The return of your period should have little effect on your breast milk so you can continue to breastfeed if desired. Some women find a temporary drop in the amount of milk they produce just before their period starts or for a few days into it, but it will increase again when hormones return to their normal levels.
Your Period and Your Baby
Your baby may become fussy and breastfeed either more or less than usual. They may even refuse to nurse. These changes in your baby's behavior should only last a few days. Then, your child should settle back into her regular breastfeeding routine.
Some moms may deal with a drop in milk supply right before our period arrives, and for the first day or two of our periods. While this drop is normal and temporary, it can be stressful to deal with — for both you and your baby.
Women's bodies react differently to lactation and the postpartum period in general – while one woman might nurse or pump twice a day for a year and not get her period until she weans, another might do the same every two hours and gets hers at two months postpartum.
Your milk supply may drop the week before your period starts and then rebound thereafter. Moms may notice decreased pump volumes or softer breasts during this time. Remember, you can't go wrong feeding the baby on demand at the breast. You may pump less, but your body will always make milk as the baby is suckling.
Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.
After birth, your periods will return at your body's own pace. It's possible for your periods to return as soon as 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. If you bottle feed or partially breastfeed your baby, you'll tend to start having periods sooner than if you exclusively breastfeed.
Brace yourself…the first period after giving birth is typically heavier than normal because there is extra blood in your uterine lining that needs to be shed. You may enjoy easier periods due to physical changes in the uterus and cervix, although some folks experience stronger cramps.
When you exclusively breastfeed — meaning you nurse at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours at night, and feed your baby only breast milk — your body naturally stops ovulating. You can't get pregnant if you don't ovulate.
In those that do breastfeed, the lactational amenorrhea method is a way of preventing pregnancy for up to or around six months postpartum. Signs of ovulation after giving birth include a change in body temperature, cervical mucus, ovulation pain, painful breasts, and an increased sex drive.
Only around one-fifth of breastfeeding parents will get their period within six months of giving birth. If you are a breastfeeding parent, your menstrual cycle will return within one to two months after you stop nursing your child or start significantly reducing the amount you nurse.
Most breastfeeding mothers will resume their periods between 9 and 18 months after their baby's birth. Weaning your baby will almost certainly cause your menstrual cycle to return, but most people find that they do not need to wean in order for their cycle to gradually resume.
What is Not Considered "Normal" Postpartum Bleeding? If you are soaking through a menstrual pad in an hour or less, it may be a sign of abnormal or excessive bleeding after birth and you should call your doctor right away. Another sign of excessive postpartum bleeding is passing blood clots larger than a plum.
Immediately after your period isn't the ideal time to get pregnant, but you're more likely to conceive at this time than during your period. That's because you're closer to the time when you'll ovulate.
Are you more fertile after birth? No, you are not, but this does not mean there is no chance of becoming pregnant if you have unprotected sex after birth. The best way to prevent pregnancy after birth is to use a contraceptive.
Conclusion. The first postpartum period may be heavier and more painful than those before pregnancy, or it may be lighter and easier.
1-3 Months
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
It Can Be a Distraction
Plenty of parents may just be looking to decompress while their baby sleeps, but the second you turn that TV on, it can also become a distraction for your baby. Babies sensitive to sounds or colors may wake up if the television is on and start watching it with you.
While the cause of SIDS is unknown, many clinicians and researchers believe that SIDS is associated with problems in the ability of the baby to arouse from sleep, to detect low levels of oxygen, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood.
This is common for mothers who exclusively breastfeed day and night. If you want to stop your period while breastfeeding, spend as much time with your baby as possible while staying away from supplementing with bottles and pacifiers.
Below are common causes for a sudden drop in milk supply: Hormonal Changes: Starting a new birth control medication or. Baby Eating Habits: When you start incorporating solids into your baby's diet, your baby maytake-in less milk which will cause your milk supply to decrease.
If your weight retention or gain is related to breastfeeding, whenever you decide to stop breastfeeding you may find it easier to lose weight – if that's what you want. I'm not suggesting you quit breastfeeding to lose weight.