breakthrough bleeding and breastfeeding

This time Kamron has totally diff feeding patterns, and am wondering is the
spotting a sign of fertility?
I have not ever had spotting while breastfeeding before.

8 weeks is really early for periods to return in a nursing mother, but it is
certainly possible. (Esp. since, IIRC, you are not exclusively bfing.)

It is also quite common to have some bleeding/spotting at around 6 weeks (8
weeks would be in that range), due probably to hormonal changes, and then not
see an actual period for many more months.
Another possibility might be bleeding from your cervix. (Has the bleeding been
immediately after intercourse?)

Since there's really no way to know what's going on (unless you really want to
have a whole raft of probably useless and unnecessary hormone tests....), what
you choose to do about it is up to you.
Since, according to the rules of LAM, any bleeding after 56 days post-partum is
considered a sign of possible fertility, if you don't want to be pregnant again
immediately (don't know off hand what your wishes are here), I'd use some
contraception until you get a better sense of what's going on. (IOW, if it's
just spotting, and it stops, and you don't get a real period next month, you
can probably safely assume that it was not a return of fertile cycles.)

(You could also monitor your BBT/mucus and see if you show an ovulatory
pattern.)

If you are wanting to get pregnant, or are open the possibility, then, of
course, you need to nothing except keep yourself aware of possible pregnancy
symptoms in the upcoming months. (Since you could of course, conceive without
ever having an actual period.)

If the bleeding/spotting seems to coincide with intercourse, I'd run it by your
doctor. (Could be nothing, or could be early indication of a problem.)

Hope this helps.


Naomi
CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator

(either remove spamblock or change address to to e-mail
reply.)

Thanks Naomi,

Kamron hadn't had a bottle for 2 weeks but had one today with EBM as I had
to have 3 fillings at the dentist. (
So he is exclusively breastfed.If he has a bottle it is only the odd one
here and there. In the summer heat it's so much easier to give him the
breast, as he doesn't stay on for long just for a quick drink. He isn't
feeding very much really, but the weight gain is always good. He was born on
the 25th percentile and now is on the 91st.
If ever I have a dental appointment or something important I express just
before I go as I can get enough for 2 feeds from one breast.
As far as getting pregnant goes we do want another but not yet. That's only
because I want my body to rest before I go through it all again.
I have had 5 babies all between 18-22 months apart, so will aim for a bigger
gap next time.

--
Andrea mom of 5 - latest addition Kamron David 8 weeks old weighing 14
pounds.


"Naomi Pardue" wrote in message
...
This time Kamron has totally diff feeding patterns, and am wondering is
the
spotting a sign of fertility?
I have not ever had spotting while breastfeeding before.

8 weeks is really early for periods to return in a nursing mother, but it
is
certainly possible. (Esp. since, IIRC, you are not exclusively bfing.)

It is also quite common to have some bleeding/spotting at around 6 weeks
(8
weeks would be in that range), due probably to hormonal changes, and then
not
see an actual period for many more months.
Another possibility might be bleeding from your cervix. (Has the bleeding
been
immediately after intercourse?)

Since there's really no way to know what's going on (unless you really
want to
have a whole raft of probably useless and unnecessary hormone tests....),
what
you choose to do about it is up to you.
Since, according to the rules of LAM, any bleeding after 56 days
post-partum is
considered a sign of possible fertility, if you don't want to be pregnant
again
immediately (don't know off hand what your wishes are here), I'd use some
contraception until you get a better sense of what's going on. (IOW, if
it's
just spotting, and it stops, and you don't get a real period next month,
you
can probably safely assume that it was not a return of fertile cycles.)

(You could also monitor your BBT/mucus and see if you show an ovulatory
pattern.)

If you are wanting to get pregnant, or are open the possibility, then, of
course, you need to nothing except keep yourself aware of possible
pregnancy
symptoms in the upcoming months. (Since you could of course, conceive
without
ever having an actual period.)

If the bleeding/spotting seems to coincide with intercourse, I'd run it by
your
doctor. (Could be nothing, or could be early indication of a problem.)

Hope this helps.


Naomi
CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator

(either remove spamblock or change address to to
e-mail
reply.)