Parents Fearful of Long-Term Breastfeeding Effects

“Hello, I have checked online and it seems I'm ok so I'm just looking for reassurance (unless Google is wrong) from others who have breastfed as I'm in a bit of a panic. I have an 11 week old. I am heading out to an event and I sprayed perfume thinking I wouldn't be feeding her again until I was back and showered. She ended up wanting some before I left and I completely forgot about the perfume. I sprayed it on my neck and my breasts were covered when I sprayed it so she didn'”

“I'm 9 months pp and three weeks ago I had one day of light spotting and yesterday I had one day of spotting. This is exactly what happened when I was pregnant and I'm freaking out a little bit. I took a test a week ago and it was negative and I've been too scared to test again. The first time around I had these random days of spotting for at least two months before I ever thought to test. Did anyone experience something like this before getting their period back? submitted by &”

“Did anyone else experience a spike in triglycerides and LDL during breastfeeding? I have been trying to find legit data online, but of course there’s nothing because who cares about women after we give birth… Anywho, I read somewhere that a lot of our stored fat mobilizes during breastfeeding to increase the fat content in breast milk (bc it has the same concentration as our blood) but can’t find anything more about it. submitted by /u/marp48 [link] [comments]”

“I'm 4.5 years in between two babies, no breaks. I developed insomnia after my older was born and serious dry eyes. Both have been attributed to hormones. What wacky things have breastfeeding caused you? Did these magically go away after weaning? I feel so depleted i'm close to weaning my youngest because I'm just so depleted man. At the same time. I don't want to wean too early (ha, she's 12 months) for things that might not go away. submitted by /u/Horror-Earth40”

“I just read a post & comments on a different sub about how horrible various moms felt after weaning. Like, depressed, fatigued, anxious, hair falling out, etc. And some of them said it took months-years to feel okay again? I'm trying to slowly wean my daughter and now I'm scared 😅 submitted by /u/Mom_Bombadil_ [link] [comments]”

“I knew it would happen eventually, the day my lo turned 10months old it’s back. Kinda shocked me to see! Did you notice a change in your baby’s behaviour once your period returned? In my experience it already is so different from what it was, I’m just nervous that breast feeding might get hard again I know everyone’s different but would love to hear any positive feedback TIA submitted by /u/Mediocre_Bar5725 [link] [comments]”

“I’m a first time mom and am currently 7 weeks pp with my little guy. I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding him since he was born and this morning I woke up to my period (I haven’t had any pp bleeding since 3 weeks pp) and I just didn’t know if other women also got their period this soon while breastfeeding? My mom and one of my friends who both breastfed said they didn’t get their periods back until they stopped breastfeeding all together, which was about a year. submitted by /u/Aves10”

“Hi everyone! I’m wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience while trying for another baby. I’m 10 months postpartum and still breastfeeding, mostly in the morning, evening, before bed, and usually once overnight. My period returned around 6 months postpartum, but my cycles have been pretty irregular since then. I’ve been tracking ovulation with BBT/Natural Cycles and more recently with Mira (LH, E3G, PdG and FSH). The good news is that I do seem to be ovulating. This cycle, for exampl”

“Hi mamas. I’m a FTM and just got my periods back 7 months postpartum. I mostly feed on demand and pump and give bottle occasionally. I’m new to this and don’t know what to expect. Will my supply go down during the cycle? Or permanently? Is this the end of my bf journey :( What can I do to keep up the supply if at all? I also join work soon and will be away from baby for a couple of hours where baby will be fed pumped milk. submitted by /u/Moony_Potterhead [link] [comments]”

“I have an almost 3 year old that still nurses most days at night/in the morning. I got my period back at 3 months PP but it went away again when I started hormonal birth control. At the start of the year we decided to stay trying for baby number 2 and I came off birth control - my period returned after about 2 months and had been very consistent since February. With baby number one we got pregnant on cycle 3, we are currently on cycle 6 and another negative test today. I know it's still very”

“My friend drinks occasionally and recently breastfed her son after binge drinking and smoking weed. This is insane and unsafe correct? Any idea if/what damage this could cause to a baby? submitted by /u/ijustwantcandy [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone. EFF since birth here and my period is still nowhere to be seen 6 months after giving birth. Has this happened to any of you ? If yes what were the causes? I’m starting to get worried here and my doctors appointment is in 2 weeks. My husband and I would love to be able to give our first baby a sibling sooner rather than later. Thank you!! submitted by /u/PardonMyFrench22 [link] [comments]”

