Spotting & Breastfeeding

No need to be concerned. I breastfed my children until they were 2.5 years old. I started my period around 8 months and had NO trouble continuuing. good luck.

M.

I got my period back when my son was about 6 months old, too. It was very heavy and lasted about a week. He's now 9 months old and I've had no problems with my supply. My period isn't exactly regular or what I would have once considered a normal timespan, but hopefully it will regulate itself soon.

If I have a lesser amount of milk, my daughter doesn't seem to notice. I've had my period back since my daughter was 3 mo old (she's almost 10 mo now). Sometimes she eats more frequently, but I've noticed that tends to go along with her not feeling well, and it hasn't happened each time I've been on my period. My milk supply completely dried up when my daughter was 2 weeks old due to mastitis, so it's already smaller than most women, but it's still been enough to provide the necessary nutrition, etc, to my daughter (my h does supplement with bottles some for "daddy-time" in the middle of the night). So, it going down or going away doesn't even mean it won't come back or that it won't be enough, it's just that it'll take patience.

Hi there,

Don't worry, whatever you heard isn't true. I had about 3 periods during my year of nursing my daughter...it didn't do anything to my milk supply. We maintained nursing as normal without any complications!
Good Luck!

Sometimes a woman's period will come back after about 6 months regardless of how often she breastfeeds. However, this should not affect your milk supply. It sounds like you are doing everything you need to do to keep you milk supply going, and you should be able to keep breastfeeding your son until he is a year old with no problem. However, if you feel like you are still having problems, I would suggest you contact your local La Leche League chapter. You can speak to someone on-line or speak to someone over the phone. Their website is www.llli.org. Good luck!

I doubt that it is true you will produce less milk if you start menstruating. Some women even continue breastfeeding when they get pregnant again. Personally my body did not menstruate for two years after giving birth. That was great! Don't worry. the breasts follow the law of supply and demand. As long as your baby is suckling you will produce. AF

I think that is more of a wive's tale than fact.

I got my period when my daughter was 3 months old, and continued to breast feed until she was 9 months old. Your milk changes and the supply usually keeps up with exactly what your baby needs. Just keep feeding as normal.

There is a safe organic herbal tea out there called Mother's Milk, that is supposed to help promote breast milk production. I haven't tried it, but if you should feel you need it that may be a good place to start.

Hello H.,

I never experienced my milk supply reducing once my period started back with either of my 2 kiddos.

If your supply does start to decline brewer's yeast tablets work wonders! You can find them at health food stores.

Good for you for breastfeeding, what a fortunate little guy Noah is!!!
Take care, S.

Hi, there,
I breast fed both my kids until 14-16 months and I got my period around 5 months(both times) and didn't have any change in my milk supply. Hope you won't have too! Keep on nursing!
A.

My period came back the month after giving birth to my son. I was able to breastfeed him for over a year with no problems with reduced supply. My son weened himself so I didn't have to deal with the extra supply after my time of breastfeeding him. Remember to drink a lot of water before and even during breastfeeding, it will help you supply.

H.,
First let me say you are doing well to have continued breastfeeding this long. Many moms make it a year and I am always impressed. Work has been my downfall (x6 kids). Your body is functioning normally and you may start menstrating again even though you are still breastfeeding. The best thing you can do is not stress over it. Being aware and responsive to the need of your body will enable you to keep your stressed managed. This is important because high stress reduces milk production.
Some people use yeast to encourage milk production. Eat and drink small frequent healthy meals during your day and continue to pump and feed. The nipple stimulation and frequency of baby feeding are what makes you able to continue producing milk, and of course drink you water.
I have not made it a year because work is not conducive to pumping and it takes effort to know your bodies needs / capabilities of production. My 6th child is 4months old now and we are still nursing at night- so I feel pretty good about that.
I applaud your efforts. Hang in there. I know it is like being a human passifier!

One mom to another,
M. (RN)

Hello,
I breastfed 3 boys all until at least 12 months - and for each of them my period returned at about 10 weeks after delivery. Never had a problem with milk supply. I read that if you are overweight (which I was and am - by probably 20 lbs) that this is fairly common. I didnt like hearing it - that not only was I overweight, but that I would be getting my period while still breastfeeding, but apparently thats how it works. Not sure how it affects your milk supply if you're skinny - it may be different.

D.

