Before I type this, let me begin by saying that I have my yearly pap-smear scheduled for July 23rd and I plan to discuss this with my ob-gyn then, I'm looking for input here so I'll have an idea of questions I may need to ask at my appointment.
Now, on with the show :
I had my last period in May of 2007. I had been off of my birth control pills "solidly" for around 2 months. I found out I was pregnant with Jake on July 1st and as of July 10th I was 5 weeks pregnant, according to the vaginal ultrasound.
I had Jake on February 7th and have been expressing milk for him since around February 16th. At present, I manage to express around 18-24 oz. of milk per day.
He was 5 months old on Monday and I still haven't had a period. Is this on par with any of you?
The reason I'm "worried" (I'm really not worried, per se, but I can't think of a better word right now) about this is that sometime in the near (very near) future I'd like to try to conceive again BUT I don't want to have to give up on providing Jake with breast milk until he's ready to be weaned from the bottle completely. Do I have to choose?
Like I said, I plan to discuss this with my ob-gyn, but I'd like some input from some mothers who may have been in the same/similar situation as me.
First of all, fanTASTIC about expressing your milk for so long! I've heard that it's more of a challenge to do that than to directly breastfeed for a lengthy amount of time. 5 months is great!
As for your questions, I'm not really sure what the average time frame is for post-partem amenorrhea is, for people who are solely expressing their milk.
I breast-fed both my children for extended periods of time. About 2.5 - 3 years for DS and about 3.5 for DD. Truth be told, I did not get my first post-partem period for 18 months after DS was born (he was born in '96), and I think for about 11 or 12 months after DD was born (she was born in '04). In both situations, I was breastfeeding for quite awhile after my period returned. Not sure if it might go as long for pumping moms, so it would be worth asking the doctor. It might be one of those "be patient...your period WILL return" things.
I have known people who I think have weaned their children early just to conceive again. I wouldn't do that myself, because it makes no sense to me, personally, to deny that nourishment to the child I have (particulary during the first year) so I can MAYBE conceive. But everyone's situation is different, and I understand that. I just know it's something I would not choose to do myself.
It took several years to conceive our daughter, many years longer than we breast-fed (kiddos are 8 years apart). We lost #3 to a ruptured ectopic in '06(nothing to do with breastfeeding), and have not conceived again yet. But I feel it has to do with other fertility issues that might be there rather than anything breastfeeding-related.
There is a great book out there called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," by Toni Weschler. I have it somewhere, and in my mind I'm thinking it might address this. I highly recommend it, because there is so much you can learn about your cycles, whether you're trying to conceive or trying not to conceive.
If you are expressing often enough, you can maintain amenorrhea just as women who are directly breastfeeding do. As far as I know, I hold the world's record for lactational amenorrhea--30 months. I was very pleased with that, however! As Jake is getting older and beginning solids, you might consider reducing pumping frequency in order to increase your chances of ovulation. This might decrease your supply, might not. Ovulation might decrease your supply, might not. Pregnancy....will likely decrease your supply, but again, if he is taking some solids, that might be acceptable to you.
How often are you pumping? Do you pump at night? I find that when women cease the middle of the night breast stimulation, that increases the chance of ovulation.
Anyway, it is perfectly normal to not have a menses yet. Great job providing Jake with your fabulous, amazing, perfect milk!
First of all, fanTASTIC about expressing your milk for so long! I've heard that it's more of a challenge to do that than to directly breastfeed for a lengthy amount of time. 5 months is great!
Thanks, Jenn. You'd be surprised at the lack of support there is (esp. from family) for expressing milk! My MIL has something to say almost everytime I see her! I will do what's best for my child (hopefully childREN someday), though--no questions asked, no excuses offered!
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How often are you pumping? Do you pump at night? I find that when women cease the middle of the night breast stimulation, that increases the chance of ovulation.
Midwife, I pump three-four times daily, generally at 5:00 a.m., 12:30-3:00 p.m. and 8:00-9:00 p.m. (different times, I just try to stay within those hours) and I almost always get enough from one pumping to fill a 7.5 oz. bottle for Jake. I have to supplement any other feedings throughout the day either with formula or previously frozen milk. I quit pumping at night around the middle of May, so I guess around 7-8 weeks ago? When I was pumping 4 times daily I pumped at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:00-6:30 p.m. and then around 11:30-1:00 a.m.
I have 10 kids and for most of them only had one period between kids. I thought not getting your period was great! Do you express because you work? I used to get my period when I got below 4 breast feedings a day. Most of my kids slept through the night pretty early. After my 10th, I menstruated just before my 43rd birthday and went right into menopause, never getting pg again but having quite heavy irregular periods. I think that was for about 10 yr. I am 59 now and it seems so long ago.
Are you currently on any birth control? Some may cause you not to menstruate. I know that the higher dose progesterone only BCs can do that (I was on them for years and never had a period). I've also heard that doctors usually prescribe progesterone only BC after delivery.
I'm not on any kind of birth control at all! I decided a long time ago that once I started having babies I'd be (chemically) birth-control-free for the rest of my life.
I do express because of work, but I actually enjoy expressing because I can see how much milk Jake is getting. I will probably breastfeed all of my future children only until I begin working and then express for them, too.
CAROL--did you have any multiples in your kids? I've read that conceiving while breastfeeding increases the chance of having multiples.
No period since May of 2007
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