After 15 months of not seeing Flo, I recently got a visit from everybody’s “favorite” aunt. As an extra bonus, she brought with her wicked cramps. For the almost 20 years that Flo and I have been meeting, I’ve never had cramps before. Um, so painful!
Interestingly, when I mentioned this to a friend, she said that she also started getting cramps when her period returned after having a baby. Has this happen to anybody else? Do I need to start stocking my medicine cabinet with Midol?
PS: Although I wasn’t expecting to see Aunt Flo while I was still nursing Levi, I learned that it is completely normal to start menstruating while breastfeeding. Are you willing to share how long it took until you got your first period after having a baby?
{cabinet print by Edholm Ullenius}
Almost like clockwork i got my period back when each of my children turned one, even while breastfeeding.
Nothing since the end of August 2010 (got pregnant that cycle). Not complaining!
You’ve never had cramps? Are you sure we’re related? Midol works well. As does a hot compress over your uterus.
6 weeks, but not breastfeeding. but no cramps at all.
I am the above-mentioned friend who never had a period cramp in the 15 years of periods prior to having a baby and now – ouch!
With all three of my boys I got my period while still nursing. Usually around the 15-18 month mark when I didn’t nurse as often. For me the cramps thing was opposite. I would get excruciating cramps before having kids. Now they are tolerable.
I’ve run into a lot of women that say their periods are worse since they’ve had children. I would say my mood swings are worse now (and they weren’t easy to begin with). I don’t remember when I got mine back but I was still bfing. You can ovulate while bfing…. so be careful!
E was 9 months old when it came back for me so I got 18 months without bleeding. And no, less cramps after this one for me.