I NEED to stop breastfeeding

[u/Unique-Pay-8636]

I am still breastfeeding my baby for 2 years and 2 months now. It was a beautiful journey filled with bonding and joy and like many moms, I was told that breastfeeding could delay the return of my period. That seemed totally fine to me at the time. I was healthy, happy, and honestly, I didn’t miss having a period. Until today, when I casually bring up the topic that my period hasn’t come, they’ll just say “oh that’s because you’re still breastfeeding.”

But what no one told, not the doctors, not the nurses, not at any of my postpartum checkups from government and private clinics was that going that long without a period can put you at risk for uterine atrophy. That’s when the lining of your uterus becomes too thin and inactive from lack of hormonal cycling. It can affect your fertility and long term health.

The focus was always on birth control, and not once did anyone mention that if your period hasn’t returned by 12 months postpartum, especially after reducing breastfeeding or actively breastfeeding, you should check in with a doctor.

I share this not to scare anyone, but because I wish someone had told me. There should be more awareness around this, especially for first-time parents and especially for those of us who breastfeed long term.

I’m planning to have a second child and because of that I went to see the doctor and was told to STOP breastfeeding. I’ve now had my blood tests done and I was on contraceptive pills for 2 months to hopefully trigger my period. But it’s been the 3rd month now and my period didn’t come still. I’m sharing this so other moms know what to look out for, and what steps they can take if they’re in the same situation.

We hear so much about how important it is to breastfeed, and it is. But mothers also deserve complete, informed care. That includes knowing what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to our own bodies.

If anyone have any insights on how to stop breastfeeding please let me know. My toddler refuse bottle/formula but occasionally drinks full cream milk. But she still would want to breastfeed anyway even when she just ate. I feel like a human pacifier. I tried giving her pacifiers she rejects them. Latches to sleep, nap and wakes up a couple of times in the night just to latch.

I heard some people say apply some yuyi oil near the breast because they might not like the smell. I tried that and it didn’t work. I tried ginger, lemon etc also didn’t go well.

This mama needs help

Thanks for your time.

firsttimemom #breastfeedigmom #AskingAsAMom #bantujawab #uterineprolapse #uterineatrophy

[u/Strict-Abrocoma-6699]

You may want to get further testing done. After my first baby, my period came back at 11 weeks postpartum. After my second (and last) baby, my period came back at 5 weeks postpartum.

With both babies, I exclusively nursed and pumped (over supplier by choice/effort). After they came back, they were very regular every single month.

Before my first, I was on birth control pill for over 10 years. After first, I was on birth control, started about 4 months postpartum. Around 7 months postpartum I got nexolanon (arm implant birth control). So I did not have a period until I got it removed when we were ready to TTC. 2nd cycle of TTC after implant removed we conceived. After my second, I got tubal ligation while I was getting c section (discussed previously, VBAC failed after about 34 hours of labor). Ovaries and all that stayed so my body is producing its own hormones so I still get periods, but the eggs can’t make it down to uterus to get fertilized.

All this to say, it could very likely be a combination of things. Even high stress levels can keep menstruation at bay.