2 breastfeeding questions??

[caprismum]

Hi all,

I have 2 questions in relation to breastfeeding....

1. When does your period return? I thought you don't get your periods if you're exclusively breastfeeding. Which I am and my period returned today, it's only been 2 weeks!!! Or should I look into it a bit more - I did have a c-section.

2. How do I get my baby to stop pinching my nipples flat??
I put the whole nipple plus more in his mouth, then when he comes off my nipple is squeezed flat, it feels like he's hewing on it with his gums! sore. I know it means he's not on properly, but he goes on fine, but seems to slip as he's on.. ?

thanks guys

[Little-Pink-Hen]

1. I had a c/s and I had bleeding on off for the first 6 weeks they go for a week than be back for a few days a real PIA than at about 10 weeks a real period returned :(
I am ebf and it did effect my supply a bit but I rebossted my supply with more feeds and than meds
2. Umm not sure about this perhaps take him off when he is slipping and than reattach. Try holding him in a diffrent position as well might help, laying on ur back or on your side, or him under your arm??

[Me]

I can't help with the attachment because I'm terrible at it to start with:o

but in relation to af, both of my girls I got af straight after my post-partum bleeding stopped, straight into 28 day cycles and at that stage they were both exclusively bf. Everyones body reacts differently. Keep in mind too that as you have af again, you'll be ovulating again;)

[Bellini]

I can't help with the attachment thing either. My DS does it occasionally too, but it doesn't hurt and it's a pain in the a$$ reattaching him when he's mid-feed, so I just leave it. Probably not the soundest peice of advice, but i'm sure someone else will be able to assist with that. If not, then ring the ABA hotline.

I gave birth 3 months ago and haven't had AF return yet. I have heard of women exclusively breastfeeding who have seen AF return almost straight away, and some not for a year or more. I guess it depends on the person. DH and I wanted our kids to be a year apart, but it looks like it's not happening at this stage!

[Little-Pink-Hen]

I can't help with the attachment thing either. My DS does it occasionally too, but it doesn't hurt and it's a pain in the a$$ reattaching him when he's mid-feed, so I just leave it. Probably not the soundest peice of advice, but i'm sure someone else will be able to assist with that. If not, then ring the ABA hotline.

I gave birth 3 months ago and haven't had AF return yet. I have heard of women exclusively breastfeeding who have seen AF return almost straight away, and some not for a year or more. I guess it depends on the person. DH and I wanted our kids to be a year apart, but it looks like it's not happening at this stage!

Remember you ovulate and fall pregnant before your af has a chance to return ;)
it might return when u start solids aswell
maybe your gp can help at 6 months ???

[Nomsie]

Your period can return whenever. I was looking forward to spending some more time without having the stress of a monthly period, because I was exclusively breastfeeding twins. Not 3 months after their birth I got it back, as regular as clockwork. (10 weeks to be exact.) Whereas my sister was exclusively bf'ing her DD, and didn't get it back at all between pregnancies. It's up to the individual.

Re the flat nipples, maybe try the football hold when feeding- bub tucked under one arm and along the side of your body. You might find it easier.
Otherwise, when he attaches and you think it is all ok, watch closely and see what happens. His mouth should be in that "special K" position- ie his lips should look like a nice big K like on the Special K box. If they are getting closer and closer together, use your pinkie to break the seal, and reattach him. Keep doing this for a few days and your DS should catch on :)

[moozle]

1. Everyone is different. I would say it's still discharge (lochia) from the birth but it is possible that your period has returned regardless of whether you are BF. Expect it to be a bit erratic for a while and if you don't want t o get pregnant again straight away... use contraception!

2. It takes you and bub about 6 weeks to work out BF. All I can suggest is to make sure he's actually hungry before you feed otherwise it's possible he's just playing. Try and push your nipple upwards so it is the last thing to go in after quite a lot of the breast underneath the nipple as then it is easier to get into the correct position. It may be that it is being squished by the roof of his mouth. This happened to me in the beginning as well but he figured it out and was feeding with no worries by the 6 week mark. The pain had stopped too :)

Keep perservering! Sounds like you are doing great!

[UmmInayah]

like others have said everyone is different re periods. but, you can pretty much assume that your bub went for a long time without a feed and the hormone that is released during this time got to too higher point and hence you have started ovulating and getting your period again. sucks doesn't it?

[Bellini]

Remember you ovulate and fall pregnant before your af has a chance to return ;)
it might return when u start solids aswell
maybe your gp can help at 6 months ???

Yeah, I have actually heard of a suprisingly large number of women falling pregnant before AF returns, so here's hoping :fingerscrossed:

My GP advised that most will get it between 6 and 9 months, so hopefully something at least happens once solids start!

