Breastfeeding can affect your menstrual cycle after giving birth because the hormone prolactin inhibits ovulation – but you can still get pregnant. Every woman’s menstrual cycle is unique – and it takes time for it to return to normal after giving birth. It’s normal for breastfeeding to delay your first period for weeks or months after giving birth.

Menstruating, pregnant, breastfeeding, maybe menstruating again. If you're at the stage where you've given birth to a new child (congratulations!), have started breastfeeding, and are now wondering when you'll get your period, then you should read this.

👉 Read more about the first period after giving birth here

Written by journalist Simone Mervig.
The content of this article has been verified by Pernille Jensen, nurse and breastfeeding counselor behind Mamaflow.

Why does breastfeeding affect menstruation?

Right after giving birth (postpartum), you will experience postpartum bleeding (lochia) . This is not the same as your period, but your uterus healing after releasing the placenta.
It varies widely from person to person when their period returns after giving birth. Many factors come into play here; genetics, hormones, and how much you breastfeed. Menstruation can typically appear anywhere from four weeks to a year and a half after giving birth. But why are breastfeeding and menstruation actually connected?

👉 Do as many others: Try our absorbent menstrual panties for your postpartum period

The connection is due to a hormone called prolactin. Prolactin is secreted when you breastfeed, and the hormone helps inhibit ovulation. And in order to get your period, you must first ovulate. Your ovulation and menstruation naturally stop, that is, as a result of breastfeeding. This also means that the more you breastfeed, the more prolactin your body secretes. The less you breastfeed, the less prolactin is secreted, and the more likely it is that you will ovulate and thus menstruate. Menstruation is often a bit strange when it returns after pregnancy and childbirth. It can be irregular, heavier and feel different - so can your body. Therefore, our best tip is to be nice and kind to yourself when you settle into your body and your period, and to ally yourself with menstrual protection or menstrual products that, above all, feel soft, safe and uncomplicated.

When can menstruation return?

It varies greatly from mother to mother. You can get your period even if you are breastfeeding. Although you may have often heard that breastfeeding keeps your period at bay, this is not entirely true. You can get your period even if you are breastfeeding - even if you are breastfeeding full-time (Flow was created when Cathrine, our founder, got her period three months after giving birth - while still breastfeeding). Some people also get their period almost immediately after giving birth. All bodies are different, and this also means that they react differently to pregnancy hormones and prolactin.

👉 Read more about the differences between postpartum bleeding and menstruation

Can you get your period even if you're breastfeeding?

Just as you may have heard that breastfeeding is a natural form of contraception, you may have also heard the phrase “you can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding.” But let’s dispel that myth once and for all. First of all, you can get your period while breastfeeding (as we just found out). Similarly, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding.

The first ovulation after your pregnancy occurs before you get your first period, and it can therefore be difficult to know when it will occur, because you do not have your period as a guide first, as you are used to in life with a cycle. If you want to protect yourself against a quick pregnancy after you have given birth, you should talk to your doctor about which contraception is right for you after giving birth. Conversely, if you want to get pregnant while breastfeeding, you can try to reduce breastfeeding and thus aim for ovulation and menstruation to occur sooner.

Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding?

You can, and it is typically one of several topics your doctor will talk to you about at your 8-week checkup: Contraception - do you want it?

👉 Have you tried our absorbent nursing bra?

When you have a newborn, it can seem overwhelming to decide on contraception, but if you have a partner, it's right to discuss it between you. What form of contraception suits you now? The same form you used before pregnancy may not work for you now, so decide on it together. Or have a conversation about what happens if you get pregnant within the first year after giving birth.

Understand your body - also during and after pregnancy

The body is a complex and fascinating thing, especially when it goes through changes like pregnancy and post-pregnancy. At Flow, we believe that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to get to know our bodies better. When we understand what is happening in our bodies, what symptoms we experience, and what lies behind them, we can achieve greater peace and security - especially during and after birth, when the body goes through greater changes than you may have ever experienced before. Knowing why the body reacts the way it does can make it easier to accept and deal with changes.

We hope this post has given you new insights and helped you understand your body a little better. If you want to learn even more, you can find exciting and in-depth articles in our Journal , where we share knowledge about menstruation and related topics.

Thanks for reading – we're happy to have you here <3

FAQ about menstruation and breastfeeding:

When does my period typically return if I am breastfeeding?

Menstruation can return from a few weeks to over a year after giving birth, depending on how much and how often you breastfeed and your hormonal balance.

Why does breastfeeding affect menstruation?

During breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin increases, which helps produce milk and at the same time inhibits ovulation.

Can I have my period even if I'm breastfeeding?

Yes. Many people find that their periods return even if they continue to breastfeed – it varies greatly from person to person.

Can you get pregnant before your period returns?

Yes, you can - your ovulation will always occur before your period, and therefore you may have been fertile before the bleeding returns.

Sources: Sundhed.dk, American Academy of Pediatrics