Return of AF and dropping supply?

[A_Z]

LO is 3.5 months, and I've been exclusively BFing and pumping since she was born.  A few days ago I started spotting, much to my disappointment.  I really thought I'd have longer!  The flow hasn't gotten any heavier yet, so I'm not sure if my period is back, but I have to assume it's on its way.  Recently, LO has also been engaging in marathon nursing sessions of an hour or more.  I'd assumed she was having a growth spurt (I still think she is), but I realized this evening that my supply has dropped and she's been nursing so much because she wasn't getting enough.  Usually she'll only nurse for ten minutes or so at a time.

What can I do to make sure my supply goes back up?  I've read that it's common for it to drop at the beginning of a menstrual cycle and then rebound, but I also know some women's supply never totally recovers.  I'm especially worried because I'm at the office during the week.

[*Ali*]

It is common for your supply to drop with the return if AF. Feeding more frequently will help, as will any pumping in addition to feeding that you are able to do. It could be a growth spurt and your body just hasn't caught up with the extra demand being placed in it yet. Don't worry it will

You can try herbs like fenugreek capsules but I wouldn't rush out and buy them just yet. Your body may recover by itself soon enough.

I has a couple very light periods at 5 and 18 wks pp with DS2 but then nothing until he was 13mo so you may be as lucky

[A_Z]

Oh man, I hope I get lucky like you!  Still just spotting, so fingers crossed.  It seems so unfair that AF would be back so quickly, even though I know it's not uncommon, even with EBF.

I'll try to add another pumping session on the days when I'm at the office, and just hope my nipples don't fall off with all the extra nursing.     Hopefully this is just temporary and will improve soon, but I'm also trying to acclimate myself to the idea of supplementing occasionally.  I wouldn't be so stressed but for the fact that LO may have a milk protein allergy, and we couldn't decide if we should get hypoallergenic formula or not.  Finally bit the bullet and ordered some today.

Thanks!

[Erin M]

It's also recommended that you make sure you get enough calcium -- here's some info on that: http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/natural-treatments/#calcium

[*Ali*]

Could it also be that you have returned to work recently and your LO isn't feeding so much?
Have you cut dairy from your own diet?

[A_Z]

Erin, I've been taking a calcium supplement, but hadn't known about the absorption issue.  I'll order a calcium/magnesium combo.  Thanks!

Ali, I have cut dairy from my diet.  It's so hard to tell if LO got better because of that or because her digestive system finally matured.  I had wondered about the return to work issue, but my supply stayed steady for 3-4 weeks before it started dropping.  I've added another pumping session, just to be sure, though.  Part of the issue may also be that my daughter has recently started sleeping 7-8 hours in a row.

Thanks!  Also, I swear she's longer this morning than she was when we put her to bed last night, so she's definitely having a growth spurt.

[Fiver]

Night sleep does have an impact on supply, but your body is also starting to change the way milk is produced which does seem to have a bearing on supply or at least perceived supply in a lot of women

[A_Z]

Interesting!  What do you mean by my body changing the way milk is produced?

[Fiver]

This link explains it in detail http://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/milkproduction/ but broadly speaking you go from milk production being driven by hormones in the early days (so, prolactin and oxytocin mainly) to be being produced by supply and demand, so the more you empty the breast, the faster it refills, reacting to the amount of milk that LO requires.

I'm not sure that there's any conclusive research, but there certainly seems to be a 'hump' to get over at the stage for a number of women and it often coincides with the massive 4m growth spurt where it feels like you haven't got enough milk anyway.

[katiebee18]

I had a similar post to this a few months ago. For about 3ish days before AF comes, DS wants to eat a lot more often, like very hour or two and he is over 1 yo and he is super whiny  and clingy. When AF comes, we usually go back to normal.

I have only had AF twice so far, and have been taking 500mg calcium and 250mg magnesium. Not sure how much it is helping supply, but I probably don't get enough of these from diet anyways, so what is the harm.