The bodily changes that a pregnant woman goes through are simply mind-blowing.
One major change is the cessation of menstruation once a woman is pregnant.
This automatically implies no menstrual cramps throughout the pregnancy journey.
In fact, even months after giving birth, a breastfeeding mother does not menstruate, according to Healthline.
This is why breastfeeding mothers begin to worry when they experience cramping while breastfeeding but no period.
The question is, what are the possible causes? Is it something you should be worried about? What can be done to relieve the pain?
We will answer the questions here, so hang tight and keep reading.
Cramping While Breastfeeding but No Period
First off, you’re not the only breastfeeding mother going through this. Many postpartum mothers experience cramps consistently while breastfeeding.
The duration varies, and the intensity varies as well for different mothers.
It is not something to be worried about, but you might want to see your doctor about it.
There are different possible causes of this, but then for most, it’s nothing to worry about.
Here are the common cause of cramping while breastfeeding but no period:
1. Afterpains
Some refer to this as postpartum pains as well. This happens some days to weeks after giving both.
It is a result of some physiologic changes going on in your body.
The uterus, which is your womb, goes through many changes during and after pregnancy.
During pregnancy, it extends to accommodate the growing child. After you give birth, a hormone called oxytocin is released into the body.
With this hormone, the uterus contracts to its usual size over time.
The hormone is stimulated for release through the sucking action of your child. This is why you feel the pain a lot more while breastfeeding.
The more children you’ve had, the greater the intensity. For first-time moms, it isn’t as intense.
After two, or three children, the pain is more because each time you are pregnant, the uterus has to expand and then go back to its normal state.
Even though the cramps tend to hurt a lot, they are beneficial to your body.
2. Ovulation
Another possible cause is ovulation. Ovulation comes before menses, so the cramps may result from ovulation.
This is one of the reasons why breastfeeding mothers can get pregnant even when they haven’t seen their period. They don’t realize they have started ovulating.
3. Phantom periods
It could just be your body’s way of preparing for menstruation. But even while preparing, breastfeeding is still hindering the process.
So instead of having cramps while menstruating, they will be present without menstruation. It may even come with symptoms like bloating.
4. Pregnancy
This is another likely cause you might not suspect if you are not seeing your period.
As mentioned earlier, you might have ovulated and didn’t notice. Cramping is a common sign of pregnancy when breastfeeding.
You might just want to get a test kit to check if you are pregnant.
How Long Will the Cramps Last?
Having cramps isn’t a great ordeal, and everyone experiencing it can not wait for it to end.
Unfortunately, for cramps while breastfeeding, there is no specific time frame. Well, after a while, your uterus will return to its usual size, but how fast it will, no one knows.
Another interesting thing is that different women have different experiences.
It has been found that it doesn’t go past a month for many breastfeeding mothers.
It is usually most intense in the first few days, it gradually reduces in intensity as the days go by. Until the cramps are no longer felt.
What Can be Done About Postpartum Cramping?
First, confirm that you are not pregnant. If you are pregnant, there is nothing you can do about that. You will have to bear the pain and hope it resolves as soon as possible.
If you’ve confirmed that you are not pregnant, you should talk to your doctor.
It’s okay to request pain medications from your doctor before being discharged.
Even if it’s after you’ve been discharged, don’t hesitate to inform your doctor about it.
There are pain medications that are safe to use right after delivery that would not affect your baby.
The pain is expected to resolve within days when you take the pain medications.
If, after taking it, the pain persists, then you should go and see your doctor and have yourself checked.
Just to be sure that there is nothing wrong. It is better to be safe than sorry, so don’t take the risk of keeping it to yourself.
Summary
Cramping while breastfeeding but no period is a frequent occurrence. This is why the question is rampant among many mothers who just gave birth.
They can’t seem to understand how they have cramps and no period.
Well, from all we’ve mentioned, you now understand the possible causes of the cramps. And also how best to handle the situation.
Most importantly, you must stay calm while seeking help from your doctor. Also, don’t stop breastfeeding your baby because of the pain.
Your baby needs to eat well to grow well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding?
One of the signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding is cramps. The cramps are similar to menstrual cramps.
Other symptoms include tiredness, sore breasts, nausea, and vomiting.
If you have these symptoms while breastfeeding, it will be advisable to do a pregnancy test to confirm if you are pregnant or not.
Is uterine cramping while breastfeeding normal?
The answer is yes! During the first few days to weeks after birth, you can expect uterine cramping, also known as afterpains.
The intensity varies as well as the duration. This process is physiologic as the uterus is trying to go back to its usual size.
How long does uterine cramping last while breastfeeding?
There is no definite answer for how long the uterine cramping will last. But one thing is for sure the cramping reduces in intensity as you go.
If you are a first-time mom, you can expect something less in intensity and short in duration.
In contrast, the opposite is for mothers who have had more children. The more children you’ve had, the more the intensity and duration.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.