It is common to get your period while breastfeeding, but sometimes it brings with it some changes. Many moms wonder, "Will there be a shift in my milk supply? Will my baby change their feeding patterns?" Knowing what can happen when you are breastfeeding while the period helps you prepare and feel confident.
First Period After Giving Birth
Your first period after giving birth could look and feel very different from what you're used to. It may come anywhere from weeks to months postpartum, depending on your body and whether you're breastfeeding. Hormonal changes, in particular those caused by breastfeeding, might delay its return; however, each woman is unique.
When Do You Get Your Period After Giving Birth?
Many women get their first period after delivery between two and 12 weeks of time. It generally occurs between six and 12 weeks. If you are breastfeeding only, it may not return until you start introducing other foods or sources of milk to your diet. This is because breastfeeding causes an increase in a hormone called prolactin, which is useful for producing milk but reduces the levels of hormones that cause menstrual cycles. Due to decreased levels of these hormones, you are less likely to be in your period or ovulate.
Lochia is vaginal bleeding following delivery over the weeks afterward. It is like a period. You will start heavy, then gradually lighter, but may bleed again when it becomes a little lighter.
What Affects When My Periods Will Return?
Your return to period varies with time and is dependent on whether you're breastfeeding or not. Breastfeeding mothers often experience delayed return because of hormonal changes that suppress their ovulation, whereas mothers who do not breastfeed are known to return to their periods as early as 6-8 weeks postpartum.
Other factors affecting the return of your period include general health, stress level, and how fast you recover after delivery. Remember, lochia is not the period you experience in the beginning after delivery.
When My Periods Return, Will They Be The Same As Usual?
You may find your periods a little different than you are accustomed to after you have a baby. They could be heavier, lighter, shorter, or longer than they ever were before. Many women notice changes in flow or cramping. Eventually, they may revert to your usual cycle again but just one more time, the norm is for them to be different a bit.
I have Bleeding After Giving Birth. Is it My Period?
No. Lochia is bleeding immediately after delivery and is not a period, nor is it anything you are ever going to experience again. It is a natural process by which the body removes the blood and tissue accumulated in the uterus during pregnancy. Lochia is initially like your period; then, it lightens, and the color changes over time. Your period will return when your body starts ovulating again. This may take several months, especially if you are nursing.
Breastfeeding and Menstruation
It's very normal for your period to return while you're still breastfeeding. It doesn't mean you have to stop nursing. You are correct that breastfeeding will delay your period, but it is just as common for it to return at some point. Most women can continue breastfeeding normally, though you may see a slight change in milk supply and nursing behavior.
Can You Get Your Period While Breastfeeding?
Yes, you can get your period while breastfeeding, but longer than usual. Breastfeeding, especially when it is exclusively done, increases the level of prolactin hormone; this will delay one from getting the return of the period. In some females, the period does not arrive for months, even after delivery, while in others, it arrives sooner within the process of breastfeeding.
Can You Breastfeed during menstruation?
You have nothing wrong with breastfeeding during your menstrual period. Even minor changes in taste or the volume of milk would have been detected by the mother and baby because of the fluctuations in hormones due to menstruation. The best thing about all this is that breastfeeding will not harm your baby in any way.
You should go on breastfeeding during menstruation, which provides all the appropriate nutrients and increases your bond with your baby.
Milk Supply During Menstruation
In most cases, a temporary drop in your milk supply occurs when your period returns. This is partly caused by the hormonal changes particularly with the calcium levels of your body that are affecting your milk production. But you can still support and maintain your milk supply during these changes, keeping your baby properly nourished.
Do Periods Affect My Breast Milk Supply?
Yes, when you get your period, it can have a slight impact on your breast milk supply. Right before and during menstruation, some women experience a temporary drop in milk production. Hormonal fluctuations also stimulate changes in hormone levels, particularly a decrease in calcium that results from shifts in estrogen and progesterone. The hormonal fluctuations can have a mild impact on the amount of milk you may produce for a couple of days, but this tenderness is usually temporary, returning to normal within a few days after your period.
