Why is my period coming back while breastfeeding?

Understanding the Return of Your Period While Breastfeeding
For many new parents, the return of menstruation during breastfeeding can be a perplexing experience. While it is commonly believed that breastfeeding delays the onset of periods, the reality is more nuanced and varies significantly from person to person.
Hormonal Influences on Menstruation
Breastfeeding primarily affects menstruation through hormonal changes. When a mother breastfeeds, her body produces higher levels of the hormone prolactin, which helps in milk production and typically suppresses ovulation. This suppression can delay the return of menstrual cycles, often referred to as lactational amenorrhea. However, as breastfeeding patterns change—whether due to the baby starting solid foods, reducing the frequency of feedings, or transitioning to formula—the hormonal balance shifts, potentially leading to the resumption of periods.
Individual Variability in Cycle Resumption
The timeline for when menstruation returns can vary widely. Some women may find their periods returning as early as six weeks postpartum, while others may not see them for several months or even years, especially if they are exclusively breastfeeding. Factors influencing this include the frequency of breastfeeding, the age of the baby, and whether the mother is supplementing with other foods or formula.
Impact on Milk Supply and Feeding Patterns
Interestingly, the return of your period can also influence breastfeeding. Hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle may affect how a baby feeds. Some mothers report changes in milk supply or alterations in their baby’s feeding behavior during their period. However, most mothers can manage these changes by increasing breastfeeding frequency, which typically helps to stabilize milk production.
Coping with the First Period Postpartum
For many, the first period after childbirth can be a heavy and uncomfortable experience. It’s not uncommon for this initial cycle to be more intense than pre-pregnancy periods. As your body readjusts, subsequent cycles may normalize over time.
Conclusion
In summary, the return of your period while breastfeeding is influenced by a complex interplay of hormonal changes, individual breastfeeding practices, and the age of your child. While it can be surprising, it is a normal part of the postpartum experience. If you have concerns about your menstrual cycle or breastfeeding, consulting with a healthcare provider can provide personalized guidance and reassurance.

Can your period come back while pumping?

But in general, if you are lactating consistently, your period will likely not return for several months or even a year after childbirth. If you aren’t breastfeeding exclusively, you may get your period sooner. Lactation suspends your menstrual cycle by impacting postpartum hormones.

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.

When does milk supply decrease?

Breast milk supply is maintained by frequent nursing. Some moms experience a sudden drop in supply when they return to work or if they’re away from their baby for other reasons. Not pumping often enough. If your pumping frequency doesn’t match your little one’s demand, you might see your supply dropping.

Why did I get my period back while breastfeeding?

Feeding your baby stops certain hormones from releasing, which are important to ovulation . However, when you get your first period after birth depends on how often you breastfeed, whether your baby is sleeping through at night, and whether they’ve started solid foods yet (Gill 2016, HSE 2022, LLLC 2023).

How do you know if your milk is drying up?

What are the signs your milk supply is decreasing?

• Not producing enough wet/dirty diapers each day. Especially in the first few weeks of life, the number of wet and dirty diapers your child produces is an indicator of the amount of food they’re getting.
• Lack of weight gain.
• Signs of dehydration.

What are the signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding?

In the early stage or first trimester of your pregnancy, you may have nipple tenderness and breast soreness. You may have a decreased food and water intake due to morning sickness and feel tired. Such physical discomfort may increase while breastfeeding.

Can periods start and stop while breastfeeding?

It’s normal to have inconsistent cycles when you’re nursing, and you can chalk it up to the same hormones that cause amenorrhea. Almost all breastfeeding mothers are menstruation-free for the first six months postpartum. It’s a phenomenon known as lactational amenorrhea.

Why did I start my period if I’m breastfeeding?

Many women are at risk of early return of their period if they aren’t breastfeeding overnight. If you have managed to get your baby sleeping through the night before 6 months and are not nursing overnight, the drop in prolactin due to longer periods of time without milk removal can signal your period to start.

Does return of period mean low milk supply?

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 my postpartum bleeding start again?

So, what’s makes your bleeding after birth stop and then start again? While there are a few reasons, some of the most common causes include: Experiencing extra blood flow in the morning when your first wake up. During physical activity or when exercising as part of your postpartum recovery.