If you’re a lactating mother and your period has returned, you may have some questions. Your first thought might be: Is it normal for me to get my period while breastfeeding? You may also be wondering: Is my milk supply going to decrease or dry up?
As a nursing mother who recently got her period, these were the first two questions on my mind. I also thought there might be something wrong since I didn’t get my period while nursing my first two children.
The first thing I did to find answers about having my period and breastfeeding was contact the lactation consultant at River Falls Hospital in Wisconsin, where I had my third child. I then searched for answers online and in the book, “What to Expect the First Year.
This is what I learned about breastfeeding and menstruation.
It is not abnormal for a woman to get her period while breastfeeding.
According to “What to Expect the First Year,” most breastfeeding mothers don’t get their periods until they wean their babies. In fact, most don’t even ovulate. However, the book goes on to say that “some women … find their period returning as early as three to six months postpartum.”
The lactation specialist agreed that breastfeeding and having my period at the same time was nothing to worry about because “a lot of women begin menstruating before they are done nursing.”
I then questioned why I got my period while nursing my third child when I did not get my period while nursing my first two children. The specialist stated that since menstruation is such a “hormonally driven occurrence,” it could have to do with the fact that I am five years older than I was the last time I nursed a child.
AskDrSears.com provided a more thorough explanation. This site says anything that keeps a baby from nursing regularly will cause a decrease in prolactin, which is the hormone responsible for breast milk production. It is a drop in prolactin that causes a breastfeeding mother to ovulate and menstruate.
My period most likely returned so soon because my baby usually nurses only once during the night when AskDrSears.com says milk-making hormones are highest. My daughter also uses a pacifier throughout the day, which means she spends less time stimulating milk production than my other children did.
The nursing mother’s milk supply will not dry up just because her period has returned.
All sources confirmed that breastfeeding mothers should be able continue producing enough milk regardless of menstruation and recommended ways to keep the milk flowing consistently.
What to Expect the First Year” noted that while a nursing mother has her period, she may notice a decreased supply of milk due to “hormonal changes that occur during menstruation.” To counteract a decrease in breast milk, this book recommends nursing more frequently, specifically at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
The lactation consultant similarly stated that my milk supply might go down for a couple of days during my period. She also recommended that I encourage my daughter to nurse more often, especially when I am menstruating. Another idea she mentioned was to use a breast pump immediately after nursing for extra breast stimulation if my milk supply seems low.
AskDrSears.com recommends “unrestricted breastfeeding” and a nightly feeding between the hours of 1 A.M. and 6 A.M.
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