Symptoms of first postpartum AF in BFing moms?

[mimieliza]

For moms who breastfed, did you have any PMS symptoms prior to the return of your period? If so, what symptoms did you have, and how long did you have them before AF started?

I've been crazy emotional and my supply has had a huge dip. DD is four months old and EBF, no bottles or pacis, so I will be very bummed if this is AF rearing her ugly head. :o

[mkvh]

mimieliza--I had a VEERRRY clear CM pattern and a dip in supply, and sure enough 10 days later AF arrived (at 6m2w pp). Your "dip" COULD just be your supply regulating.

[roadrunner]

I'm wondering if my first cycle is starting. I've noticed a lot of CM the past few days, and I've literally had none since DD was born. She is just past 6 months now, and still EBF, except for the two small feeding of veggies/ cereal each day.

I'll be interested to see if AF shows in a few weeks. OH, I'm also on the mini-pill, so I don't know how that will affect my cycle.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't much help!

[Scooter]

I had a clear pattern with CM, was also crazy emotional, and had a slight supply dip. AF showed at 8mos PP.

When I was 3 1/2 mos PP I had something similar and was sure AF was coming, but I think it was just hormones and supply regulating a little.

[Abby'sMom]

I got AF back both times at about 4 months PP. Both times, my nips hurt like heck a few days before she arrived (as in it KILLED whenever DD/DS latched on to nurse), and I had that distinctive crampy sensation I'd always had pre-AF.

[Toonces]

No symptoms at all. Both kids were EBF, no pacis, co-sleeping, and I got AF back with DD at 3.5 months and with DS at 3 months.

[mimieliza]

No AF, and my supply came back up. I'm so relieved! :)

[elladee]

mimieliza, keep your eye out for AF in a couple weeks! I would notice a significant supply dip around ovulation, too. I hope that's not it for you, though.

[Lizard]

Hm, DD is 8 months and still BF, and no AF yet. However, I've had red/brown spotting for the past week and a half. Anyone else have this happen? I'm gonna call my OB today, but I'm sure they're gonna ask if I'm pregnant so I will take a test first. I had spotting right away in my first pregnancy, so that symptom is freaking me out a little. :)

[mkvh]

Ditto what elladee said, mimieliza. Last Thursday, I was swimming in EWCM and only pumped 5oz/ session. I've had a dry-up, and I pumped 9oz this morning...

Oh, Lizard...THAT would be interesting!! :) No spotting here... Are you on the mini-pill? Could be the hormones aren't enough now that DD is nursing less...

[Lizard]

Oh, Lizard...THAT would be interesting!! :) No spotting here... Are you on the mini-pill? Could be the hormones aren't enough now that DD is nursing less...

We're not doing hormonal BC so it's not that. I took a test today and it was negative. I called my OB but never got a call back today.

[mkvh]

Huh...hope you get an answer!

[LexyLou]

I didn't get my period back until 2 months after I stopped BFing (14 months PP). I had a little cramping but not much. I was actually on a girls weekend trip and said, I wonder when I'm going to get my period back, and then I went to the bathroom and there it was. It was a long period but not crampy.

[Lizard]

I just realized I never did update... I went to the OB, but of course the day before my appt., my spotting stopped. :rolleyes: She ran some blood tests (pregnancy and thyroid for sure), and all came back fine. Now today, about a week after the spotting stopped, I'm spotting again. She thinks it's just my body trying to kick into gear, but wow is it annoying...

[roadrunner]

Just wanted to update and say that my intuition was right - AF came yesterday - 7 months postpartum. Boo. I wish she woulda stayed away longer. I blame it on the solid foods ;) .

Hmmmm...I guess this means I could get preggo again now!

[daisysue62]

I didn't really notice any symptoms (I wasn't exactly looking for them at 4 months post partum!) but realized that the cramps I was feeling felt an awful lot like AF cramps so I ran to the bathroom and sure enough, AF had found me. At my inlaws house while we were visiting for Thanksgiving so I had to ask my MIL for a tampon! Talk about embarrassing. I was very annoyed to have AF back so quickly when I was exclusively breastfeeding. Seems like most people have a longer break then that!

[jennylou]

I got my first PP AF back at 3 months (EBF, too!). I did have a supply dip, but didn't coorelate the two until she showed. I was surprised, since I have PCOS and have spent the last few years either knocked up, on clomid or inducing AF with provera!

[MidwesternGal]

My story is a little funny, but mabye a touch TMI:

The night before AF showed up (about 8 or 10 WEEKS post-partum with exlusive b'fing!!!!), I told DH that "I feel like crap--If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was pregnant again." LOL. Later that night, I got up to BF DS, and all of a sudden I felt this huge GUSH of warmth. I thought my poor weakened bladder had given up on me due to the pressure of DS on the boppy nursing. . . nope, AF reared her ugly ugly head.

I'm psycho regular though--the only time in my ENTIRE life where I skipped a period is when I got my BFP.

ETA: I have massssive supply issues around ovulation and around my actual period. It's pretty much hellish BFing for about 2 weeks out of the month.