Postpartum Period Irregularities: What to Expect After Pregnancy

Question
Hello,
 I have a baby who is 3 months old.  I am strictly breastfeeding and I got my first menstrual cycle when she was about 10 weeks old.  That was 31 days ago...and I have not gotten another period.  I am using birth control and I do not believe that I am pregnant, but I am still wondering if it is "normal" to have irregular periods after a pregnancy?  With my first child, I got my period at around 10 weeks as well, but it was consistently regular from that point on.  I feel like I should take a pregnancy test just to ease my mind, but if if I am going to end up worrying every month unless I know it is okay for this to happen. Thank you!

Answer
Lisa,

Yes, it's completely normal to not have a regular period while breastfeeding.  You may skip several months, in fact, depending upon the level of hormones in your body.


Many women's cycles will cease for the first year while breastfeeding, or come and go every few months depending upon how much the baby is nursing.


So, as long as you are using birth control correctly, you should not get pregnant even if you don't have a period.




Best,
Catherine