Lactation Consultant

A couple of nights ago, I was at a friend’s barbecue when all of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by the urge to PUKE my brains out! It was like every smell from a 3 block radius, had banded together to invade my nostrils. All I could think to do was flee. Quickly and carefully I made my way to the door, weaving around guests and furniture. The smells followed and intensified. Halibut, chlorine, tomatoes, vinegar, deodorant, garlic, beer, wine, tobacco smoke emanating from some dude’s shirt, and perfume propelled me out the back door, into the fresh air. Talking myself out of hurling, I made eye contact with the hostess through their back window and signaled her to join me. “You’re pregnant!” she shouted. Grabbing her hands, I freaked out for a moment; admitting that it was a likely explanation.

Upon returning home, I told my husband about my symptoms and took a pregnancy test. Negative. Two hours later, I started menstruating for the first time since my pregnancy with Dominic! It was heavy, unpleasant, and surprisingly unfamiliar for a 32 year-old woman who has been menstruating since she was 13 years old. All the pieces of the puzzle came together and I realized that this physical change came only three days after weaning Dominic. Some women, like my neighbor, start menstruating again after only a few weeks postpartum. Some women, like myself, don’t menstruate until there is zero breastfeeding activity. Just remember that breastfeeding isn’t effective birth control as you never know which type you might be!