My Period Started Will My Milk Dry Up

Hi M., I dont think I can answer your question per se, but I did want to chime in my two cents. I dont think the two are related to be honest. I too had an IUD put in just a month ago. It causes breakthrough bleeding at times, so this may be what you are experiencing instead. If I understood correctly, breastfeeding will help delay your period, but not necessarily keep it from coming forever. I wasnt able to continue breastfeeding after just three short weeks. I felt cheated and like I failed somehow. I know it wasnt my fault, but it wasnt what I wanted either. I wish you the best and hope you get an answer.

I was told that as soon as I gave my son a bite of solid food, I would get my period. I swear, I gave him a few bites of avocado at 6 months and sure enough, I got my period.

The milk stuck around until I weaned him at 2 years and 4 months at which time I was already 2 months pregnant! Keep nursing. The milk will meet your child's demand.

B.

NO, it will not dry up if you keep letting baby nurse and there is no harm in doing so! Keep enjoying the experience!

Hi M.- your milk will probably not dry up- just keep nursing, and don't be afraid:-) It doesn't have anything to do with the IUD (tho it's a good thing you've got it, because your period is the big signal that you could become pregnant.) The IUD may cause a heavier menstrual flow, I believe. Just drink lots of water & juices; eat good food often, and you'll be fine. Oh, and take your pre-natal multi-vitamins- you are still eating for two. If you continue nursing past nine months, you might wish to add the extra supplementation I did- calcium/ magnesium, and vitamin C. If you or she have a violent reaction to the C (diarhea), then get the allergy-C; it is made of sago palm, I think. It worked for me!

If you are weaning your baby at all, be careful of the quantity & kinds of food you are giving her. She is still young enough that food allergies may be a problem if she has too much of certain things. I ended up nursing my son until he was 1 and a half years old: he failed to thrive on formula, and was allergic to both cow and goat milk at nine months. I was able to restart nursing- I was fortunate. Since he has grown up to be a healthy adult, I think it was probably a good idea to nurse some more.
S.

Hi M.,
The same thing happened to me with my son and the only reason is you are probably feeding less frequently but no need to worry. Getting your period has nothing to do with your milk supply.

Don't worry- I had my period for months and still breastfed. Just keep on trucking.

I had 4 sons and had my periods steadily while nursing each of them except the youngest. with him I had every other period. I had plenty of milk. I did however have to wean two of them because I got pregnat again. dispite using birth control of one sort or another ( not the pill). My mother also had to wean my brother because she became pregnant with me. My milk did not dry up when I became pregnant again. I started to loose too much weight. and I could not seem to eat enough food. I simply could not keep up with the demands of feeding three. Don't worry about your milk drying up. But do remember that you can become pregnant again even if you don't have periods. It is a wives tale that nursing moms can't get pregnant. it is not true for everyone. worry and stress can effect milk production though. enjoy this time with your daughter.
Deborah

With my first two kiddos I got a year break from periods due to nursing. Yippie!
However, with my last two my period came back with 60 days! Bummer!
My milk supply never reduced due to my periods. As long as you continue nursing as usual it shouldn't for you either.
Just beware that, as it was after giving birth, your cramps my be more intense when you nurse if you are prone to cramping.

M., with my third child I got my period sooner, but this did not affect my milk. Did you mean IUD? if so if you got the mirena with hormones it could decrease your milk a bit, but I have not heard of this causing it to dry up. ( I am in nutrition and wrote a book chapter on pregancy and lactation) keep eating well and drinking enough water. working while nursing can be a challenge, but I found making it my priority and taking care of myself so that I could do it makes all the difference. nursing can be very stress relieving for the mom! A.

W/ my first child I got my period back when she was 3 months! I had more milk than I knew what to do w/! You should be fine... drink lots of water & eat lots of green veggies & that will help too!

I breastfed two of my kids for two years each after my period started -- I never noticed a difference in my milk supply with either of them.

Good luck! Great for you for breastfeeding!

Shouldn't have much of an effect, other than that your supply may fluctuate a bit with your cycle. Just make sure your baby is nursing regularly and your supply should keep up with the demand. I know people who have nursed for many, many months after they get their periods back.

I don't think your milk will dry up just because you started your period. I have an 11 month old right now and she is breastfed and I got my period back when she was six months old too. Don't give up on it. :)

When I breastfed all my babies, I had my period and it didn't seem to matter at all. As a matter of fact, I got pregnant with my second child while breastfeeding my first.

