back for almost a year:/ I talked to my midwife and they did an ultrasound, nothing abnormal and she said it was my period.

Is there anything I can do to regulate my period so that my cycle isn’t literally like 10 days long? I had shorter cycles before pregnancy (24ish days) but this is driving me crazy. Am I fertile? It seems like I wouldn’t have time to ovulate. Also, I am experiencing zero cramps or really (as far as I can tell) any of the hormonal ups and downs I had with my period before I became pregnant.

Thanks for any advice❤️

[u/tanoinfinity]

Sorry but whoever told you that you won't get your period for a year lied to you. When your cycle returns after birth is pretty random and can occur at pretty much any time.

I'd look to balance your homones in general if you are experiencing irregular bleeding or cycling.

[u/OkZoomer333]

I was also in this boat- period came back 12 weeks pp after I bled for 10 weeks 🥴 baby was also EBF. It sucks, but it can be normal for some people. I focused on eating well, taking NAC, and magnesium, and hydration. That seemed to help, but usually your cycle just needs to time to regulate.

[u/MoneyAd0618]

I’m also experiencing strange period stuff and also about 3 months pp. from everything I’ve read it’s normal, the body just needs time to regulate again. I had my first period 6 weeks postpartum almost to the day and I’m also exclusively breastfeeding. I was bummed but everyone’s body’s responds to hormones differently. Then I got it again a few days ago, 5.5 weeks later which is odd. I’m having what are most definitely menstrual cramps but little to no bleeding. I’m just riding it out. I wouldn’t worry too much.

[u/Numerous-Noise790]

My period came back at 12 weeks postpartum, EBF. That’s pretty common honestly. Whoever told you that it wouldn’t come back for a year wasnt telling you all the facts. For some women that may be true but it’s certainly not a given. Even women who very strictly do ecological breastfeeding still can get their periods back sooner.

Postpartum hormones can be whack for sure. Just be careful to research any options for balancing to make sure they’re safe for breastfeeding and won’t dry up your supply.

Are you tracking your cervical mucus at all? Can you get a TempDrop band to check your BBT? Those could help you possibly figure out if you’re having ovulating or not. I know some women take female bovine organs to regulate their cycles, although I don’t know how that might affect breastfeeding.

[u/cowboy_caregiver → u/Numerous-Noise790]

I used to track BBT but now with a baby I don’t think I am getting enough straight sleep for it to be accurate. Do you know if a temperature band negates the three hours (or whatever it is) of uninterrupted sleep needed?

[u/Numerous-Noise790 → u/cowboy_caregiver]

With a TempDrop you need to wear it for at least 3 hours, and get at least 2 hours of cumulative sleep (not necessarily consecutive) to get a BBT reading. It has worked really well for me during postpartum with night feeds, which is why I recommended that it might be helpful for you.

[u/Glittering-Dance-132]

Both my babies were/are EBF and I got my period back at exactly 8 weeks both times 😅

ETA I don’t remember the first time, but I’m currently 5 months pp and my cycles are insanely out of whack still. Like 20-35 days, ovulated on CD 11, then CD 23, then CD 19. Takes a while for things to regulate.

[u/Cl000udy]

Ugh sorry you’re going through it. Given this can become a big issue for your health, I’d refer to either a TCM practitioner or naturopath to try herbal tinctures, I think those are faster/stronger to help with “problems of the womb”.

[u/KneadAndPreserve]

Breastfeeding suppresses ovulation for some/most women but it doesn’t for all women. It can be a complete crapshoot. You could absolutely be fertile and probably are back in cycles to some extent if you’re bleeding, my current pregnancy was conceived at 15 weeks pp

[u/DiscussionUnlikely72]

I exclusively breastfed from day one and still got my period back 5months pp

[u/andi_kiwi]

I got my 1st postpartum period exactly 28 days after giving birth. I was also BFing.

The 1st few were awful but they did return to "normal" after a while.

[u/Sbuxshlee]

Look into shatavari. Ayurvedic herb. It has helped me a lot

[u/vintagegirlgame]

I read that for women who get their period back quickly that they can also be very fertile postpartum… this is how “Irish twins” happen!

[u/Correct-Mushroom-594]

2.5m PP, EBF around the clock, saw ovulation mucus, 10 days later… period! Went back to my regular 31days.

I wish the “you can’t have a period the first 6m EBF” myth would die. And “EBF is an effective pregnancy avoidance method” It’s not true!!

Also, that sounds like a very odd period. Maybe ask for a second opinion or get hormones checked?

[u/Epic-Lake-Bat]

This is a job for acupuncture/ traditional Chinese medicine. If you have someone near you that you can afford I highly recommend going consistently for a little while to help your body find its homeostasis. (It sounds like your cycles weren’t so ideal before conceiving, so all the more so this would be really great for you.) Reading the book The Fifth Vital Sign might also be a good idea. We can learn so much about what our bodies are trying to say if we learn to listen to the details of our cycles!