I exclusively breastfed all three of my children. With my first I got my period back when she was 5 weeks old. (I had stopped bleeding a couple weeks after the birth and I was so panicked, I thought something was very wrong lol) With my second and third I think they were about 3 mo old when I got it back. I never noticed a change in my supply after getting my periods back. I was surprised though. I hear fenugreek really helps increase or maintain supply. You can get it at a health food store. I dont know anything about dosage though.

Hi H.,
I got my period at 4 months pp and I still breastfeed my dd and she just turned 1 yr 2 weeks ago. I did notice my supply go down a bit when I first got it, so I started on Fenugreek (you can get this at GNC). With Fenugreek, you have to take a lot for it to bring back the supply. I took like 4-5 capsules 3 times a day. It helped during my period, but in between periods, my milk supply would return and after 2 or 3 months, I stopped taking it and kept my supply. My boobs never felt full which irked me, but dd was always able to get milk. I'm surprised she's still bf'ing today because I don't even feel the letdown....ever.

A normal healthy woman usually begins ovulating around 6 months post partum. This is because the baby is starting solids and does not require as much milk, which signals the body to ovulate. As long as you continue nursing and continue on a healthy diet with the correct amount of calories it shouldn't affect your milk supply.

My daughter is almost 9 months and I started my period right at six months almost a week after I started introducing solids. I had been warned by my OB/GYN this would most likely happen but not to sweat it. The only time I see a decrease in my supply is on those really stressful days where I'm not eating and drinking like I should.

I started having my period again around 6 months after giving birth. My son is now almost a year old, and I am still breastfeeding him. I did not have any problems with my milk drying up on me. However, by choice, I have been gradually weening my son, so my milk supply has been cutting back. However, I am sure it is cutting back because I have been weening him, and not because I started having my period again.

With both of my children I started my period early but had no problems with my milk supply. I am sure it will be fine.

Hi H.,

I don't think you need anything other than the old common sense decisions here. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and try to stay calm as much as possible. Stress has more effect on milk supply than most people credit. I'm now nursing my second son (14mo.) and I nursed my first for 2 1/2 years. I did notice a little reduction in "fullness" when my period started again, but I am convinced that it was simply because of the usual changes to the breasts during the cycle and didn't actually have anything to do with my milk supply. Baby was still getting plenty. I think a lot of women take this reduction in the full feeling as a sign that their milk supply in dwindling and freak out about it, of course that produces a self-actualizing spiral that feeds on itself, since stress and doubt can accomplish what these women were fearing in the first place. Just try to go into it secure in the knowledge that countless generations of women have started their cycles again about 6 months or so after giving birth and they all managed to continue to breastfeed. Don't forget, until recently formula wasn't available so women had to trust their bodies to continue producing. Milk supply is so easily effected by how we feel, so school your emotions and develop a deep down confidence that your body WILL continue to provide for your baby and you will make it so. Just remember to keep drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet and your body will have all it needs.

I hope this helps, and I'm always available via message if you feel you need any encouragement. God Bless!

Wow. I'd never heard this. I don't think it is true. I breastfed my son until he was 1 1/2 and didn't notice any difference during my periods.

The most important thing to increasing supply--drink water water water water and more water or tea or juice or tea or juice or anything, especially water. And empty out the breast! That is the signal to your body to make more.

some old wives' tales are helpful and some are just stories. don't sweat it, babes. this one's not true. keep on nursing and your milk will be fine.
khairete
S.

My friend got hers at 8 wks and contuined until 18 months.

Don't worry, you won't dry up! I breastfed my daughter (also while I had my period) way beyond a year and she is well. Your body knows what's going on and will produce what your son needs. This is probably happening because he is eating some food now to suppliment.
Did you know that women can breastfeed an adopted baby? Amazing what we can do!

Your milk is based on supply and demand. As long as the demand in the form of your baby or the pump is there, your body will supply it. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Always have a water bottle with you. I got pregnant with my second and was still breastfeeding. No worries, you are doing the very best thing for both you and your baby. Good job!

Hi H.,

My cycle returned when my son turned 6 months and I'm still nursing my son at 16 months. No dry up, just keep nursing. No bad effects. No worries!

Best of luck to you and your baby :)

I got my period back at six weeks post-partum, but I successfully breastfed my son until he was almost three. I never had a supply issue and never did any pumping. Bodies are strange and mysterious things. I would just keep letting him nurse on demand and if you are really worried, eat some oatmeal or drink some fenugreek tea.

