Long post if you’re like me and you prefer shorter post I’m actually going to do a follow up post to this.
Breastfeeding is really hard, and I’m really excited about this campaign because I’m now on my second breastfeeding journey. Like many moms, it’s been a roller coaster.
Today’s topic is getting your period back. Some people get their period back quickly, some take a little longer, and some don’t get it back until they’re fully weaned. Man, am I jealous of those mamas.
With my first, I got my period back around nine months postpartum. With my second, it was around 10 to 11 months, so it took a little longer this time.
You might read that when your period returns, you can continue breastfeeding without any problems and that there may just be a small dip in your milk supply. Well, I can tell you without a doubt that, for me, it was way more than a small dip.
I mostly nurse my son, but every single morning before he wakes up, I do one pump. It’s my biggest pump of the day because it’s replacing what would’ve been that middle-of-the-night feed. I want to empty everything I made overnight. Whether he woke up 10 times or only once, I always start my day with that pump.
That pump typically gives me anywhere from 5 to 8 ounces per side, although it’s usually closer to 5 ounces per side. I only get more if, for some reason, he skips his 4 a.m. feed.
About a week before my period starts, my supply begins to drop. It dropped so dramatically before my first period that I honestly thought I was drying up. I frantically bought new Air 1 pumps because I thought my motors were going bad. I replaced all the parts for my Spectra and V1 Pro cups. I increased my water intake, ate more, and tried everything I could think of.
Then one day I wiped and there was blood.
Had I known my period was coming, I would’ve put all the pieces together. But because I hadn’t had a period yet, I couldn’t understand why, in the blink of an eye, my milk supply had almost disappeared.
Once my period came, it all made sense.
And now here we are again. My next period is brewing. Honestly, it should probably start today.
I also want to be really clear that stress did not cause my milk supply to drop. The first time it happened, I didn’t even know my period was coming. This time, I didn’t either. I wasn’t tracking it or writing it down. I had no idea when it was due.
The only reason I realized what was happening was because my milk supply suddenly dropped again. I messaged one of the wonderful moms in this community because we had talked before about how our periods started around the same time. We’re basically period twins across the country.
She reminded me when hers started last month, and I realized I had been just a couple of days behind her. That’s when it clicked that my period was coming and that was exactly what was causing my supply to drop.
Here are a few things that have helped me.
First, stop and breathe. Yes, your milk supply can dip. Yes, it can be much more than just a little dip. No, you’re not crazy. Taking a moment to recognize that this isn’t something you’re doing wrong and that it’s simply your body’s hormones can make a huge difference mentally.
Of course, I also increased my water intake. I reached out to my lactation consultant and other breastfeeding moms to see what helped them. One thing I learned is that taking magnesium and calcium before your period starts may help reduce the drop in supply. That’s something I’m planning to start doing before my next cycle.
Another thing that helped me was breast massage to make sure I was emptying as much milk as possible. My son also gets much fussier during this time because he wants milk, and he wants it fast. I’ve been using a lactation massage with a nursing-safe oil to help encourage a quicker letdown.
Because my supply is lower, he’s nursing much longer than usual. Normally, he’s only latched for about three to five minutes. During this time, he’s nursing for close to an hour overnight during each feed.
Needless to say, I’m sore. Even just sitting here talking about it, I’m sore.
One thing that’s helped is offering him a bottle a little more often than I normally would. It gives my nipples a break because, honestly, my pumps are much gentler than my baby, who currently has four teeth with two more coming in. Those little teeth are sharp.
The good news is that once my period arrives, my milk supply starts coming back. It’s almost like one valve opens, and then the other one opens too, if you know what I mean.
If you’re going through this right now, I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone. It can be scary when your milk supply suddenly changes, but sometimes it’s simply your body’s hormones doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.
I got it back 6-7 months postpartum with my first 2 but I’m hoping this time it takes longer to come back.