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Alice R
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| Posted: July 14 2006 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
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I breastfeed exclusively and "on demand". Baby sleeps with me so we nurse during the night etc.
At five months post partum, my period returned.  I was pretty surpised because with the other three babies-it returned at 10 months and resumed a normal cycle.
Ok, now, my period is due and I REALLY feel like I'm going to get it etc. Nothing. This has been going on for a week.
Has anyone gotten a return of their period one time and then it disappeared again?
I've tried researching this but I cannot find an answer...I've looked in books, google etc.
I'm starting to flip out. Where is it???? What is going on in there???  My cycles have been like a clock since the day I got my period.
Is this normal? 
Thanks so much,
Alice R
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Lisbet
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| Posted: July 14 2006 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
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*NORMAL*?????????? When you figure out what normal is with the whole postpartum thing, you'll make a million!!! I'm almost 9 weeks pp, and I got my cycle back last week!! Tandem nursing even. I've gotten it back anywhere from 8 weeks to 9 months now. Those first few cycles pp, no matter how early or late pp, tend to be longer ones, esp. while breastfeeding.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Alice R
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| Posted: July 14 2006 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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Lisa,
Wow, tandem nursing and you got your period back?
I guess because the other ones were like a textbook I am getting worried. 
I should mention that my mother died from Ovarian cancer. I get checked, just had C-section and the OB checked me while he was poking around in there...
I think that anything that even remotely seems odd to me makes me panic. I must have post traumatic stress syndrome from the whole ordeal.
Ok, so wacky cycles while breastfeeding is OK? I never knew that. i thought you didn't get your period, then you did and then it was normal.
Live and learn... I'll try not to diagnose myself with a terrible illness.  (I'm a little high strung sometimes)
Thanks,
Alice
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Dawnie
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| Posted: July 14 2006 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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Alice,
Irregularity during breastfeeding cycles is pretty typical.
I was very regular from the time I got my period at 13yo until I became pregnant w/ my first baby. My cycles returned at 7 months and were so irregular that I couldn't schedule an appt. for a pap smear more than 2 weeks in advance!
Have you considered the possibility of pregnancy?  For each of my pregnancies, I *felt* like I was going to get my period (bloated, moody, blah), but didn't.
Are you charting your fertility signs at all? This can really help you to at least know when to expect your period. I know it's kind of a pain to observe and write down everything, especially when you have an unpredictable schedule due to taking care of a baby...but it can help to avoid those embarrassing accidents. (I mean period accidents!) I teach the sympto-thermal method of NFP through the Couple to Couple League, and if you'd like me to review any charts w/ you, I'd be glad to.
Dawn
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Dawnie
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| Posted: July 14 2006 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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Alice,
Oh, I forgot something!
Some women have had an early return of cycles and have then gone back into breastfeeding amenorrhea. Sheila Kippley mentions it in The Art of Natural Family Planning and also (I think) in Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing.
Did your baby have a nursing strike or decrease the frequency of nursing right before you got your first period? Was baby sick (maybe w/ a stuffy nose) and not nursing as much as usual? Did baby start sleeping through the night? The decrease in nursing may have been enough to cause a return of cycles.
It's possible to go back into amennorhea once the previous frequency of nursing is resumed. Sheila Kippley reccommends charting for 6 weeks after the first period. She says that if nothing happens (meaning there are no signs of fertility), then a mother can consider herself back in breastfeeding amenorrhea.
HTH!
Dawn
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teachingmom
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| Posted: July 15 2006 at 1:20am | IP Logged
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Alice R wrote:
Has anyone gotten a return of their period one time and then it disappeared again? |
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Yes, I had one or two cycles and then it disappeared. I attributed it at the time to the stress of moving. It turned out that I was pregnant! You might want to do a test to be sure.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Lisbet
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| Posted: July 15 2006 at 7:42am | IP Logged
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Yeah, I was forgot to add that they are especially long when you become pregnant!!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Alice R
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| Posted: July 15 2006 at 9:08am | IP Logged
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I thought about the pregnancy. I noticed that myself, I have all the pregnancy symptoms...feeling like I'm going to get my period, no period and then I feel fine. Then starts the nausea
I'm the one who posted that a third C-section would be very risky for my health and baby's health.  OB is concerned that the incision is stretched very very thin and I have such big babies (over 10 pounds) PLUS I felt this entire pregnancy that my whole incision was going to rip open-I have a feeling that he is correct. I was in a lot of pain the entire pregnancy. He said bedrest and taking the baby at 36 weeks would be the safest route.
So, while the idea of another baby would be thrilling  I'm a little worried that this thin incision hasn't healed completely being only 5 months post partum.
I have charted in the past. I think I had better start charting again.
I'm going to take a pregnancy test-just to be sure.
And, yeah, i think the baby has nursed much more this month. Last month, when i got my period-she had just started sleeping longer during the night. Maybe that is it.
What a complex creation women are! Wow.
*I'm going to get those books you talked about, Dawn. I have Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I'm always interested in something new to read.
Thanks Ladies,
ALice R
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: July 15 2006 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
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Here's more info from kellymom.com, Dr. Sears and LLL.
Keep us posted, Alice!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Alice R
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| Posted: July 20 2006 at 11:45am | IP Logged
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Ok, the update on my post is that I got my period and it is going along normally.
I almost had my husband convinced that Aaron is the best boy's name...oh well...I'll save that one for another time. (I hope)
Alice
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Ladies only: post partum question
