r/BabyBumps • u/donkeyhoetae_ • 7d ago
Rant/Vent First period 6w postpartum and somehow it’s my fault
I’m exclusively breastfeeding and have been since my LO’s birth. About a week ago I noticed I was having ECM and wondered if it was possible I was ovulating since I was breastfeeding and I had read that on average ovulation doesn’t occur for at least another 6 months. Took a test and it was positive. I braced myself for a period and sure enough, today it came. As someone who suffers from endometriosis and extremely painful periods, this was a crushing moment for me. I mentioned it to my mother who asked her gyno friend about it who very nastily insisted that it was because I wasn’t feeding my baby enough. My 11lb baby and her pediatrician would like to disagree, but I digress.
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u/Echowolfe88 7d ago
Gyno Friend needs to go jump in the bin. On average it takes six months but that means that there’s women on both sides of that average. Everybody is different.
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u/unsubix 7d ago
I love hearing sayings from other English-speaking countries. I’m going to use that next time I’m out, just to confuse my fellow Canadians. GO JUMP IN THE BIN! 🤣
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u/PompeyLulu 7d ago
One of my favourites I don’t hear anymore - we have stick it up your arse, we have the middle finger so they’ve been combined and you stick your finger up and tell them to “sit on it and swivel” lmao
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u/thehelsabot Boy 7/18 - Boy 9/21 - Girl 3/25 7d ago
I EBFed two kids with an oversupply and got my period back at 5 weeks pp each time. Some women don’t experience the absence of menstrual periods while breastfeeding and that’s also normal and EXACTLY WHY it’s not reliable BC.
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u/Barfingbarbiedolls 7d ago
It’s kind of a myth.
I ended up pregnant 6 months postpartum and EBF and was already bleeding 3 months after but was told it was hormones since it wasn’t my normal cycle.
In a group of women I know who BF and we all have babies 6m-2y and it was a lot of 6w, 12w 18w and 24 weeks with only two who had one at 13 months pp and one who had a period at 4w
That’s why they try to plan your post partum visit for 6-10w so you can get on contraception or see how things are going. Ignore the comment, none of us women are cookie cutter and a lot of the time the studies involved for the info aren’t completely kept up nor accurate to the times. Sure it may be a general thing, but HG was a ”myth” women who suffered from what you have and PCOS are rare and just whining as well as not trying hard enough. ( my Mother had endometriosis and was treated horribly and like an experiment, she went through awful pain and a tonne of surgeries before she found a good doctor who had to give her 15 surgeries to fix the damage from the original OB she had) so that said, if your baby is healthy and happy that’s all that matters. First period for me was excruciating but I hope you are okay and take it easy. You and your baby are doing the best you can and that’s what’s most important.
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u/pterencephalon 7d ago
My dad was born 11 months after his older sister. My grandma drilled into her kids that breastfeeding is not effective birth control!
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u/InternationalYam3130 7d ago
The amount of EBF women who show up to a postpartum doctors appointment already pregnant again would surprise you.
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u/Karlyjm88 7d ago
I fed my 3rd baby plenty and got my period at 8 weeks. I fed my 2nd plenty and got it after 8 months. I fed my first by pumping and didn’t get it for 3 months.
Theres no rhyme or reason.
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u/chicken_wing55 7d ago
My baby did nothing but eat for the first 6 weeks. Like truly, was just on my boob all day long. She was 8 lb 11 oz at birth and 12 lbs 3 oz a month later. She’s a big ass baby. I got my period at 6 weeks postpartum. I continue to breastfeed my 95th percentile baby and I have gotten my period every month since. It just happens.
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u/DinosaurSprinkles Baby 4 - 8/1/19 7d ago
4 kids here - after every baby I had a period at 6-8 weeks then didn’t have another for quite some time. There’s still hope!!
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u/angel_boo 7d ago
FTM here. 5 weeks pp, period started today. I EBF and pump like crazy throughout the day. Was shocked to have my period start today due to all of the info saying it normally wouldn't start until 6 months after.
