ex. bfing and AF came

[Jojo'smom]

I was having supply issues after my ds was sick a couple weeks ago. I had signs that I might be ovulating then, and sure enough, I started my period yesterday. My ds is only 16 weeks and exclusively breastfed. He's gaining well (he's around 16 lbs.), so I think i usually produce enough milk. With ds #1, my period started about a month after introducing solids, so I was not expecting this! Is my period likely to affect my supply? It seems a little low again. I am sooo bummed. I've been a wreck this week, emotionally, and now I know why. PMS stinks. Do you think if I pump like crazy after each feed I can get my period to go away again?

[Emma-Rose's mom]

I don't know if your period will ever go away since I don't know much about your body specifically and how sensitive your body is to hormonal fluctuations. But, I CAN tell you that it's common for supply do drop while you are on your period and then come up again once you are off your period. So, even if you are ovulating regularly again every month, it should not put a crimp into your bfing.  Of course, it always helps to pump extra when you are on your period if you are concerned with supply.

HTH
Mika

[binxyboo]

Marking for later xx

[Jolamo]

I got my AF after 4 months of exclusive bf and was also concerned about my supply.  I drank lots and lots of water and tried to rest as much as possible to keep supply up.  I have since had another period (so I think they are back for good!), my Lo is 6 months and my supply is fine - he is putting on lots of weight.  Sometimes i dont think it has anything to do with supply just depends on your hormones.  Try not to worry - as pp said you could always do some pumping to help increase supply.

[binxyboo]

With ds, my period came back at around 10-11 months. This time round, I was feeling ovulation pains a month after giving birth, AF came back at around 3 months, I think. Kate was having long stretches of night sleep at that age, up to 10 hours, and even though I was getting up to pump, it was just not enough. We also were having long stretches during the day when she would refuse to feed, due to reflux.

At ovulation, I would notice an increase in supply, and then had a real dip for almost a week during AF. Kate is almost 8 months now, on meds for reflux and feeding better. I also had to eliminate the cluster feed before bed, which she used to do, so that brought back a night feed for us. Those night feeds were crucial for me to keep my supply up. Since she started night feeding again, my period has not come back. Other Moms seem to have no issues even with AF and no night feeds, it is a very individual thing.

What is your baby's typical feeding pattern like? If weight gain etc is good, then that's a relief anyway.

I found this info useful http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/menstruation.html

[clh]

You've received good info & advice, so {{hugs}} from me. 

[Jojo'smom]

Thanks for all of your helpful replies. And that article was very informative. As far as our schedule goes, ds was eating every 3 hours during the day and anywhere from every 3-5.5 hours at night. After being sick, this picked up to every 2.5-3 hours, even at night, which seemed to be making up for his not eating as much when he was sick. Since he got better and my supply picked up, he's been eating every 3.5 hours during the day and 4.5-5 hours at night. So, our schedule has been all over the place the last month or so. Maybe my period came back because of his eating less when he was sick. I am kicking myself for not pumping more at that time. Oh, well. I'll try to pump after some feeds and see if I can drive AF away for a while longer. Thanks again!