“Hi all, looking for some reassurance/advice, please. I’m 12 weeks postpartum and have been exclusively breastfeeding (we have used expressed breastmilk a handful of times since birth). My period returned today. I feel sad about it, but it also just feels really early. I was told it would likely be 6-9 months postpartum, even up to 18mo. Baby is gaining weight, she seems happy, she’s on the chunkier and longer side of average size. But in the last week she has seemed a bit fussy while feeding, no”

“Baby is 7.5 months old now, she was exclusively breastfed up until she started solids at 6months. I’ve had my period semi regularly since 3 months post partum but lately it’s been coming every 8 days. So I’ll bleed for 7 days and then it stops and then 8 days later it starts again. I’m reluctant to go to my doctor on it as my doctor is very much likely just going to tell me once I stop breastfeeding it’ll be regular. Anyways we want to try for baby #2 when she turns 1 and it took us almost 1.5 y”

“So this isn’t exactly breastfeeding related but I was curious if anybody else who has exclusively breast-fed has experienced this. I have been breast-feeding for a year now and I got my first period around 10 months postpartum and it has been lasting like a really long time this cycle I have gone for nine days so far and all throughout this month I have had brown and pink spotting almost daily and I probably should go see my OB about it, but I was just curious if anybody else has experienced thi”

“Does anyone get nausea when they start breastfeeding? I had this with my first and it only stopped at around 8 months postpartum. I'm having it again with my second and it's intensified this week. Would love to troubleshoot this to see if anything helps, let me know if you're experienced this. It happens as soon as I start pumping or as soon as she latches on. It's not something that only happens during letdowns. It can go away quickly or last the whole session. It always stops w”

“So I need to know did anyone else’s breast skin texture change while nursing? It was almost immediate so I don’t think it’s the big C but this orange peel texture is kind of scaring me. There’s no pain, I can’t feel any lumps aside from what I think are just ducts. Idk I’m not good with self exams anyways I just know the skin is very dimpled all the time. Yes I have a second doctor’s appointment, but initially my OBGYN didn’t seem concerned. The OB did tell me to schedule an ultrasound if I want”

“Almost 4 months pp, didn’t really breastfeed at all. 2nd real period and it seems to be on a 2-3 week cycle which is way shorter than normal. Anyone else? submitted by /u/sunflower384628 [link] [comments]”

“I am currently 6 months postpartum and got my first postpartum period at 7.5 weeks. I am exclusively breastfeeding my little guy and was told that some variation in cycle, such as duration and length of my cycle, is completely normal. My period had been coming roughly “on time” since I’ve gotten it. Periods have been lasting longer and have been coming within 3-5 days of when my app says I should expect it. However, I’m 7 days late- and panicking. I know some variation can be normal but I’m wond”

“Is it possible to skip a period while breastfeeding 9 months pp? I remember when my first period came back about 8 weeks pp that the one after I skipped but I haven’t skipped any since (unless I drank before the period) anyway, just wondering if this is normal! submitted by /u/Gullible-Alps-6063 [link] [comments]”

“My son is almost 17 months old and we have breastfed since birth, but cut out night feeds around 7m. We’ve been down to only a few day nursing sessions since he turned 1, and in the last few months we have weaned from 2 feeds down to just one. That one nursing session a day lasts literally maybe 5 minutes. I don’t feel like he’s even getting that much milk, and I don’t ever feel ‘full’ anymore. I still have no sign of my cycle returning and it is really starting to be a stressor for me. Most oth”

“My husband and I have always wanted our children to be close in age. At 9 months pp I am still breastfeeding and my period hasn't returned. I have endometriosis and always just assumed that my cycle would return with a vengeance after getting off birth control, lol. I got off my birth control a few months ago and still nothing! We have been discussing when to start trying for a second, and I really want to start in the next few months but feel like my period may not return until I stop breas”

“Just wanted to make a post in case this helps anyone. Everyone's journey is different but I wish someone would've told me this ahead of time...and I found this information myself, not even my doctor was this specific with me. The only thing I had heard about your period returning after baby was that if you're breastfeeding you may or may not have one until you stop breastfeeding. Not a guarantee and certainly not all that helpful because it's so vague. Well to my surprise I got m”