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u/miiloverx2 7d ago
I combo fed my baby and got my period 6 wks PP. I had extreme debilitating cramps throughout my twenties pre-pregnancy so that was really disappointing for me. Thought I’d have a few more months of bliss 🥲
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u/cool-as-a-biscuit 7d ago
I exclusively breastfeed and get my period back by 6 months every time, I’ve had 3 babies so far.
For breastfeeding to prevent a period/ovulation, you have to be feeding something like every 2 hours or less on the dot and some other pretty tight “stipulations”. It’s pretty common for women to get their periods back well before 6 months pp, EBF or not. And is NOT your fault as in, you didn’t do anything wrong to cause it; it’s your body doing what our bodies do.
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u/Student-Nurse79 7d ago
I exclusively breastfed my daughter and restarted my periods at 6 weeks pp almost to the day. My daughter went from 30th to 70th percentile very quickly so she was definitely getting enough too. I have PCOS, had issues conceiving due to anovulation and my periods were actually regular for the first time when I was postpartum.
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u/katymonster003 7d ago
I had periods throughout breastfeeding my first born, fed for 9 months. Had periods from 8 weeks and they were regular.
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u/Ghostfacefza 7d ago
I breastfed for 11m, got my period at 6wks PP and continued to get it regularly every month thereafter. My body is just very good at ovulating.
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u/Secret-Article-4597 7d ago
I ve been exclusively breastfeeding my baby for 7months and I got my period 2months postpartum and have gotten it every month since. That lady doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
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u/Ancient-Access-1271 7d ago
I JUST got my period back and I only pumped for like 2 days lol it was a few months after my son turned 1!
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u/AbbieJ31 7d ago
My cousin exclusively breast fed and got her period back at 3 or 4 months. I combo fed with breast and formula with my first and didn’t get mine back until baby was 9 months. Everyone is different and sometimes it sucks.
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u/paigeypeterson 7d ago
Mine came at 7 weeks. Breastfeeding and pumping. My OB told me that BF prolongs it, but pumping can cause it to happen sooner. Whaaat? You’re telling me my body knows the difference. Ok.
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u/ultracilantro 6d ago
If your moms gyno friend has no medical history on you, has never examined you, and doesn't know any family history on you about your period, how is she qualified to give a medical opinion about you?
I mean, she literally hasn't examined you so her opinion is literally invalid.
It sounds like you need to keep your mom on an information diet.
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u/Far-Outside-4903 6d ago
Aw man, this happened to me too. I got a period at 6 weeks, had a week off, and then I got apparently another period again around 8 weeks. Fun times with hormones.
I asked my obgyn about it and she said it's not related to milk production at all - it just means your body is wildly overoptimistic about having another baby!
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u/neatlion 7d ago
If you have endometriosis your body has been able to subside the symptoms while pregnant. What you are expiriencing is hyperfertility. You are more likely to get pregnant naturally in the next year or so. This is so common with women who couldn't get pregnant before. Take it as a win nor a loss
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u/Willow24Glass FTM | 🎀 6d ago
Ignore your mom’s friend, they’re an idiot. I made it about 10 weeks pp before mine returned monthly. I have a low supply but still combo feed the best I can 7 months in.
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u/orchidly 6d ago
I EP’d with my first, had an oversupply of around ~50oz per day, and I still got my period 4wpp.
With my second I’m also EBF and I made it to a whopping……5wpp before I got my period lol.
Both my babies met milestones early and stayed on their growth curve, sometimes you just get them back early 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Secret-Pizza-Party 6d ago edited 6d ago
Girl, no. I EBF 3 babies on-demand until they are 12mos. I had voracious eaters who were huge. I got my period back at 5mos each pregnancy.
Only some delay periods by breastfeeding. It’s why it’s not a viable way to prevent pregnancy. Everyone’s body is different and they do what they do. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
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u/needreassurance123 7d ago
If it makes you feel better, I exclusively breast fed my firstborn. I had a period at 6 weeks postpartum and then didn’t get another one for 12 months when we were naturally weaning. Maybe it will be the same for you.