breastfeeding and menses

[miss_fluffy]

"I'm not fat, I'm just fluffy!!"

[maryskey]

I was 10-20 pounds lighter with the first half or so of my children.. and my fertility returned early with them... on avg around 6-8 wks. Most of those babies slept most of the night.  I had one baby who seemed to nurse all day and all night (Emily) and then it did take longer to return-- 8-9 months-ish.. but I still had Mia 20 mos after Emi was born. With the latest, Gabriel, it just returned in May (altho not regular like I used to be) and he is only waking up once at night. I am sure it could be due to age (I'm 4 mos shy of 39) and consistency in nursing. He nurses a lot, but not as much as Emily did.   My opinion? No matter how hard we try to figure out all the answers as to why it returns with one woman sooner or later than the other woman, that is just the way God has designed it (and here I am talking about those who do nothing out of the ordinary to change or encourage when their fertility returns).

[Monica]

I think it depends upon the person, some friends of mine had their cycles return to normal at about three or four months.  My little holiday lasted almost a year. 

[marykmag]

My lactation amenorhea lasted between 10 & 13 months.I am 25 and I have 4 children. According to a past NFP teacher, she observed women in their twenties became fertile much sooner postpartum, and of course as they got older, menses returned later and later.

[gloriamaria]

Hmmm, it's been the opposite for me.  I was in my early 20's with the older kids and breastfed exclusively - it took about 10-12 months for the return of the flow.  In my 30's now with the younger ones.  With #3 it was about 9 months.  With #4 I was shocked to discover that there was the visitor today - just shy of the 6month mark.

Oh dear!  Whatever does the good God have planned now?  Hey God, I'm still up every three hours nursing!  I just need one week of uninterrupted sleep, then I'll do whatever you want!

I know, it doesn't work that way.

(Ignores the laughter of the moms with 10 kids....) 

[zombiemommie]

Oh, I'm really "fluffy" and I went 15 and 20 months ammenhorhea respectively

[Marylou]

Hmmm, it's been the opposite for me.  I was in my early 20's with the older kids and breastfed exclusively - it took about 10-12 months for the return of the flow.  In my 30's now with the younger ones.  With #3 it was about 9 months.  With #4 I was shocked to discover that there was the visitor today - just shy of the 6month mark.

Oh dear!  Whatever does the good God have planned now?  Hey God, I'm still up every three hours nursing!  I just need one week of uninterrupted sleep, then I'll do whatever you want!

I know, it doesn't work that way.

(Ignores the laughter of the moms with 10 kids....) 

No not laughing !  (:smile:) My first four were the hardest but forget about the sleep !
sleeping is for the dead...and men.

[Mommie2Boys]

My first four were the hardest but forget about the sleep !

See this is what I've been hearing lately. I'm stressing a tad about having three at four, two, and newborn. I'm having a hard time imagining having the strength to deal with the two hours of sleep at night and run after the older munchkins during the day while breastfeeding bebe Erik. Alot of women I know began taking anti-depressants around this time in their motherhood career, but claim once the first few kiddos get older, they got off of them. I guess it's just waiting for the older ones to help out more or not be the instigators of trouble anymore? 

[introibo]

It has been a blessing since older ones (girls, thankfully) have been able to kick in and help out a bit.. But even as the younger ones get a little older, you'll find they can entertain themselves a bit better.

It was always difficult lining up someone to stay with the kids when I went to the hospital to have a baby.  For the last one, we were just able to go to the hospital and the two older girls were in charge.

Christina

[gloriamaria]

Quoted from Marylou

sleeping is for the dead...and men. [/QUOTE]





Boy, did this make me smile!