Understanding Your Period While Breastfeeding

Many new parents who are breastfeeding or chestfeeding wonder if and when their period will return after giving birth. There is no single answer, just as there is no one-size-fits-all feeding plan for every parent.

Generally, if you are consistently lactating, your period may not return for several months or even up to a year after childbirth. If you are not exclusively breastfeeding, you might get your period sooner.

Lactation suppresses your menstrual cycle by affecting postpartum hormones. When you nurse your baby, your pituitary gland produces prolactin, a hormone that enables milk production but inhibits the hormones FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) that trigger ovulation.

The Impact of Breastfeeding on Your Period

In the initial days after giving birth, you may experience some bleeding, but this isn’t your period. This postpartum bleeding, known as lochia, can be quite heavy at first. Lochia is the shedding of the uterine lining that builds up during pregnancy.

Your period will resume at some point after childbirth, influenced by whether you are breastfeeding and the frequency of nursing. While individual experiences vary, here is what you can generally expect:

• If you do not breastfeed at all or only sometimes: If you’re not nursing full-time, your period might resume anywhere from two to 12 weeks after delivery. However, it may take up to a year for your menstrual cycle to become regular again as your hormones readjust from pregnancy.
• If you breastfeed exclusively: You might not get your period until you decrease the number of daily feedings (such as eliminating nighttime feedings) or fully wean your baby. Even then, your cycles might be irregular for a while after your period first returns.

Managing Your Period While Breastfeeding

If your period returns while you are still breastfeeding or chestfeeding, it does not necessitate weaning your baby. Continuing to nurse during your period is completely safe, as your breast milk remains healthy and nutritious for your baby.

However, hormonal fluctuations associated with your period may affect certain aspects of breastfeeding, such as nipple tenderness, milk supply, and milk flavor.

Nipple Tenderness

Experiencing sore nipples around the time of your period is not uncommon. In the days leading up to your period, breastfeeding may be slightly uncomfortable. Here are some tips to manage nipple tenderness:

• Ensure Proper Latching: Your baby should latch onto the entire nipple and some of the areola. If they only suckle on the nipple tip, it can lead to shooting pain and soreness.
• Utilize Baby-Safe Nipple Cream: Apply a baby-safe nipple cream between feedings to soothe and moisturize sensitive nipple skin.
• Continue Breastfeeding: Your baby’s suckling helps maintain milk supply and prevents issues like breast engorgement, nipple blebs, plugged milk ducts, and mastitis.
• Consider Pumping: If breastfeeding is too painful, pumping milk can maintain the milk supply until nipple tenderness subsides.

Breast Milk Production

During the week or two between ovulation and your period, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body rise. This increase in circulating hormones can disrupt milk production.

However, the decrease in milk supply associated with your period is typically temporary. While you may observe a dip in supply in the days leading up to your period, it should begin to increase again once your period starts and hormone levels stabilize.

To support milk supply, consider the following strategies:

• Consider Herbal Breastfeeding Tea: Herbal teas formulated for breastfeeding may contain natural ingredients that can aid in boosting milk production, particularly during the premenstrual period. However, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare provider before trying any supplement, whether labeled as “natural” or not.
• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Consume a well-rounded diet including foods known to support milk production. Iron deficiency can impact milk supply, so prioritize iron-rich foods such as red meat and leafy greens. Additionally, incorporate galactagogues, known as “breastmilk superfoods,” such as fennel, oatmeal, and almonds, which many parents find beneficial.

Flavor of Breast Milk

Studies indicate that the composition of breast milk undergoes changes around ovulation, typically mid-cycle. During this time, there is an increase in sodium and chloride levels in the milk, while lactose (milk sugar) and potassium levels decrease. Consequently, breast milk becomes saltier and less sweet.

While many infants breastfeed comfortably throughout their mothers’ menstrual cycle, others may experience difficulty due to changes in milk flow or taste. Your baby may exhibit fussiness and may breastfeed more or less frequently than usual, or they may even refuse to nurse altogether.

It’s important to note that these changes in your baby’s behavior are typically temporary, lasting only a few days or cycles as they adapt to the new patterns of breast milk. Your child should eventually return to their regular feeding routine. However, if you notice no improvement after a few days, it’s advisable to seek advice from a doctor or a lactation consultant.

Conceiving While Breastfeeding

“Yes, pregnancy can occur while breastfeeding. Once your period returns, you should consider yourself fertile.

Moreover, conception can happen before your first period resumes. This is because there’s a two-week window between ovulation—when your body releases an egg that could be fertilized by sperm to conceive a baby—and the start of your period. Hence, there’s a chance of conception before your initial postpartum period.

If you’re not prepared for another pregnancy right away, it’s advisable to explore various birth control methods well in advance of needing menstrual products again. An opportune moment to discuss birth control options is during your initial postpartum check-up—or, for added precaution, during a third-trimester appointment.”