[Little-Pink-Hen]

Yeah, I have actually heard of a suprisingly large number of women falling pregnant before AF returns, so here's hoping :fingerscrossed:

My GP advised that most will get it between 6 and 9 months, so hopefully something at least happens once solids start!

Good luck :) :fingerscrossed:
my dd is 3 months I wish I could be pregnant again too :( but I have to wait 12 months

[Bindy79]

My af returned Thursday 9 months after I had my little man. I am still feeding him although he has solids and drinks out of a cup too. Now to decide if I want to have another one or start taking the pill again.

[motherlylove]

my period returned straight away and has been regular every since and i exclusively breast feed.

Also with the attachment he might be slipping off in the middle of a feed n making it flat

[c38]

If it is only 2 weeks since birth then it would be very unlikely to be your period. It is usual for there to be some loss up until 6 weeks post delivery, but it should be getting lighter. If its quite bright and heavy and/ or not settling within 24 hours I'd be getting a check up as you may have retained products and/ or an infection.

As for the pinching. The best thing woold be to get someone to watch you feed and give advice. You can call the ABA, many Child Health Nurses are also Lactation Consultants. You can even try the hospital you gave birth at, ring and ask if their is a Lactation Consultant on staff with whom you can have an outpatients appointment with.
As someone said he may be slipping. As soon as the you feel a pinching, then break the seal and reattach him.
As others have said it really does take about 6 weeks to really get the hang of it. DS used to pinch me on one side..used to feel like he was twisitng it round wiht his tongue. People kept saying it gets batter about 6 weeks as their jaws grow... They were right suddenly around 7 weeks it stopped being painful;)

Hang in there..

[Bellini]

Good luck :) :fingerscrossed:
my dd is 3 months I wish I could be pregnant again too :( but I have to wait 12 months

Thanks :D Good luck for your next one too! :)

[Opinionated]

The term exclusively breastfeeding is a bit ambiguous when asking about af returning. Most of the time, it means your baby has only breast milk. However, to keep your cycle at bay, you have to include a few more conditions;


not expressing and giving baby any ebm.



not using any sort of dummy or pacifier, or even baby sucking their thumb.
no top ups of any kind.

Pretty much, it means if there is something in your babies mouth, it is your nipple. It is not achievable for most women (simply because most of us wouldn't want to follow such a strict regime)

[Little-Pink-Hen]

The term exclusively breastfeeding is a bit ambiguous when asking about af returning. Most of the time, it means your baby has only breast milk. However, to keep your cycle at bay, you have to include a few more conditions;


not expressing and giving baby any ebm.



not using any sort of dummy or pacifier, or even baby sucking their thumb.
no top ups of any kind.

Pretty much, it means if there is something in your babies mouth, it is your nipple. It is not achievable for most women (simply because most of us wouldn't want to follow such a strict regime)

Thanks for the info :)
explains why I got af back so early, I do all three of the above lol
my pead or aba or nurse can't remember who said that your af effects your supply, it's why I'm on motilium now to help boost back my supply

[Balicinta]

I wish I would get my AF, BF exclusively for 6 months and dropped off milk feeds until 1 10 min feed a day and stil no AF. I have given up BF for 4 weeks and still nothing!!!:no: (I am desperate to conceive again!)

[caprismum]

Thankyou all so much.

The bleeding stopped after 24 hours.. Must still be lochia.

And I'll keep at the feeding, I've been pulling the lil guy off when he starts to pinch, so hopefully we'll soon get the hang of it.. it's hard though. I've had moments where I want to give up.
We'll get there.

[Little-Pink-Hen]

And I'll keep at the feeding, I've been pulling the lil guy off when he starts to pinch, so hopefully we'll soon get the hang of it.. it's hard though. I've had moments where I want to give up.
We'll get there.

You get those moments even when it's good ;) my nurse said if you can get past the 6 week and 4 months growth spurts your good to go :)
I've been bf for 3 mnths and sometimes in the early days I wanted to throw her out the window (figuritvly speaking) but those days seam so long ago now and I love feeding now and dread the time when I'll wean her off it :gloomy:

[tales]

I do recommend making an appointment to see a lactation consultant who can watch what you and bub are doing and hopefully help to set you straight if he's not latching correctly. Depending on where you gave birth, there might be a free one you can call to make an appointment. I did that in the first 2 weeks and she set me pretty right, though bub and I still didn't get the whole thing down pat until after a couple of months.

Re AF. Mine's nearly 8 months and I'm still waiting. She's been on solids since 5 months and I've just gone back to work so she can't use me as a pacifier during the day. Very certain I was ovulating last week, so I expect some movement in the next week or so. Funny how much more attune I am to my body now I've had a baby.. I would never have noticed ovulation beforehand. Though the fact that my body is flooded with estrogen and progesterone for the first time in over a year (making me quite nauseous) might have something to do with it LOL