What happens if you start your period but are breastfeeding?

Understanding Menstruation While Breastfeeding
For many new parents, the return of menstruation during breastfeeding can raise questions and concerns. It’s a common experience, and understanding what happens can help ease any worries.
The Return of Your Period
Breastfeeding can significantly delay the return of your menstrual cycle. For some, periods may not resume for several months or even up to a year after childbirth, particularly if breastfeeding is exclusive and frequent. However, individual experiences vary widely. Factors such as how often you nurse, whether you supplement with formula, and your baby’s sleep patterns can all influence when menstruation returns.
When your period does return, it’s important to know that breastfeeding while menstruating is perfectly safe for both you and your baby. Your breast milk remains nutritious and healthy, regardless of your menstrual cycle.
Hormonal Changes and Milk Supply
As your body prepares for menstruation, hormonal fluctuations can occur. These changes may temporarily affect your milk supply and your baby’s feeding patterns. Some mothers report that their babies may feed differently or seem fussier during this time. This is often due to the hormonal shifts that can alter the taste or availability of milk. However, most mothers find that increasing the frequency of breastfeeding sessions can help stabilize milk supply during their period.
Impact on Feeding Patterns
During your menstrual cycle, particularly in the days leading up to your period, you might notice changes in your baby’s feeding behavior. Some babies may nurse more frequently, while others might seem less interested. This variability is normal and typically resolves itself as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.
Breastfeeding and Fertility
It’s also crucial to remember that while breastfeeding can delay ovulation and menstruation, it is not a foolproof method of contraception. Ovulation can occur before your first postpartum period, meaning it is possible to conceive while breastfeeding. Therefore, if you wish to avoid pregnancy, consider discussing contraceptive options with your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
In summary, starting your period while breastfeeding is a normal part of the postpartum experience. While hormonal changes may affect your milk supply and your baby’s feeding patterns temporarily, breastfeeding remains safe and beneficial. If you have concerns about your milk supply or your baby’s feeding habits during this time, consulting with a healthcare professional can provide personalized guidance and reassurance.

Do you need to stop breastfeeding if pregnant?

You can carry on breastfeeding while you’re pregnant, without harming your older child or your unborn baby. The taste of your milk will change as you start to make colostrum. You can breastfeed more than one child at a time — this is called tandem feeding.

Does getting your period mean your milk is drying up?

Menstruation can sometimes decrease milk production
The increase in these hormones can cause a decrease in milk production for some women. However, for most women, the increase in these hormones is not high enough to affect milk production. Most mothers do not notice any impact of menstruation on their milk production.

Why did I get my period back while breastfeeding?

If your first postpartum period returns earlier than expected while you’re breast feeding, one reason could be if you’ve stopped breastfeeding overnight. If your baby is sleeping through the night before the age of 6 months, this may cause your period to return earlier than normal which can affect your milk supply.

Will my milk supply return after my period?

It’s very rare that your drop in milk supply will mean that you are somehow starving your baby. Remember that the drop is normal, time-limited, and your supply will rebound once you get your period.

Can you be around a newborn on your period?

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.

When will I get my first period while breastfeeding?

If you bottle feed your baby, or combine bottle feeding with breastfeeding, your first period could start as soon as 5 to 6 weeks after you give birth. If you fully breastfeed (including at night) without any bottle feeding, your periods may not start again until you start to reduce breastfeeding.

Is it normal to have a random period while breastfeeding?

The hormone prolactin, which stimulates milk production, often delays the return of regular ovulation and menstruation, making irregular periods even more common among breastfeeding women.

How likely are you to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

About 2 out of 100 people who use breastfeeding as birth control get pregnant in the 6 months it can be used after a baby is born. Breastfeeding won’t prevent pregnancy if you feed your baby anything other than breast milk. So if you breastfeed but also use formula, LAM isn’t a great birth control method for you.

What happens if you start your period while breastfeeding?

The return of your periods should have little effect on your breast milk. So, you can continue to breastfeed if you would like to. Hormonal changes with your menstrual cycle (periods) may affect how your baby wants to feed. This may affect your breast milk supply.

Do I have to stop breastfeeding to get pregnant?

There is no general rule around breastfeeding frequency that leads to the return of fertility. Abrupt changes in breastfeeding generally brings back fertility quicker. Keep in mind that you and your baby would have to be ready for this change. Suddenly stopping breastfeeding can impact the bond your baby is enjoying.