Menstruation while breastfeeding

[tanyal6670]

Hi mama's,
My baby girl is 5 months old and I just got my lovely visitor back. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how or if this will affect breastfeeding? I am pumping at work and noticed a decrease in the amount of milk I was pumping. So far baby is eating just fine.

On another note, any ideas on how to encourage a baby to take a bottle? She is 5 mos old, and refuses to take a bottle, cries when she sees a bottle. We are exclusive with breastmilk and have tried every nipple/bottle/sippy cup combo out there. Dad/family/relatives have tried to feed her with me out of the house, I have tried to feed her a few times. she usually just waits for me to come home, which can be 10 hours or more. Then we end up nursing all night back to 2 hours, instead of 4 hours. We are just starting her on rice cereal so she is getting that during the day now.
Thanks in advance for your help:)

[fifibobandmore]

I know how fruistrating this is as my LO will not take milk from a bottle or sippy cup either. Hve you tried a doude cup? The other thing that I would say to uses but will take for ever to get the milk in to her is a medicine sering. This is what my DH uses with our LO if I am not in when he stars for a bf and this works. We went out and bought 3 10 ml suringes and fill each one up with breast milk and keep filling them until either the milk has all gone or he refuses more milk. Hope this is useful and if you try it you get the success that we have had aswell with your LO

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi, Everyones supply takes a dip when 'it' (AF) comes back, but once its over your supply will return. Pumping more often and feeding more often can help you get through it or you can also take fenugreek, which you can find online and in health food shops.

Regarding the bottles, have you tried one called 'Brerastflow' its by first years it has two chambers so it works like a breast. They have to suck first a few times before the milk comes out. Do you do a df? If so you could try using the bottle then so shes asleep and 'might' not realise its a bottle, worht a try.

Kate x

[EllenS]

I had a pronounced dip in supply every time AF was due (the first time, of course, I didn't know what it was).  Try taking a calcium + magnesium supplement in about 3 weeks (when you're likely to be in the week before period) - take it every day for a week or until AF shows up.  It really helped smooth out the dip.

[liacarmen]

I didn't really notice a dip, but around the same time my pumping output decreased and has never returned to the glory days of 17 ounces a day - but that's constant, not related to my period.