“Am I paranoid?? My baby has been spitting up all day and the only thing I did different yesterday was start birth control. My baby is 3.5 months. Has this happened to anyone? submitted by /u/Mysterious-Night-107 [link] [comments]”

“How long til you got regular periods? In the first month my nippies got real sensitive, is that a thing??? How long til you got pregnant? Heavy periods? Cramping when you never got cramps??? Tell me all! submitted by /u/honeyntea99 [link] [comments]”

“Hi all! Not sure what I’m after exactly with this post but I guess wondering if others had a similar experience and how it ended up going? I had my beautiful girl 2 years ago - very fortunate to have had a wonderful pregnancy and birth but the feeding journey (like many) was very rough. The pain from hand expressing and latching was unbearable. When my milk came in at the hospital, for some reason my breasts wouldn’t release it and I ended up with engorgement that literally made a nurse yell “oh”

“Hi everyone, I’m aware that “dysphoric milk ejection reflex” is a thing and I know it’s nothing to really be concerned about but I’m curious if anyone else has had it develop weeks and weeks after giving birth and not initially? Specifically for me, the first 2 to 3 weeks I had insatiable thirst during my letdowns and then it was no longer a thing and went away. But around 9 to 10 weeks postpartum I’ve now noticed that as soon as I latch baby onto me for about 30 seconds I have a wave of sadness”

“Hi everyone, I’m not looking for medical advice but rather interested to hear if others have experienced bleeding without other period symptoms. My kiddo is 20 months and still nursing a couple times a day, but also eating solids well and drinking cow’s milk, too. I got my period back at 13 months postpartum, and cycles have been longer and irregular since then—not surprising; I had those pre-baby and I know breastfeeding can also make things wonky. But the periods I’ve had have felt in the rang”

“I’m only breastfeeding twice a day, and I have yet to see a return of my period. I‘m four months postpartum. Anyone else not EBF but still missing their period? submitted by /u/DistinctConfection85 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone has been in a similar situation because I can’t seem to find much information about this. I’m currently 13 months postpartum and still breastfeeding my toddler. For about the first 7 months postpartum, I was taking the mini pill and didn’t have any bleeding at all. After that, I started getting withdrawal bleeding either after finishing a pack or if I accidentally missed 1–2 pills. My last bleeding started on June 23, and that’s also when I stopped taking the pill”

“Hi all, I’m currently 6 months pp and I’ve had 1 period just over a month ago as I missed a couple feeds overnight with my lo. My tracking app is now saying I’m 4 days late so I’m just wondering if this is normal? I’m not exclusively bf anymore as he’s started solids and is taking a couple bottles formula during the day but my partner and I have been so careful (or so we thought). Could this just be my hormones fluctuating or should I actually take a test😅 Tia x submitted by /u/Ok-L”

“Really curious when people got their period back while breastfeeding, or if they never got their period and got pregnant again before it came and how they knew like what symptoms were you’re first clues (especially if you didn’t have a period back because idk how to track ovulation really before that) I’m 6 months pp and for the past 3 weeks have been feeling a little nauseous and have had heart burn crazy and other symptoms very similar to when I was pregnant and recently had a little bit of an”

“I am 12 months postpartum and still breastfeeding (co sleeping, still nursing overnight, baby has never had a bottle) she eats 3 meals a day though. We are wanting to conceive baby #2. I just had my first “cycle” postpartum but I’m confused/a little worried by what happened. I started to get classic egg white discharge July 8 which prompted me to start ovulation testing. The discharge continued and the tests kept getting darker and July 12 it was a blazing positive ovulation test, which led me t”

“I am almost 9 months PP after a CS and still exclusively breastfeeding. I am on my second “fake period” or “phantom period” whatever you want to call it. Basically I have every single period symptom, even a drop in supply, minus the bleeding, my last one was 24 days ago which was my usual cycle length before pregnancy. I’ve seen a couple old posts about this but wondering everyone’s experience ? How many month did this last before you actually got a real cycle ? Almost wish I was bleeding, becau”

“Last night was my first break away from baby. I went to see some friends and we ended up partaking. I had about 1/4th of a 18% THC joint. I thought cannabis was like alcohol and I’d be fine by morning. I fed baby this morning and then started to do a deep dive. YES I should have done that before partaking and I already know I screwed up big time and I feel like shit. I’m so scared now. What is going to happen to my baby? submitted by /u/Ok_Sir_4584 [link] [comments]”