How Much Does Milk Supply Decrease During Period
The degree of the decrease in milk supply varies greatly. Some women hardly notice a change, while the amount might be significant enough to make their baby seem fussier or hungrier. This usually takes place only for a few days during the initial part of your cycle and should not have any lasting implications for breastfeeding. For most women, the drop is slight, and milk levels return to normal within a few days.
You can observe both your milk supply and your baby's feeding patterns if you have any concerns. Also, look for signs that she or he is getting enough: wet diapers, being satisfied after feedings, and steady gain of weight.
How to Increase Your Milk Supply During Menstruation?
If your baby starts to sleep through the night before 6 months and your period returns, you may need to take some steps to keep up your milk production as well as your supply for breastfeeding.
Tips to keep up your milk production during your period are given below.
- Pump at night and after you breastfeed. If the baby naturally starts sleeping for longer stretches, it's generally okay to let breasts stay full a little longer, especially if you tend to have a good supply. These babies often make up for the missed night feedings by nursing more often during the day.
Use the Momcozy M9 breast pump it is easy, simple, and comfortable- mom's support in maintaining her milk supply. This is a hands-free, wearable breast pump that allows for pumping at night or after every feeding session to maintain a steady supply even when the baby begins sleeping longer stretches. The Momcozy M9 is designed for convenient, discreet, and comfortable pumping without needing a wall outlet.
- Your calcium levels start declining a day or two before your period. This can lead to reduced milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. A supplement of calcium combined with magnesium can stabilize your calcium levels and help maintain milk production. Check with your doctor about the right dosage.
- Some mothers reported that oatmeal intake for breakfast contributes to increased milk production, though not scientifically proven. Oatmeal is a source of iron. Too low levels of iron can contribute to inadequate milk supply. Some women may increase their milk production by taking in more foods and ingredients that are rich in iron.
- Galactagogues are herbs, foods, and supplements that may help support milk production, especially if taken in conjunction with frequent nursing or pumping. Some examples include fenugreek, nettle, blessed thistle, and ginger, which might support hormone levels for milk production. Be sure to check with your doctor as the FDA hasn't approved some of these galactagogues, and they are not safe for every nursing mother.
Breastfeeding and Pregnancy
You can actually get pregnant while breastfeeding, though exclusive breastfeeding can delay ovulation for a time. Nor is it even a reliable means of birth control, though. If you wish to avoid pregnancy altogether, consider using other methods of birth control. In most cases, breastfeeding during pregnancy is safe, although it may affect the milk supply.
Can Breastfeeding Stop Me From Getting Pregnant?
It delays your menstrual cycle and reduces the possibility of pregnancy but does not even guarantee birth control since it is based on a specific natural process known as lactational amenorrhea. This is where the hormones that cause ovulation are suppressed by breastfeeding. If you're exclusively breastfeeding-meaning, feeding the baby breast milk exclusively, day and night, without long breaks between feedings-this method is around 98% effective at preventing pregnancy in the first six months after birth. Once your baby's sleep cycles become longer at night or you start having a formula or some solids, the chance of ovulation returning is high; hence, so does the chance of pregnancy.
Do I Need Birth Control While Breastfeeding?
At times, women do not need birth control when breastfeeding, especially if they exclusively breastfeed and the spacing between their periods is still longer than normal. However, if one does not wish to become pregnant, she might also need birth control while breastfeeding, especially if she is not exclusively breastfeeding. Many birth control methods are safe for nursing mothers, including progestin-only pills, intrauterine devices or IUDs, implants, and barrier methods, including condoms. Hormonal options that contain estrogen, for instance, are usually not recommended since they lead to a decrease in milk supply. Discuss with your care provider what is appropriate for you based on your needs and breastfeeding schedule.
Conclusion
While minor changes will happen to your breastfeeding due to your period, the majority of them are only temporary and should not disrupt your nursing. Pay attention to how your body is telling you and make those little changes to adapt to them so that you might easily continue feeding your baby with comfort and good nutrition.