With both of my kids my period came back when they were 6 months old and we had no problem nursing until they were ready to stop. Both went about a year.

Your period should not affect your milk production at all. Mine started at some point with all three of my children and I continued to breastfeed until they were at least 2 years old. (Yeah, I know, I'm weird, but it worked well.) Your period beginning, does mean that you are no longer protected from getting pregnant because you are nursing, but it sounds like you've got that covered.
K.

Hi M.,

You have no worries! Your milk will not dry up until you stop nursing. Yes there are a few Mom's who dry up early but just because you started your period doesn't mean you will or am drying up. I had my period pretty much the whole time I nursed my Son. So keep on nursing! Keep up the great work!

K.

No worries, nursing is based on supply and demand, so as long as you keep nursing regularly, you'll have enough milk. My period also came back at 6 months, and we're still happily nursing now at 15 months!

I got my period at one year postpartum and am still nursing successfully (at two years postpartum). It shouldn't have any effect on your supply! Good luck!!

Hi,
Well I have the same situation. I started my period when my son turned 5 months(he is now 6 months). My lactation consultant said it was because I was nursing less. I was also very worried that I would not produce enough milk especially since my son does NOT take the bottle! My milk production did slow down a bit and I was told that is is because of the estrogen. I just had to nurse more and/or pump more. I don't know if the IUD had anything to do with it. I just had one put in this month and my milk production is still about the same, so far! Well good luck!

Hi M.,

It's always so wonderful to hear about moms that want to breastfeed for a good length of time. I breast feed my first baby until 15 mos. and I got my period 7 mos. No problems. Next I had twins and again I got my period at 7 mos. I nursed both of the boys for 25 mos. From my own experience you shouldn't have any problems drying up. You might try a lactation tea if you're worried and stay away from sage as it tends to diminish your milk supply. Good luck to you and your lucky baby.

Cheers,
M., 39 yr. old married mother of 3 beautiful boys (ages 4 and 5)!

I think you should be fine! I started my period 7 weeks after each of my babies were born (while breastfeeding exclusively) and was able to continue breastfeeding and pumping with absolutely no change. Good luck!

No worries. Your milk won't dry up because your period started. Breast milk is supply and demand, so as long as your daughter is still nursing, you'll still have milk. Good jobo on keeping it up!

Not necessarily, and not just because of the period. You should be able to nurse as long as you want to. I nursed my first three for almost 2 years, though obviously, it became less about nutrition the older they got. Many women, myself included, feel like the milk drops off around 6 months. But if you aren't pumping regularly, you might not even notice. Just make sure to drink plenty of water and get enough calories to feed you both. As long as she continues to gain, you'll know she is getting enough. Congratulations on going this long!!

Not necessarily. Your supply may decrease slightly, but if you still keep up with your feedings you will still produce plenty of milk for your baby. I still produced milk for 4 months after getting my period.

Not if you continue to breastfeed regularly. I started my period when both of my children were around four months old. I breastfed my son until 15 months and my daughter until 20 months. I only had my period that one time, so it might just be that she slowed down a bit and that is why you got your period. Just beware that once you get your period, you can get pregnant. I did:)

Your breast milk should not dry up...This is how women get pregnant while breastfeeding...it happens a lot. Even more in "primitive" cultures, where women breastfeed for years.
I had a weird case...I had one period at breastfeeding month # 4, then it went away again for another 10 months..very nice break from pads etc!
You could increase feeding frequency to make sure your production stays up...but it may or may not make your period go away. I remember being given a "mini pill" by dr...to prevent pregnancy...it is super low dose...since you are breast feeing...probably one of the safest times in life to use "the pill" if you have any inclination.

I started my period 5 months ago when my daughter was 8 months old and I am still nursing her. I don't nurse her a ton anymore, but it didn't seem to effect my milk production. I sure miss not having PMS, though!

I don't think you should worry too much. With my first son I breastfed him successfully (with more milk than he or I could handle!) for 17 months. I started my period again when he was 9 months old and it did not slow down my milk supply at all. Best of luck. If you do notice a slow down there is a great tea called Mother Milk from Traditional Medicinals which you can buy at any Whole Foods, Sunflower Mart, Trader Joes, and some local grocers.
-A. - mamma of Samual age 7 and Jackson age 5days, and loving wife of Dan.