Couple of things, my son breastfed until he was 18 months old, I got my period back around 9 months. My milk didn't start to dry up until my son started to ween himself around 15-16 months, but I still wanted to pump for his cups, so I started taking mother's milk either the pills or the tea, my lactation consultant recommended it and you can get it from Rebecca's or any other natural store, since it's a natural mix of herbs, if you do find you dry up a little, though I didn't. Go luck and enjoy your time, it's over soo soon!!

I got my first period post-partum at 7 months and my milk supply has not gone down since then. The only difference I have noticed, and it's a good one, is that I stopped experiencing engorgement. Perhaps that is where the old wives tale comes from, but I can assure you that my milk supply did not dry up. We're still nursing at 14 months.

I've given birth and nursed six babies and never had any trouble with my milk reducing upon return of my menstrual cycle. My youngest is now a teenager. Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job! Best of luck.

H.,

1st Congrats on your little one! Don't worry about getting your period while breastfeeding. I have 3 kids - I got my period back with my 1st 2 when they were 6 months old. I nursed the 1st one for 18 months and the 2nd one for 2 years without a problem. With my son, I got my period back at 6 weeks - yes, you read that right, 6 weeks! (I had only stopped the bleeding from the delivery for about a week & then, wham!) Anyway, he is 14 1/2 months right now & I am still nursing him several times a day. As long as you continue to nurse him, your body will continue to supply the milk to meet his demand. Good Luck & enjoy this precious time with your little man! ~ B.

I have 4 children and each time I got my period after 6 months. I nursed all of my children as long as I wanted to - 10 months, 10 months, 14 months, and 12 months. I believe milk supply is mostly based on demand, though stress can reduce it so don't worry.

Congratulations on your baby boy!

I also nursed until my daughter was about 8mnths but I never heard about your milk drying up once you start you cycle again. So that's something interesting to me, I going to check up on things to see if other Moms think there some truth behind that! Good Luck

I was breastfeeding exclusively and got my period at 6 months postpartum and never had any issues with milk supplies. I know women who didn't get theirs until they stopped nursing but it's more common to get it after around 6 months because that's when the frequency of feedings decreases and they also start solid foods. You don't need to do anything to increase your supplies. If you are pumping anyways for different reasons that's great but don't pump just for this reason. Your body learns to adjust itself to the demand from your child. Do know though that your first few periods are going to be very heavy and maybe even painful because your body is re-adjusting. Good luck

Hi H.,

First suggestion, try not to stress about it. In my experience nothing will affect your supply more than obsessing over it. Every woman is different, and ultimately, the best way to keep your milk supply up is to let your son eat, eat, eat! It was 6 weeks after I delivered that I got my first period back. I still managed to BF my son until he was 13 months. I agonized over the early months, taking supplements, lots of pumping, etc. But I found out that after about 9 months I started dropping feedings, and my supply always stayed with what I needed. Even in the last two months I only nursed my son once a day - just when he got up - and I always had milk supply for him. I was amazed that my body could regulate itself like that! My advice: 1) don't stress 2) feed him when he's hungry 3) don't obsess about watching how much is pumped (your son is more effective at sucking than the machine is) and 4) have confidence that between the two of you you can make this work for as long as you want, and when it's time to end, that's okay too! Good luck!

hello. I got my period 3 months after having him. I breastfed exclusively for 13 months,w/o any supply problems. I think you will be fine. Good luck!

I had my "first" period when my son was 5 months old - I had enjoyed all the time without it, and was hoping it would hold off for a little longer, but what can you do!
I was a little worried about my milk drying up -- but I ended up breastfeeding him until he was almost 17 months old. I would just keep doing what you're doing.
Your body will continue to make the milk he needs. I'm thinking that maybe the milk reduces at around 6 months because that's when you introduce solid foods & they just don't need as much anymore..

Hi H.,
My period returned when my daughter was 8 1/2 months old and it didn't affect my milk supply. I nursed her until she was 17 1/2 months old without any problems in my supply.

If you have any questions, you can always call a Lactation Consultant. If you live in the Baltimore area, GBMC has the Lactation Station which is staffed with Lactation Consultants that you can call and ask questions and get some answers on how to continue your supply.

Best of luck.
A.